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Badlionsfan
Posted on Friday, September 09, 2011 - 09:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If so, what's the application process like and what's the bennies like?
I'll explain later if there's a story to tell.
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Hughlysses
Posted on Friday, September 09, 2011 - 10:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

You have to first register and build a "resume" at USAJOBs.com. It's a long and involved application. Once your basic resume is built, then you search for job listings that you're interested in and qualified for. You can search by location, "series" (numbers that identify specific job descriptions, like "0830" for a mechanical engineer). Then you submit your resume for that job. You can have multiple versions of your resume so you can tailor it to fit specific job requirements. It takes FOREVER to hear back from a job you apply for due to all the red tape in the hiring process, which involves multiple government departments which are hundreds of miles apart, so don't expect a quick answer.

Benefits are really good. Civil Service probably has the best vacation deal going. You accumulate "annual leave" and "sick leave" with every pay check. Most of us get paid every 2 weeks (a "pay period"). You accumulate 4 hours of sick leave every pay period for as long as you work. You accumulate 4 hours of annual leave per PP for the first 5 years, then 6 hours per PP for until you hit 10 years, then 8 hours per PP until you retire. That works out to a lot of vacation time. You can use sick leave for doctor visits, hospital stays, staying home with the flu, etc. You can also use it to stay home with a sick kid or spouse. You can use annual leave for whatever you want.

Job security is not nearly what it used to be, but it's still far better than most industries. OTOH it's a government work environment, which has its downsides. It's harder to fire people who work for the government; as a result, you may find you're surrounded by goof-offs. There's a lot less of that than there was ~30 years ago, but it still happens.

Let me know if you have any questions.
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Badlionsfan
Posted on Friday, September 09, 2011 - 11:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Cool thanks. I think I'll wait to tackle the resume this weekend when I'm more rested and alert. The job I'm looking at is with the national park service. The only qualification I have is the required CDL, but we'll see what happens. I'm sure I can learn the rest of the stuff if they're willing to train, after all I had to learn everything I know now.
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Hughlysses
Posted on Friday, September 09, 2011 - 02:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Good luck with it Ben. The problem is your resume will be graded by some clerk in Mississippi or some such place with no personal knowledge of the job and no common sense along the lines of "well, the guy did this other job OK so he should be able to do this one OK". It seems they look for buzz words in the resume matching buzz words in the announcement and if they don't get a match for every word, they say you're not qualified.

If you make it through that and get pronounced "qualified", then your resume might make it to the desk of the guy you'd actually be working for, who can make a reasoned decision of whether he thinks you can do the job well or not.

I should also mention you have ~50 or so health insurance plans to choose from and a couple of life insurance options if you're looking for that.
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Kyrocket
Posted on Friday, September 09, 2011 - 02:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Good Luck, seriously. My buddy and I were talking about this very thing this weekend. He's a federal employee at a depot where they keep chemical canisters. Retired from marines, very high security clearance and would like to work as a park ranger but says they're all in who you know. He says it's near impossible to get transferred in.
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Badlionsfan
Posted on Friday, September 09, 2011 - 04:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks for the info Hugh, I'll keep that in mind when doing my resume. The cdl requirement is mentioned several times in the posting, and that's really about the only skill related requirement listed. The other stuff is more along the lines of work ethic stuff. Like I said we'll see where it goes, IF I actually stumble along thru the process I'll have a decision to make and have to weigh it all out based on the whole deal. The starting pay range of around $25-30 an hr would be around 150-300 a week cut, assuming a 40 hr week with the parks, but the downside to my current gig is the reason I make more is there's no such thing as a 40 hr week, 55-70 hrs in a 5 day, 3rd shift week.

We'll see what happens and I'll update if it goes anywhere.
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Ferris_von_bueller
Posted on Friday, September 09, 2011 - 05:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

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Badlionsfan
Posted on Friday, September 09, 2011 - 06:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

???
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Redhatbuell
Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 - 03:54 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Best bet is tailor your resume to the job announcement. Use the same key words from the duty description when listing your experience. That way you have a better chance of clearing the automated "qualified/not qualified" test
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Badlionsfan
Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 - 09:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks for the tip Red, that's what I was thinking too.
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Kenm123t
Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 - 10:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Will a resized Post Office dump many workers on the system and will they get hiring prefereces? The P.O. has military prefeernces now.
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Kenm123t
Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 - 10:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Will a resized Post Office dump many workers on the system and will they get hiring prefereces? The P.O. has military prefernces now.
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Badlionsfan
Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 - 02:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The class A cdl requirement would disqualify the vast majority of displaced postal workers.
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Mtjm2
Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 - 05:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Throwin this out here .

I know a young man that is getting out of the NAVY .

He is an air traffic controller and has all the certs. and security clearance .

Any one want to help ? THANKS
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Badlionsfan
Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 - 05:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Quick search turned this up. Should get him started on the right path.
http://www.faa.gov/jobs/job_opportunities/airtraff ic_controllers/openings/
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Badlionsfan
Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 - 05:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

this is more to the point--
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=10167 2290&JobTitle=Air+Traffic+Control+Specialist+(RMC)&q=air+traffic+control+specialist&brd=3876&vw =b&FedEmp=N&FedPub=Y&x=142&y=16&pg=1&re=0&AVSDM=20 11-08-15+00%3a17%3a00
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Ridesinnm
Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - 09:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Right now seems to be a good time to hire on as an air traffic controller if you are a veteran. I'm in my 30th year at the enroute center in albuquerque. Veterans, and graduates of only a few schools seems to be who they are hiring now.

Brad.
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B00stzx3
Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - 01:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Usajobs.gov is good, but some agencies don't use it. I'd suggest calling around to agencies within your commuting area. The basic breakdown is..

Federal = better benefits, less net pay, more stability
Contractors = better pay, less stability and benefits

A contractor in my position makes more but I get a free parking spot!
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Mtjm2
Posted on Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 03:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks Badlionsfan ! sent him an email to get on the Badweb and check out the thread .

He was pleasantly surprised,

Passing on a BIG thank you from him and myself .
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