New Federal Employee

I have read this here. Personally I only applied to one job, a GS 11 and I did get it because of my specialized experience. I had about a months worth of College

"To qualify for jobs at the GS-9 grade (or equivalent) level you need a master's degree, and for the GS-11 grade (or equivalent) level you need a doctoral degree. At these levels, the advanced degree must be directly related to the work of the job you're applying to."

https://www.usajobs.gov/...0the%20GS%2D9%20grade%20(or,job%20you're%20applying%20to.

If you are being referred, but don't get an interview, it is your resume. It makes it through HR, but doesn't impress the hiring official/panel enough to have them interview you.

Have someone review it and give you feedback (heck, PM me for my email and I'll give you feedback on it).

Being referred means little to nothing. It simply means you met the minimum standards HR has been given to pass you on to the hiring official who then (typically they will use a panel of SMEs to do this) then reviews to see who are the best handful to interview. Typically this is anywhere from 3-10 applicants who get invited to be interviewed.

The process to follow to avoid losing your mind is:

Apply...then forget about it.
Get a referral notice...smile, then forget about it.
Get an interview...smile wider, review your resume, the job announcement, etc, work on some potential scenarios you can use to answer questions with (a good 5-10 that can apply across multiple multiple questions is useful). Interview....then forget about it.
Get the offer...smile, prepare for onboarding but don't make drastic plans like moving across the world just yet.
Get the start date...make certain everything is done, the agency confirms you can move, etc
Start...now smile your widest, and relax. Learn the new role.

Then...start to work on your resume for the next opportunity so you aren't rushing when it shows up.

I have 5 years full cycle recruiting, 2 years HR management, 1.5 years freelance 3rd party recruiting/HR admin.
I am currently filling a recruiter/HR manager role here in the DC area.

It is a numbers game.

There was a USA Jobs reset in 2018 or 2019 and that wiped out my account (and everyone else's). Up until that date I had applied to over 1200 positions, been hired about 20 times and actually took 6 jobs. Probably did 80-100 interviews.

Since 2018, I have had another 629 applications, had about 80 interviews and hired 8 times and taken 3 jobs. Started as a GS-7 and am now a GS-14.

You don't get to follow up, or ask questions or network. This isn't the private sector. So get that out of your head.

Here is the best methodology.

1. Apply for the job, ensuring that you upload a clean resume, and supporting documents.

2. Wait for referral or non-referral. Either way do nothing.

3. Get an interview, wait for the documents to be sent to you or get a denial letter (if you are lucky) via USA Jobs.

4. Wash and repeat.


Rarely it makes sense if you don't understand something in the USA jobs posting to call and ask a question. The odds are very high that whoever you call will be HR and not the hiring manager.

Unless you know the hiring manager personally do not call the hiring manager.