When you think about the federal hiring process, you may wonder:

• What is the federal hiring process for a new job? Or a better one, if I already have a federal job?
• How long does it take to get a federal job?
• Why is the same federal job posted in so many ways?

To answer these questions, let’s start with the current process for federal hiring, as prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which is the governing agency for all federal government hiring guidelines and policy. We will then share three tips to help you navigate the process.

The OPM process

The first thing to know is that the hiring process doesn’t start the day the job announcement is posted on USAJOBS.gov. It starts with a hiring manager who has an opening in their office, on their staff, or centrally within an agency or organization.

When the hiring manager makes the conscious decision to hire, they reach out to their local human resources (HR) office. Then the clock starts ticking on that hiring action.

How long does it take to get a federal job?

It can take between two to sixteen weeks to be hired for a federal job. Why? Because there are several back and forth actions that take place between the hiring manager and the human resources office.

The first interaction is when the hiring manager tells the human resource office they want to hire for a vacant position on their staff or in their office. Then the HR office will verify that the position description is accurate.

Next HR will draft the vacancy announcement and ask the hiring manager to verify the additional duties for the position being advertised, including the number of days the vacancy will be advertised. After that, the hiring manager will approve the announcement for release to the public and the vacancy announcement will be open for the specific time period.

Finally, once the announcement is closed, the HR office begins to review and qualify the applicants, which may take several more weeks.

Is there a faster way to be hired?

Yes. It’s called the direct hiring authority (DHA). OPM will authorize a DHA to federal agencies when there are either critical needs or a severe shortage of candidates for vacancies in an agency or organization.

Federal agencies have used DHA for many years; in fact, there are many occupations that can be hired using the DHA, including medical occupations (i.e., diagnostic radiologic technicians, medical officers, nurses, and pharmacists), information technology management (information security), STEM occupations, and cyber occupations.

If an agency obtains the authority from OPM for these specific occupations, the hiring process can be shortened. In addition, the DHA process also changes how the hiring actions take place. This is where the federal agency can gain the most impact from hiring activities and onboard new employees more efficiently and effectively.

Tips For Applying for a Federal Job?

So how can you use this information as you apply for a federal job?

1) Note when the position will close

When you see a job announcement, make sure you know when the position will close.  Deadlines are important in the federal job environment so stay mindful of the date the application is due; you will no longer be eligible to submit an application after that date.

In addition, it’s important to know that some agencies limit the number of applications being accepted for a position, regardless of the closing date of the announcement. For example, a job posting could be open for 14 days, with the stipulation that the announcement will close once 150 applications are received. What does that mean to you?  If the job is “technically” open for 7 days from the time you see the announcement and they already have 145 applicants, then the agency will only accept 5 more applications, even if there are six days remaining. An applicant will not be informed of the limit, so get your application in as soon as possible.

2) Read (and read again!) the job announcement

Always ensure you read the job announcement thoroughly to ensure you know all pertinent information and have a clear understanding of the requirements.  You could have an outstanding background for the job posting; however, specialized experiences are often required for positions. If you don’t clearly articulate those experiences on your resume and application materials, you will be considered “ineligible” for the position, even if your background is a strong fit. So, read the announcement carefully to ensure that you meet all requirements; then ensure your application materials align so you are fully considered and not passed over in the first round of application reviews.

3) Have a targeted resume

Be sure that your resume reflects the specialized experience found in the announcement.  For example, when you see postings on USAJOBS.gov, you might see the same job posted a variety of ways, such as merit (or MP), excepted service, or delegated (or DEU); this means they are meant for a specific group of applicants.

Merit is meant for those that are current or former federal employees; delegated is meant for those current or former federal employees and those that do not have a federal background. Finally, excepted is for those that want to be part of the excepted service classification. Ensuring your resume reflects the specific group of applicants will help you get noticed.

Will these tips guarantee you a federal job, or a better federal job if you already have one? No. However they will help your resume stand out. And if DHA is an option, that’s good news for you!

Are you a hiring manager who wants to learn how to use DHA? Contact us and we’ll share more tips and ideas with you.