Revamping the Federal Hiring Process
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2010-05-13/revamping-federal-hiring-process
Guest Host:
Matt McCleskey
It can take nerves of steel and the patience of a saint to navigating the federal hiring process. But the Obama administration is calling for streamlined applications and a speedier review of applicants. We'll learn more about the changes and what they could mean for our region's workforce.
Guests
Lily Whiteman
Federal employee; "Careers Columnist" for the Federal Times; author, "How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job:" (Amacom Books)
John Palguta
VP for Policy, Partnership for Public Service. Formerly branch chief, Office of Personnel Management, and Director of Policy and Evaluation for the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board.
Comments
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Just to get my foot in the door, I applied for a GS-7/9 museum technician position with the Smithsonian when I first came to DC in 2002. I was well qualified for the position and, when I followed up with the Point-of-Contact (POC) in the position announcement, I was notified I was one of the 300+ "qualified applicants" whose package had been sent forward to a review panel. I checked back with the position POC every couple of weeks to determine status change. For a YEAR, there was no status change. So, for a YEAR, this position went unfilled, conceivably hampering the ability of the work unit to perform the required work. Is this type of situation going to be resolved by the revamped processes? Presently, I work as a contractor with the DoD and while the compensation is fairly good, I would prefer the stability a federal position may afford, but getting past the "gatekeepers" is such a challenge.
On your show yesterday, a caller asked if he could find help navigating the Federal Employment process. Your panelist told him to "Google" for help. I'd like to suggest that he ask for help at his local public library or his local One Stop Employment Center. These are two organizations that can probably provide free assistance with the complicated process of applying for federal employment.