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Baruch Obamawitz posted:A 3.25 undergrad GPA gets you in as a GS-7 at the PTO, and given the applicant pool, most new hires have above that anyway. That plus a Masters or JD is -9, plus PhD is -11. The PTO only has -5, -7, -9, -11, -12, -13, -14 and -15 as their paygrades though. Baruch - how picky are they on the qualification standards for "Masters"? They specifically list it as "Two years of graduate study leading to a Master's Degree". I did a Master of Engineering program, which compresses the research part into the first year of classes, and you end up with a M.Eng after one year. Is that typically sufficient to meet the GS-9 rating? I know the recruiters said I'd be a GS-9, but they also made it sound like I had the job, guaranteed, and then they dropped off the face of the planet. 
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Jul 14, 2010 23:50
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Okay, this isn't the federal government. Buuuuuuuuut. http://www.state.gov/p/io/rls/fs/144110.htm Competitive Recruitment Exam for the UN
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Jul 15, 2010 00:21
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All over this, thanks a bunch... been trying to get into UN for 3-some years now! Are there any UN goons?  competition go~postin from my phone, that job fair was okay, wayyyyyyy too many people, did not realize how many people actually don't have jobs :/. and I just spent an hour or so chatting with a nice girl from state, while she explained to me all about the civil service :/. The CIA lady did seem overly interested, though. She asked me a lot of questions.
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Jul 15, 2010 00:41
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Skandiaavity posted:All over this, thanks a bunch... been trying to get into UN for 3-some years now! Are there any UN goons? Yeah, it was the CIA who seemed most interested in me when I was at a job fair there a few years ago; I get the impression they're always on the lookout for good people. Also lol at the Boren people, they sent out an e-mail about that job fair this morning.
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Jul 15, 2010 00:48
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Skandiaavity posted:All over this, thanks a bunch... been trying to get into UN for 3-some years now! Are there any UN goons? Yeah, that fair seriously gave me mixed feelings. On one side, the two agencies I would really like to work for, Geo-spatial and Archives, had really short lines and talked to me for quite a bit. One the down side, gently caress there are a lot of people. CIA I didn't even bother waiting in line for, ditto with DHS since they weren't taking resumes and didn't have a FEMA contingent on hand. I swear to God half the people in that line were only in it for the grab bag. Did they actually take resumes or was it just Q/A with them?
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Jul 15, 2010 01:14
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Somewhat glad I went. Was nice seeing agencies that weren't supposed to take resumes took mine (though nothing is to stop them from tossing them after we left). Although hope that isn't the case, got some good vibes from some of the people working the stalls. Hope some of them are friends with the HR people. BTW the State Dept. seminar was useless if any of you are po'ed that you couldn't get in. If you know what USAjobs is, and State.gov and have read the FSOT thread, you know all that they had to say.
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Jul 15, 2010 01:32
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can't say.. did not see the homeland line. I doubt they took resumes, though. very few places took resumes. CIA got to me when I was leaving/finished talking with the girl from State, actually. The recruiter? complemented me on my suit or shoes, I didn't hear her correctly, as I was walking by and we made conversation. It WAS a little amusing, if about douche-y, to talk about "that part of CIA which we cannot talk about (she knew this part right off the bat, i bet she got asked it a lot)" and I asked what that kind of job entails and if they "possibly have any possible potential positions that may or may not possibly be IT or Analysis, and may or may not be available". She didn't tell me to go to the website on that, and instead we exchanged business cards and she started asked pretty specific questions about my current job and how I handle it under pressure (which she shouldn't really know  ), which is a really bizarre conversation for me to have. I'm thinking of following up, since her business card is absolutely hilarious.Am definitely following up with that cutie from State/civil service, though. edit: I'm assuming it was NSA who had those butterfly knife-pens? Their freebies get wackier each year. edit2: State had 2 lines. one was really long and the other was really short. Like, five minute wait short. Skandiaavity fucked around with this message at 01:50 on Jul 15, 2010 |
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Jul 15, 2010 01:45
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Yeah, it was the CIA who seemed most interested in me when I was at a job fair there a few years ago
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Jul 15, 2010 03:15
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grover posted:Oh, the CIA is interested in everyone. No, they don't necessarily want to give you a job, they just want to hear all about you! Yeah probably, they would always come hang out at my (asian studies) department. When I told one woman that I spoke Urdu I thought she was going to jump me. Hasn't really helped me as much as I thought it would yet, though.
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Jul 15, 2010 04:12
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Sundae posted:GS-13 after 2 years with only a B.S? Did he work in a patent-law firm before starting at the USPTO? I'm trying to figure out how he could possibly have made the leap from GS-7 up to 13 in only two years, even if he was Jesus Christ, Patent-Pro or something. He was a private researcher for a law firm before going civie, however, he could have been there for 3 years. My mistake.
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Jul 15, 2010 04:49
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CherryCola posted:Masters is a 9?? Oh dang, I've been lookin at 6's and 7's. It's so tough coming straight out of school and applying for these jobs though. I have to somehow make my undergrad, part time, work study admin jobs look like really great work experience. Here's something I've been struggling with, especially with applying to the Foreign Service. They ask about management and leadership experience, and I have really never managed people in a job sense. It sucks when you know you'd do really well at a job, but can't figure out how to communicate that to the employer. Managing and managerial experience does not necessarily have to be about directing people. Think of a project you managed that no one else wanted to do or didn't have time for. Or a project you implemented yourself. It doesn't have to be in a work environment, either - it could be in a religious group, or a club, or whatever. They're looking for good use of time and initiative - maybe it's easier to think of in that way instead of "managerial". I think they know entry level applicants who are getting out of 16+ years of school very rarely have full-time jobs during their education. I wish the fair had been today! I would have driven to DC for it. Has anybody ever gotten a bite while applying before graduating? I'm getting out in December, so my plan was to start applying in October to gauge interest levels in employers, but being in another state and still in school feel like stumbling blocks.
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Jul 15, 2010 05:43
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CherryCola posted:Masters is a 9?? Oh dang, I've been lookin at 6's and 7's. At the PTO, yeah. Sundae posted:Baruch - how picky are they on the qualification standards for "Masters"? That's a crapshoot, pretty much. It'd probably depend on credit hours.
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Jul 15, 2010 15:31
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GreySkies posted:
Do yourself a favor and start applying now. The process is long enough as it is. I graduated in May, started my search in late November/Early December and I'm still looking.
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Jul 15, 2010 15:51
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Yeah - that's one very important thing to remember: Fed jobs, almost regardless of agency, take freaking forever to get responses from.
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Jul 15, 2010 17:19
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I applied to a job back in September and didn't hear back until May. It would be a good idea to start applying now, I wouldn't expect an actual human being to actually see your application for at least 6 months.
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Jul 15, 2010 17:31
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I just got my first interview out of a USAJOBS app--applied for a revenue agent gig in March, the interview was on Tuesday. they *might* be starting people the second week of September, but then again they might not. so start applying early
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Jul 15, 2010 17:32
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A reminder to thank Obama, if he gets his way: the hiring time will cut down to something like 60-90 days from when you submit your resume, till they have an answer or an offer. Period. (Some agencies, of course, are excepted from this)
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Jul 15, 2010 18:15
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Skandiaavity posted:A reminder to thank Obama, if he gets his way: the hiring time will cut down to something like 60-90 days from when you submit your resume, till they have an answer or an offer. Period. (Some agencies, of course, are excepted from this) OTOH, I just signed up for $33/mo health insurance that will basically spit in my eye if anything happens to me, unless it's something catastrophic, in which case they'll pay a percentage beyond $12.5k. ARE HEALTHCARE
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Jul 15, 2010 20:35
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Is anyone familiar with the ILR language test at all? I'm scheduled to take it in a week and for this position I have to get a 3/3, which I have no clue what that is. But if it is complete fluency then I am hosed.
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Jul 15, 2010 23:17
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Gravel Gravy posted:Is anyone familiar with the ILR language test at all? I'm scheduled to take it in a week and for this position I have to get a 3/3, which I have no clue what that is. But if it is complete fluency then I am hosed. Speaking, ILR3 Not sure if the other 3 refers to listening or writing, but you can find the rest of the descriptions on that website.
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Jul 15, 2010 23:30
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CherryCola posted:Just so you know, the State Department is accepting applications for its career entry program from today until the 17th! Thanks for the heads up!
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Jul 15, 2010 23:31
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Speaking, ILR3 Probably listening since it is an oral exam over a telephone. That actually makes much more sense. I thought it was 3/3 as in 3 out of 3 levels. Thought it was odd that they would use two separate scales for the test. Well if that is the case I just might have a fighting chance.
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Jul 16, 2010 00:15
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Gravel Gravy posted:Probably listening since it is an oral exam over a telephone. Yeah, a 3/3 is pretty decent, but by no means fluent. Let us know how it goes, provided there isn't an NDA attached to the test. I'm curious if there's a separate listening section, or if they're just going by your responses how well you understood the examiner.
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Jul 16, 2010 00:21
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Come work for the PTO so we can grab a drink (I live literally 2 blocks away.)
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Jul 16, 2010 06:37
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Just finished my interview for Secret clearance. After being lectured about my prior drug use, the interviewer would not make eye contact with me for the remaining duration of our conversation. I was informed that they did not interview anyone from my sf-86 and do not intend to. Apparently, honesty is for suckers.
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Jul 16, 2010 15:53
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Athazagoraphobia posted:Just finished my interview for Secret clearance. After being lectured about my prior drug use, the interviewer would not make eye contact with me for the remaining duration of our conversation. I was informed that they did not interview anyone from my sf-86 and do not intend to. Apparently, honesty is for suckers. Yeah, none of my references were contacted either. He did ask for stuff like former roommates overseas, but didn't really seem too bothered when I couldn't come up with contact details for most of them 
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Jul 16, 2010 16:29
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It depends on the position you apply for and the agency's guidelines, perhaps. Some are strict, something like no more than 3 times and you can't inhale ever, while others understand. OTOH my interviewer flat out looked at me with disbelief, raised eye and all. called me out on it right then and there, went and did her check, came back a second time, called me out on some other stuff, did a follow up on that.. afaik, all of my references had (attempted) contacts. All 19 pages of 'em. I know this because one day I woke up and found I received emails asking what kind of trouble I got into/they never want to hear from me again/why is a federal officer asking questions about me/"YOU TERRORIST"/"the 'FBI' called but I didn't speak english hope this helps" (? on this one), etc. Your milage varies, really. Think positive, maybe they weren't making eye contact because you already showed them you can be honest? If you happen to have to fill out another SF-85, make sure you put the experience on it... Honesty is always the best policy. Lying to the interviewer is not just perjury, it's a federal crime.
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Jul 16, 2010 16:55
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Athazagoraphobia posted:Just finished my interview for Secret clearance. After being lectured about my prior drug use, the interviewer would not make eye contact with me for the remaining duration of our conversation. I was informed that they did not interview anyone from my sf-86 and do not intend to. Apparently, honesty is for suckers. Also, when they ask about mp3/video piracy, they only care about mp3/video piracy done on government computers, and NOT what you do from home. They're pretty clear about this in the written stuff, but sometimes gloss this over during oral interviews. grover fucked around with this message at 17:39 on Jul 16, 2010 |
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Jul 16, 2010 17:34
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grover posted:Also, when they ask about mp3/video piracy, they only care about mp3/video piracy done on government computers, and NOT what you do from home. They're pretty clear about this in the written stuff, but sometimes gloss this over during oral interviews. Are they really? From what I saw it sounded like any :files: was a tick against you, which is mostly why I quit altogether a while ago* (interviewer never asked me about it, IIRC). For something like the FBI, it could definitely create a problem/conflict with your job. *Between Netflix, Hulu, and Zune Pass one really isn't left wanting much.
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Jul 16, 2010 18:28
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no, grover's correct. They only really care about it on government, or reaching, employer's, computers. Unless you got sanctioned at work, or served infringement at home (getting a C&D from ISP doesn't count iirc - has to be a bona fide), which is a felony? then they care. The IT Guideline is written really vague for a reason.
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Jul 16, 2010 19:42
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Posted this in the FSOT megathread, but I've got an insider lead on a web developer position. You need some Portuguese and the ability to get a SECRET clearance, not to mention IT skills. PM me if you're interested.
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Jul 16, 2010 19:51
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Are they really? From what I saw it sounded like any :files: was a tick against you, which is mostly why I quit altogether a while ago* (interviewer never asked me about it, IIRC). For something like the FBI, it could definitely create a problem/conflict with your job. Again, job dependent. I had a friend who didn't get clearance because of private (non-work) downloading. I was never asked.
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Jul 16, 2010 19:59
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Opportunity time! quote:The Civil Service Career Development Division (HR/CSHRM/CD) will be accepting applications to the Career Entry Program for five days, beginning Tuesday, July 13, 2010 (12:00am Eastern Standard time) through Saturday, July 17, 2010 (11:59pm EST deadline). Please note that Passport Specialist positions are also included in the Career Entry Program.
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Jul 16, 2010 20:14
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SWATJester posted:Opportunity time! Just got done scanning my transcripts for this. I'm applying for the Foreign Affairs Specialist (yeah right) and the Passport Specialist (maybe?). I figure I'll put down Detroit for the latter; hopefully it'll increase the odds since presumably it's the worst place on the list.
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Jul 16, 2010 20:32
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I've been with the government for almost three years now after working as a contractor for almost three years. I started as GS-11 and am currently GS-12 in a position that goes up to GS-14. It's been a good experience so far - work can be challenging, but no overwhelming, and my coworkers are great people. Plus I love DC, so that helps. I work an alternate work schedule, so I get every other Friday off, and I telework my working Friday, and it's nice having transportation to and from work paid for me.
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Jul 16, 2010 21:15
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Just got done scanning my transcripts for this. I'm applying for the Foreign Affairs Specialist (yeah right) and the Passport Specialist (maybe?). I figure I'll put down Detroit for the latter; hopefully it'll increase the odds since presumably it's the worst place on the list. Doing the same thing. And including a position that I think I am already being considered for. I received an e-mail about still being considered for a PP Specialist a long time ago, but haven't heard a thing since.
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Jul 16, 2010 21:42
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I'd think there'd be a million jobs in ICE or Homeland Security out here in AZ, but the USAJob system makes no freaking sense. Anyone need a data center nerd out there in Fed land? I got an automagic letter a while back after applying to ICE for an IT position that said my rating was 81 or something like that, but I never heard anything after that, and the listing is still open. Is this just the usual slow Federal hiring system?
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Jul 16, 2010 21:43
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Just got done scanning my transcripts for this. I'm applying for the Foreign Affairs Specialist (yeah right) and the Passport Specialist (maybe?). I figure I'll put down Detroit for the latter; hopefully it'll increase the odds since presumably it's the worst place on the list. Ditto, except I put down Boston for the Passport Specialist since it's my hometown and it'd be easier for me to move back up there than anywhere else at this point. Also applied for the Program Analyst position as well. Fingers crossed.
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Jul 16, 2010 21:51
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Are you guys applying to multiple Passport locations? Would it hurt to apply to a couple locations with essentially the same letter? It's hard enough to come up with substantial and interesting content as to why I am interested in being a Passport Specialist as it is, let alone writing a unique on for each location. Also, is it even worth bothering to apply as a Foreign Affairs Specialist without an MA or above? I did have a govt. scholarship and I do speak Arabic but I have no relevant work experience or anything above a BA.
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Jul 17, 2010 03:43
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Ramms+ein posted:Are you guys applying to multiple Passport locations? Would it hurt to apply to a couple locations with essentially the same letter? It's hard enough to come up with substantial and interesting content as to why I am interested in being a Passport Specialist as it is, let alone writing a unique on for each location. Also, is it even worth bothering to apply as a Foreign Affairs Specialist without an MA or above? I did have a govt. scholarship and I do speak Arabic but I have no relevant work experience or anything above a BA. I was sort of wondering the same thing with regard to the locations, but honestly I can't imagine that they expect letters to be different for every location as long as you list the different location. And for the Foreign Affairs question, why not apply?
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Jul 17, 2010 03:59
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