I keep seeing/hearing people (who don't work in Federal Government) say to jobseekers - "The Federal Gov't is hiring lots of (insert job here) just look at all of the listings on USAJOBS."

Its those multiple vacancies/multiple locations/continuous recruitment listings they are referring to.

I am not currently job seeking, but I have always wondered about those listings. I assume they take the app, and when an actual opening comes up at the location, there is some sort of screening/sorting tool that pulls up the applications for that location and they sort through them for that particular opening.

Is that how it works?

Are these types of listings indicative that these jobs have lots of turnover/vacancies/etc...? Do people actually get hired on a regular basis for these positions? Should someone put a lot of faith that since the vacancy is listed, perhaps some day in the next year or so they might get called in to interview or be offered the job?

If it were me I'd tend to think chances were slim there would be an actual opening for the job, but I'd cover all my bases and put in an app anyway because you never know. But I am just guessing. Anyone know how it really works? Thanks.

I don't know about USAJOBS but I do know that in my home town the recruiters used to put listings in the classifieds of "so and so job open for the US (pick a branch)" and when you called the number it was yea if you come in and fill out a recruitment package you could apply for that MOS or position.... it was just another recruitment tool.

Government jobs are very hard to get into but persistence will get you there. I am heavily pounding away at applying for federal employment. Yesterday, I got an email from federal employment about a job that stated I was selected for a position, BUT, in the next sentence it said that unfortunately, there were applicants with higher scores than me. This had nothing to do with the resume or experience. It meant (from what I was told) that there were applicants with higher preferences than me. (i.e. Veterans, Soldier to civilian, active federal employees.) I do claim military spouse preference.

So I am really hopeful! Being "selected" was the furthest I have gotten so far.

And just a bit of advice, federal resumes are much more detailed than civilian resumes. The federal employment system's first screening for applicants depends heavily on key words. I took some free classes at the Army Community Services on our base to help with applying for federal jobs. So worth it. You might want to look into that. Gives you a "one up" with the other applicants. Very competitive.

A tip I have heard for the key words is to look at the actual job description and use as many appropriate words from there as possible. That way if a skill can be described by different words, you are ensuring you are using the word that is the key word.

Sorry to hear about the selection/not really selected, but that is good to hear you got "selected". I am sure that gives you some hope you do have what is needed to get hired and that your resume/app is good.

I will keep all that in mind when looking for a job eventually.