Application tips for big fed? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Biglaw third year here that just applied for a big fed job in my city (not dc). Does anyone have any general application tips for these types of positions? For example, should I follow up with their contact person about my interest in the job or anything?

[Anonymous User]

It may depend a bit on what you mean by bigfed, but no, I don't think following up with the contact person about your interest will accomplish anything. If you know people in the office, you could let them know you've applied and that you're very interested, but really, employers assume that people who apply for their jobs are interested.

I don't think there's much you can do at this point until/unless you get called for an interview. Before applying, you want to have made sure that your cover letter makes clear why you want to be in that office and why they should be interested in you, and you could have tried to connect with people in the office for informational interviews if you have any connections you could work. Then at the interview stage, you want to be able to articulate what you can contribute to the mission of their office.

[Anonymous User]

It may depend a bit on what you mean by bigfed, but no, I don't think following up with the contact person about your interest will accomplish anything. If you know people in the office, you could let them know you've applied and that you're very interested, but really, employers assume that people who apply for their jobs are interested.

I don't think there's much you can do at this point until/unless you get called for an interview. Before applying, you want to have made sure that your cover letter makes clear why you want to be in that office and why they should be interested in you, and you could have tried to connect with people in the office for informational interviews if you have any connections you could work. Then at the interview stage, you want to be able to articulate what you can contribute to the mission of their office.

If they didn’t ask for a cover letter, I’m guessing I should submit one anyway?

[Anonymous User]

It may depend a bit on what you mean by bigfed, but no, I don't think following up with the contact person about your interest will accomplish anything. If you know people in the office, you could let them know you've applied and that you're very interested, but really, employers assume that people who apply for their jobs are interested.

I don't think there's much you can do at this point until/unless you get called for an interview. Before applying, you want to have made sure that your cover letter makes clear why you want to be in that office and why they should be interested in you, and you could have tried to connect with people in the office for informational interviews if you have any connections you could work. Then at the interview stage, you want to be able to articulate what you can contribute to the mission of their office.

If they didn’t ask for a cover letter, I’m guessing I should submit one anyway?

No, don't submit what you're not asked for. I said cover letter because the federal jobs I've applied for have all asked for one, and I know my office asks for one when it hires (and notes if people omit it). But if they don't ask for one, it's not necessary.

[Anonymous User]

It may depend a bit on what you mean by bigfed, but no, I don't think following up with the contact person about your interest will accomplish anything. If you know people in the office, you could let them know you've applied and that you're very interested, but really, employers assume that people who apply for their jobs are interested.

I don't think there's much you can do at this point until/unless you get called for an interview. Before applying, you want to have made sure that your cover letter makes clear why you want to be in that office and why they should be interested in you, and you could have tried to connect with people in the office for informational interviews if you have any connections you could work. Then at the interview stage, you want to be able to articulate what you can contribute to the mission of their office.

If they didn’t ask for a cover letter, I’m guessing I should submit one anyway?

No, don't submit what you're not asked for. I said cover letter because the federal jobs I've applied for have all asked for one, and I know my office asks for one when it hires (and notes if people omit it). But if they don't ask for one, it's not necessary.

Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

What is the hiring timeline for most fed agencies? I’m guessing they move slower than firms, a few months or so?

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

What is the hiring timeline for most fed agencies? I’m guessing they move slower than firms, a few months or so?

Depends on the agency's needs and other circumstances, but yes, it will be a lot slower. For one thing, if there's an application deadline in the job posting, they won't review applications/pick people for interviews until after that deadline. (If you're applying via USAjobs, I don't think the hiring committee can even see the applications until after the deadline.) For my current position, it was about 6 weeks between the application deadline and offer (with 2 rounds of interviews in between), but that was also pretty fast; it can definitely be slower. When you start work will be slower still if you need to do the background check for a sensitive position (i.e. criminal AUSA; not sure how widespread that background check is for other jobs, although there's always some background check).

But "fed agencies" is a really broad umbrella so it can depend on which agency, too.

(If there isn't a specific job posting and you're applying on a more rolling basis, I think it's sort of impossible to predict.)

[Anonymous User]

What is the hiring timeline for most fed agencies? I’m guessing they move slower than firms, a few months or so?

Depends on the agency's needs and other circumstances, but yes, it will be a lot slower. For one thing, if there's an application deadline in the job posting, they won't review applications/pick people for interviews until after that deadline. (If you're applying via USAjobs, I don't think the hiring committee can even see the applications until after the deadline.) For my current position, it was about 6 weeks between the application deadline and offer (with 2 rounds of interviews in between), but that was also pretty fast; it can definitely be slower. When you start work will be slower still if you need to do the background check for a sensitive position (i.e. criminal AUSA; not sure how widespread that background check is for other jobs, although there's always some background check).

But "fed agencies" is a really broad umbrella so it can depend on which agency, too.

(If there isn't a specific job posting and you're applying on a more rolling basis, I think it's sort of impossible to predict.)

Thanks, it’s fdic through USAjobs

[crazywafflez]

For my bigfed job, it took around 3-4 months, but honestly, that was pretty fast. I think it is not uncommon to take upwards of 6 months, and as another poster said, they don't review the apps until after the deadline.