I've had an online application with AFPC since 2002 (which I keep updated), and I've applied for literally dozens of jobs I know I'm highly qualified for (and I've actually been referred to the selecting officials for most of them), but I've never heard a peep about any of them. I now work for the National Weather Service as a GS-11, but there has been a few positions that have come open with the AF in more desireable locations that I've applied for, but still nothing. I'm even a 10 point vet with a compensable service connected disability, but that doesn't seem to make a difference either. You'd think out of all the jobs I've applied for I would've at least had a few phone interviews, but no. Is this one of those deals where you have to know someone in the office where there's a vacancy in order to get hired? Sounds to me like there's a whole lot of pre-selecting going on for these jobs.
The Air Force is very, very selective on whom it decides to hire into the Civil Service positions it has. Almost everyone is former Air Force. I have not checked, but I would not be surprised if most work in the same organizations that they worked for while on active duty. I saw some of that while working for the CS with the Army and the Navy, but the AF is the most zealous of that sort of hiring practice. My opinion is that I never want to work for people who would dislike me simply because of what seal is on my retired military ID card.
If you are truly interested, why do you not visit the bases you want to work at and talk with them? Find out why you are not getting interviews, in a very non-confrontational way of course. It may be simply they do not interview people who would require a major move or not be able to interview on site. Some offices do not allow them to refuse to pay moving costs, and that is the only way they can avoid paying for transportation to the interview or moving costs if they hire someone from out of the area.
I guess I don't want a job with them badly enough to go to that much trouble, it just seems starnge that I never get seriously considered, given my qualifications and the fact that I'm retired AF. Also, I don't think the moving expense thing is an issue because most of the vacancies I've applied for say they don't pay relocation expenses.
As a union steward for the NTEU, I saw a court case that forced a Civil Service employer to pay moving costs despite the Job Announcment stating plainly that relocation costs would not be paid.
It seems that the individual knew that someone they had hired for the same job WAS given RA, so they filed a grievance and won. The result is that many organizations take out "insurance" by not interviewing anyone who lives more than 50 miles away.
Still, if it isn't worth a visit, then there is no use in complaining about not getting the job. I pestered the living daylights out of the office I wanted to work for, for three months, before I finally got an interview. Of course the interview was at 3 AM, when the supervisor was on the midnight shift at San Ysidro, CA! To me, the major factor in Civil Service employment is perseverance. Everyone is qualified, everyone is a veteran, more than a few will have some special status. What separates them is perseverance, the ones who never give up and tactfully show how badly they want the job. Worked for me, and for many of the people I represented as a union steward for 10 years with Customs.
I have also applied for many positions with the Air Force Civil Service. I retired last year from Edwards AFB after 12 years there. I can tell you from experience that most of the jobs go to people that reitre and stay in the area and know what is happening at that job. The unannounced practice is to advertise the job as required and then they already know who they are going to hire, but they have to go through the motions.
One big way to get into the civil service from what I have experienced and is working with a contractor that basically mirrors the civil service vacancy, then they just hire you from the contractor. Not fair, but then again nothing in life is fair.
I think it really depends on location. I retired from the Navy, and there is a pretty good load of Sailors working for the USAF here at Tinker. Also a few Army & USMC. Just keep applying for jobs, as 10 pt. you will get hired sometime, that's probably half the reason I got hired, too. Grampi, do you post at federalsoup.com ?? If so, I chimed in on the SCD / Leave hours thread you started a few months ago.
Your comment; "I guess I don't want a job with them badly enough to go to that much trouble, it just seems starnge that I never get seriously considered, given my qualifications and the fact that I'm retired AF." Jumped off the page for me. Although I have no direct knowledge about CS and/or AF and I have not read your resume, that attitude is what is killing you. No, the system is not "fair". Even with all the laws, rules, and reg’s, it still comes down to a person reading a resume and getting a gut feeling about it. Your app must go through a screening process THAT LOOKS FOR A REASON to put it in a reject pile. As soon as they sense that attitude yours goes into the reject pile.
I retired 3 years ago, and have completed half of my Master’s Degree. I've self nominated for 69 positions and have been interviewed once. My resume is outstanding, and I've face to faced at least 10 people doing the hiring and interviews.
In one interview the lady who was conducting the interview said she wasn't the person that was doing the hiring. I asked her if I could get an interview with the person doing that and the interview was over.
I found out later that she hired some guy after talking to him on the phone. 3 weeks later the guy quit; not sure why.
I'm not sure why it's so hard to break that code, but from what I understand that system is broken anyways. The way they're trying to fix it is with the NSPS system, based on performance. Of course that seems to be held up in court somewhere by the union. I'm pretty sure the Air Force civil service employees don't want their pay or employment based on performance. That would sure free up a lot of positions. I think the way it is now, most of the folks in there wouldn't be qualified to find their own butt, but then again I only speak from experience when dealing with GS employees while on active duty.
It doesn't help that I'm in a market that has no jobs, and no industry to speak of. Since I'm a dependant now I can't just pull chocks and acquire a new target market. So I'll wait them out. My advise is to keep trying, and don't give up.
I have the same problem. I think my resume is not in order or I have to many mixed up qualifications. I have an Associate's degree, a medical assisting diploma,a ton of customer service experience, but I love the medical field. I am open to new horizons, however my experience does not match much. Does anyone have a suggestion or guidance for me?
From my experience the "good old boy/girl" network is in effect big time. I work as an AF contractor and whenever a civil service comes open, they usually know who is going to fill it and the job posting and interviewing (if any) is just a formality.
I'm not trying to get the black helicopters going but that is just my personal experience.
Originally posted by mbwillis: From my experience the "good old boy/girl" network is in effect big time. I work as an AF contractor and whenever a civil service comes open, they usually know who is going to fill it and the job posting and interviewing (if any) is just a formality.
I'm not trying to get the black helicopters going but that is just my personal experience.
From my experience you're right. They couldn't muster the courage to get those black helicopters off the ground though, so you don't have anything to worry about.
Originally posted by 9160497: Your comment; "I guess I don't want a job with them badly enough to go to that much trouble, it just seems starnge that I never get seriously considered, given my qualifications and the fact that I'm retired AF." Jumped off the page for me. Although I have no direct knowledge about CS and/or AF and I have not read your resume, that attitude is what is killing you. No, the system is not "fair". Even with all the laws, rules, and reg’s, it still comes down to a person reading a resume and getting a gut feeling about it. Your app must go through a screening process THAT LOOKS FOR A REASON to put it in a reject pile. As soon as they sense that attitude yours goes into the reject pile.
The reason I said that is because I currently have a federal job I'm happy with, so I'm no longer worried about getting that call from AFPC. That wasn't always the case and believe me, before I landed this job and I was still applying for AF jobs, I made sure my resume was kept current and "highly polished." I can guarantee there was no hint of a bad attitude evident in my resume. It's my guess the biggest reason I never received an offer was either because I didn't live in the local area and/or there was a lot of pre-selecting going on.
Originally posted by zarateclan: I have the same problem. I think my resume is not in order or I have to many mixed up qualifications. I have an Associate's degree, a medical assisting diploma,a ton of customer service experience, but I love the medical field. I am open to new horizons, however my experience does not match much. Does anyone have a suggestion or guidance for me?
Have you considered more education?. With your love for medical and current associates degree, you would not be far from obtaining a 2 year degree for Registered Nurse. My navy career was as a corpsman. When I got out I finished a bachelors degree in general science. Later, I went back to college again for an associates degree in Nursing. The bachelors degree gave me a lot of personal satisfaction, but it was the 2 year degree that landed me a very satisfying and well paying job as a registered nurse. Good Luck.
There's something elese I've noticed about the AF jobs. The KSAs for these jobs are so specific, the only way an applicant could possibly have the experience to match the KSAs would be if they've done that exact job before. It's as though they write the KSAs to fit a pre-selectee's experience and no one else could possibly be as qualified. I think KSAs for these jobs should be less specific because most agencies put new hires through a certain level of job specific training anyway. But then again, that would give other applicants more of a chance of getting hired over pre-selectees.
Most AF civil service jobs require that you join the AF reserves. Your retired statis may be interfering. I just retired from WX service DVN ET NEXRAD. Where you at?
Originally posted by shockey: Most AF civil service jobs require that you join the AF reserves. Your retired statis may be interfering. I just retired from WX service DVN ET NEXRAD. Where you at?
Shockey
The only civl service jobs that require you to join the USAFR are ART positions.
I applied for several AF jobs as well. Made it past the initial screening once. Job went to a MSgt who had just retired from there...
In the several weeks after that rejection, I applied for a job within the DOJ. It took six months, three interviews and a background investigation, but I got the job.
The plus is that we are still on the GS system, vice the NSPS (that DOD is going to) that is still dealing with growing pains...
Keep plugging away and consider all Federal jobs! Good luck,
