Getting a Federal Job Without an Interview
If getting a federal job offer without going through the interview process sounds like music to your ears, you’ll love what we have to share with you in this article.
Landing a job as a federal employee by bypassing the jitters of an interview, whether face to face, phone, or video is not too good to be true. In fact, it happens more than you think.
The key to landing a job with the federal government without the interview is to first make sure you have a killer resume.
A Top-Notch Resume is a Must
At Empire Resume, we always say your resume is a marketing opportunity to show why you’re the best candidate for the job.
As we mentioned in a previous article on our military to civilian blog, your military to civilian resume provides recruiters and hiring managers with a bird’s eye view of your skills, experience, and accomplishments.
Always remember, the resume tells your story – who you are, what you did, when and where you did it, and why you’re good at doing it. Upon reading your resume, any federal hiring official should understand you, your background, and your expertise.
Your knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) should be addressed and your experience must be directly related to the position you’re seeking within the federal government. Don’t just list KSA’s verbatim on your resume; rather, clearly show how you’ve implemented and how you used them.
You want the hiring official to review your resume and be confident in knowing that you can perform and executing the necessary tasks that encompasses the position.
Use your resume to separate yourself from any other candidate. List your accomplishments and be specific and attach a value to them. Show the manager what you can bring to the table and how you can save the agency money and make the agency run more efficiently.
Besides the well written and thought out resume, the ability to skip an interview is based on two primary factors:
- The need of the federal agency; and
- The hiring process
By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding as to what it takes to possibly get a job with the U.S. Government without an interview.
Just so you know, if this happens to you, it will not be a fake job offer. This does and often happens within our nation’s agencies quite often.
The Need of the Federal Agency
There are times when federal agencies get backed up with work and don’t have enough staffing to keep up with the mission at hand.
For instance, agencies that frequently deal with disaster relief such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or Homeland Security, will ramp up its workforce and begin hiring new personnel for various positions within the agency.
Once you submit an application through USAJOBS, it is quite possible to get a call from the agency inquiring as to whether or not you’re still interested in the job listed in the vacancy.
Once you say yes, your information can be forwarded to the proper department, usually human resources, and from there, you can receive a tentative offer.
The Hiring Process
According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), there are two types of federal hiring processes:
- The non-competitive hiring process; and
- The competitive hiring process
For purposes of today’s article and topic, we will briefly explain the non-competitive hiring process.
The non-competitive hiring process can also be referred to as Schedule A. Agencies use Schedule A, a special authority, to hire diverse and talented individuals without going through the lengthy traditional hiring process.
Individuals can apply for a Federal appointment through this non-competitive process option. This means that if you meet the eligibility status of the appointment and the minimum qualifications for a position, you may be hired for the position without competing with the general public.
A federal agency can make a temporary, term or permanent appointment while hiring using Schedule A.
Although Schedule A is commonly referred to the process used to hire qualified individuals and veterans with disabilities, Schedule A can be used to hire people in all professions from clerical staff to attorneys.
To clear up the confusion regarding this type of Federal hiring process, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) states,
“There are several regulations that are generically referred to as “Schedule A.” These regulations cover more than just persons with disabilities. When contacting a federal HR professional concerning possible employment opportunities, explain that you are referring to Schedule A for persons with disabilities. The regulations concerning Schedule A can be seen at 5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u) and 5 C.F.R 315.709.”
If applying for federal employment with a disability, there’s certain documentation that must be submitted to serve as proof of the disability.
Please keep in mind, Schedule A does not guarantee a job. One must first be qualified and then the agency must decide if you’re the best candidate. Don’t give up if you are not considered for a position. Continue to move forward in your quest to become a government employee.
For more information from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regarding Schedule A, visit their article containing frequently asked questions entitled The ABCs of Schedule A.
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Dr. Phillip Gold is President/CEO of Empire Resume and has vast experience writing resumes for service-members transitioning from the military into civilian roles. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force and was responsible for leading nuclear missile security. Phillip is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and holds a BA in Communications from The Ohio State University, an MS in Instructional Technology, an MBA in Finance, and a PhD in Finance.
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