Here’s an interesting article on federal hiring processes. This sounds familiar:
“Federal government job seekers feel like their resumes go into a black hole. Hiring can take months. The most talented people don’t make the cut.”
Why is it so hard to get a federal job? Here’s one reason.
I applied for a federal job a few years ago, for which I think I was highly qualified, but I never got a call or any indication that I was being considered.
I’ve taught several “career skills” classes for forestry and wildlife-management students. One of the most important bits of advice is to seek out and speak with the people (at the USFS, BLM, or any other federal, state, or private employer) doing the hiring, which takes time and effort, but can help a great deal.