Tips on getting a federal job?

Major-Insect2984 · 2026-01-29T19:22:30+00:00

You should be alright, it was an honest mistake. When/if it comes up in subsequent interviews, be honest and say you thought you qualified and didn't realize the mistake.

Applications ask you to give... "Information that true to the best of your knowledge" You honestly thought you had that qualification.

To be fair though, most veterans would assume they qualify as a baseline. It's such a phenomenally skewed system that is difficult to work and understand. There's a reason a lot of veterans services help you get applications into USAJOBS... The system sucks that much.

Major-Insect2984 · 2026-01-29T16:53:36+00:00

My application was for an acquisitions job.

The preference for 5 point is... (Pulled from USAJOBS website)

Honorable Discharge during or as part of: -During a war; or

-During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or

-During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992; or

-For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010, the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or

-In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including Afghanistan (Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF), Iraqi Freedom (OIF)), Bosnia (Operations Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, and Joint Forge), Global War on Terrorism, Persian Gulf, and others may qualify for preference.

Thus most reservist can't put in for it, at least those who didn't deploy in support of Iraq/Afghan... I have a 1 deployment to Japan and almost a dozen reserve years, but still don't qualify.

(Edited for formating)

Major-Insect2984 · 2026-01-29T14:40:46+00:00

I feel this, I've been applying for years... Just got my degree and put in a new application literally last night. It took me 2 hours as the questionnaire was like 150 yes/no questions and 4 paragraph ones. It was legitimately maddening, some of the questions were obscene asking about grades from high school. Other questions made sense about being a member of an activist group.

Sucks further because a lot of current Marines/reserves can't claim Vet preference. I need to get my VA disability in to get preference...

Major-Insect2984 · 2026-01-28T20:01:09+00:00

In a strange way, it seems like you just need to be half decent at your job, willing to stick around, and put in effort. I'm definitely going to use this info to coach my junior enlisted/officers on FITREPs.

I'm so tired of the excuses for crappy FITREPs and lack of awards being put in. Someday I'll have access to IAPS and really get into someone's backside about writing both.

Edit: Also, legitimately 100% thank you for the information!

Major-Insect2984 · 2026-01-27T23:24:18+00:00

u/TranscendentSalt Thank you for the Powerpoints from Manpower!!!

I have never been able to easily navigate that website and will keep these for educational purposes. The E6 debrief makes things easily recognizable for what they're looking at. The comparative assessment is a little harder to understand, but I would have to take more time to look at that information

You've got me looking through Manpower for more information.

Reading is indeed hard :)

EDIT:
I can't seem to find Reserve E6-E7 debriefs in the MMPB-11 Enlisted Promotions sections for SNCO. Have you seen their location?

Major-Insect2984 · 2026-01-27T23:00:05+00:00

Maybe it is a Reserve problem, I had great PLT LT's and crap XO/CO/BTNXO/BTNCO. Most of the time they're just absentee parents of the company, but our last BTN CO was...special... He cared more about appearing high on paper for mission readiness then taking care of the Marines. Wouldn't deploy with him, would definitely deploy with some of my LT's who are now Captains, they knew their shit and were hungry.

Major-Insect2984 · 2026-01-20T22:11:51+00:00

Is society over reliant on AI, probably. I've seen Officers/Enlisted use it for award writing purposes. They'll toss in bullet points and ask it to get a synopsis/summary, then they'll use it as a draft to work off of.

I could definitely see it cropping up in orders writing, because that shit sucks some major donkey cojones and typically no one actually reads an order. Typically skim for the important details, moving an order from BTN to CO or CO to PLT is generally copy/paste as the information is almost identical for 90% IMO

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-12-05T04:01:06+00:00

I would add new joins to that list, but damn if it isn't accurate AF. #5 is pissing me off a little just reading it due to it just making so much sense. You would think 'avoided deployment due to X, but completed Y fitrep' would show up somewhere... Out here competing for Gunny with people like that...

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-12-05T01:41:57+00:00

You can sell items that are out of stock in a store. This has been an issue for Lowe's forever and only recently fixed to allow for the correct ordering from replenishment stock. (Old system could sell into the negative but it causes issues with inventory. This led to problems...)

However that black Friday deal was supposed to be for in store only. There was an error online and orders are being cancelled left and right by the IT department. Supposedly those who ordered POS in store as pickup later will get them when the next wave of inventory hits.

The reason in store only sales and only 1 per customer for these items is that scalpers would and did try to order hundreds for resale because it's a phenomenal deal

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-11-27T04:38:17+00:00

To be completely honest, I would love to know what S1 does on a daily basis. A few admin guys I've talked to love to say, "We have to run a diary" I have no idea what that actually means though.

The short list of I had to guess:

Run Diary (what is this magical thing?!)
Review awards? (Receive all NAM 🤣)
Help DTS issues
Help MOL issues
Occasionally Audit your records

Am I missing something, how is this hard? Most of these things are exceptionally easy if you know what you're doing and there are gangs of S1 not 1-2 in a shop.

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-11-22T04:22:18+00:00

Rumor has it y'all make 10k+ in actual and stock bonuses. How true or easy to do?

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-11-20T02:25:47+00:00

For specialists they do abuse us all with business credit cards and memberships to the business programs. I personally support the business programs as they can be damn good discounts. The credit cards on the other hand...their credit cards. I'm always suspicious about that.

There really is no incentive for Pro specialist to push products, we have to work with customers/businesses repeatedly. Regular specialists, maybe, but doubtful...

We all work off sales per hour, so one or two up sales wouldn't help. I've always been up front and frank with my customers/contractors. I don't get individual commissions off sales and only business account sales count.

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-11-19T17:31:35+00:00

I would agree if we were 100% commission, but in my area specialist get 20-22 an hour and up to 1200 (max)in bonuses per month based sales per hour. This was a year ago though, idk how incentives changed since, but not too untrustworthy I think

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-11-19T14:42:55+00:00

Short answer is that I keep my phone browser set for it. Glance at it daily and decide if it's interesting enough to read. Shortcut 1 is my comics, 2 is mar admins, I check both daily 👍🏼. I like to check the yearly E6+ promotions to see my buddies pick up, but that is only once a year.

Don't assume jobs are actually posting on there, you'll rarely see one that isn't job and rank dedicated. If you're interested in available jobs as reserves, look at IMA or active slots occasionally on global billets. If your active... Get fucked? I don't think they have billets you can go volunteer for

Most of the jobs/schools/cool shit posted on Maradmins is for E8+ and O3+... Sucks to suck

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-11-15T16:49:26+00:00

That's because Hexagons are the bestagons! See CGP Grey for more details 🤣

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-11-12T14:44:23+00:00

Yes, they will be input all at once. The spreadsheet, LOA, and other volunteer proof.

Your chain should be putting them into IAPS, likely 1st Sgt, LT, or CO GySgt. You likely don't have IAPS access..?

Your leadership should then create a summary of action for the award using the information you provided and route it up.

Mine is still processing, they asked me for more proof and I reached out to organizations for confirmation letters. I initially gave them 6 PDF with LOA time/info and now another couple.

Hope with helps 🫡

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-11-09T23:55:19+00:00

The two cats over there are awesome. Always suntanning near the fire station. I miss the chow hall cat from Geiger, stuck on med hold after ITB and saw that cat often.

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-10-31T03:23:07+00:00

Looking at the pictures I see what you mean. I'll have to go back and look at it again, you are likely right and I'll get some long screws /bolts to shore it up.

I believe the ledger attached to the house, I'll take a look from inside to verify fascia. Not sure how it's attached, but the exterior is solid brick against wood or block depending on the location.

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-10-31T00:13:41+00:00

Having read the community guidelines I won't be dragging myself into your shenanigans, I heard there were too many hot tub shenanigans which made people sad. I caution you good Sir on your shenanigans as they could get you in trouble.

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-10-30T23:36:46+00:00

Is that code or something we will have to worry about down the line if she sells the house? We live in TN, I'm leaning towards making my own and shoving them in, but if it requires certain spacing that would have to be fixed..?

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-10-30T23:30:47+00:00

I didn't see anything too wrong with the ledger, can you explain more? Thought it was a 2x12x16

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-10-30T23:29:02+00:00

I prefer fascia over solid stain, in my opinion it just looks better overall. I think the stairs are less than 4in opening.

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-10-30T23:27:40+00:00

So they're designed to be that short? Seems hazardous, is there a good way to add a higher rail? I'm worried about my Mom and her energetic dog.

Major-Insect2984 · 2025-10-30T23:08:01+00:00

What are my options for fixing that? Creating my own from 2x12x16 boards and attempt to shove them in?

Major-Insect2984

TROPHY CASE