Your Guide to the Federal Job Process

Question and Answers

1. Rating: +0

   

   What is my grade?

   If you are just starting out, you can qualify for jobs at the GS-2 level with just a high school diploma or as little as 3 months of general work experience. At GS-3 and GS-4 levels, you can qualify with more months of general experience. Starting at GS-5, jobs generally require 1 year of specialized experience to qualify. When you have a degree but no specialized experience in a career field, you are eligible for appointment at the GS-5 pay scale. (If you maintained a B average, or met other academic credentials in college, you can start out at the GS-7 pay scale.) To qualify for jobs at the GS-7 and higher grades, your background must have included experience closely related to the work to be performed in the job for which you are applying. You can qualify for GS-9 positions on the basis of a master's degree, and for GS-11 positions on the basis of a doctorate. To find the salaries for these grades visit the following web site: http://www.USAJOBS.opm.gov/B5A.asp

2. Rating: +1

   

   How do I get Security Clearance?

   You cannot independently apply for an investigation or security clearance. Clearances are based on investigations requested by Federal agencies, appropriate to specific positions and their duties. Until you are offered such a position, the government will not request or pay for an investigation for a clearance. Once you have been offered a job that is contingent upon satisfactory completion of an investigation, the government will require you to complete a Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions, initiate the investigation and adjudicate the results.

3. Rating: +0

   

   Are there any government summer employment opportunities?

   Are you looking for a summer experience that allows you to work with people who manage the day-to-day business of our Nation? The Federal Government may have the right opportunity for you. Summer job opportunities are available in Federal agencies throughout the United States and cover a wide variety of positions. For more information, http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI19.asp.

4. Rating: +1

   

   I am interesting in your services of 1. KSA Statement SET ONLY (stand alone) $99.00, or 2. Federal Job Targeting Rewrite Service $20.00/page I have spent lot of time and have finished the KSA, and would like to ask expert to provide suggestion or rewrite it. However, I worry that if the writer has no science backgroud, do you think she/he will write it perfectly? Does service #2 still need 5 business days? What is you suggestions?

   If the KSAs are already written specifically for the job you are targeting, then I would suggest only the rewrite services at $20 per page. We can assign this to a senior level federal writer. Although we can make no guarantees that our writers are certified experts in a certain field, they do have expertise and experience gearing KSA documents to a job posting for maximum potency.

   It is still 3-5 business days on all federal orders, although in the case of a refocus order, we can probably do it in 2-3 business days. If you need it sooner, I would suggest adding the 24 hour rush service.

   I hope this has been helpful.

5. Rating: +0

   

   I have visited several sites and not one will provide a ksa rating scale. Sevnty or higher will get an inteview or is a low level score, what is a maximum rating, etc.

   Rating systems vary greatly depending on the agency. The example below is from Army Cpol website.
   QUESTION #1: What experience or training have you had in preparing long-range cost estimates?
   • 15 Points: Experience in developing and formulating a segment of the installation (or very large organization) budget for a fiscal year.
   • 10 Points: Experience in formulating or revising the annual budget estimate for certain support activities/components, or moderately-sized organizations OR formal education and/or training which provided in-depth exposure to cost estimating for a set of commodities or moderately-sized organizations.
   • 5 Points: Experience in comparing figures in current cost estimates for individual items with cost from previous years OR formal education and/or training which provided a general familiarity with cost estimating.

   QUESTION #2: What experience have you had in making oral presentations dealing with the budget?
   • 15 Points: Experience as the sole presenter of budget items to commander/command groups and other high-ranking officials. The candidate prepared most of the briefing and the candidate fielded questions generated from briefing.
   • 10 Points: Experience as one of a team of presenters of budget items to organization officials. Candidate prepared most of his/her portion of the briefing and candidate fielded most of the questions, but may have deferred more difficult ones to other presenters.
   • 5 Points: Experience as one of a team of presenters or member of a panel discussion. Audience addressed is comprised of employees within the candidate’s own organization or similar group. Candidate has prepared notes on points to cover, as directed by the panel director or chief briefer. Questions are noncontroversial or fielded by others.

6. Rating: +0

   

   How do I reach the person at the top of Federal Communications Commission. I want to write to that person.

   Contacting the FCC

   Via Email:
   Chairman Kevin J. Martin: KJMWEB@fcc.gov
   Commissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.gov
   Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov
   Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate: dtaylortateweb@fcc.gov
   Commissioner Robert McDowell: Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov

   Mailing address:
   Federal Communications Commission
   445 12th Street, SW
   Washington, DC 20554

   Hope this helps,

   Steve - Resume Services Manager