Federal Jobs on the Big Island (Hilo: living, law, legal)

[Sunshine808]

I was wondering what is your experience when applying for a federal job on the Big Island. I have been applying for GS-4/5 Biological Science Technician. My resume has all the keywords, and I never can get referred for jobs with the NPS or USDA for the past 9 years. I have seen folks hired for the same position without the education or experience due to close relatives or friends working in the system. I am leaving my hometown for the same position they wont interview me for, on the mainland. I bet whoever they hired was a relative or friend.

I submitted over 10 resumes with various USDA agencies in Hilo & Kona, I was referred but they never wanted to interview me.

I submitted 9 resumes with NPS and FWS, there HR SPECIALIST thinks I don't have the qualifications for GS-4/5 position.

All my interviews and selections only been for jobs on the mainland with USDA.


Does anyone have experience with this?

[prospectheightsresident]

Do you have veteran status? If not, I'd imagine that it would be very tough to get into many federal jobs (true in many states, but particularly so in Hawaii). Truth be told, many of the postings on USAJobs.gov are there because they have to be made "available" by law, but often times candidates are already "chosen" before the postings are even made.

[Sunshine808]

No veterans status. HR won't refer your resume, if that was the case. If there are any veterans who applied for a job, by law they have to refer the veterans first. If no veterans accept the job, then non veterans are referred.

This part doesn't relate to veteran status. If a job is already made for someone in mind, it would be against Prohibited Personnel Practices laws. There are selecting official in Hawaii abusing their hiring authority by selecting a relative or friend. If you are an outsider, they tell you to apply on USAJobs.

[hotzcatz]

It isn't what you know or who you know, it's who knows you. Plus it doesn't hurt to be related to them. And living on the island as well.

[Sunshine808]

What is your experience with applying for federal jobs on the islands?

If someone is getting hired solely base on friendship or relative, and not experience it is against PPP laws.

[prospectheightsresident]

Originally Posted by Sunshine808

No veterans status. HR won't refer your resume, if that was the case. If there are any veterans who applied for a job, by law they have to refer the veterans first. If no veterans accept the job, then non veterans are referred.

This part doesn't relate to veteran status. If a job is already made for someone in mind, it would be against Prohibited Personnel Practices laws. There are selecting official in Hawaii abusing their hiring authority by selecting a relative or friend. If you are an outsider, they tell you to apply on USAJobs.

Veterans get hiring preference, not an inherent first right of refusal over non-veterans. They get extra points on their application so to speak.

And whether prohibited by law or not, this is how things often operate sadly. I'm not saying people are hiring their friends and family (though it wouldn't shock me), but there is often an internal hiring process, whether internal to the agency (i.e. picking from current employees) or just a process separate from the official process on USAJobs. The posting on USAJobs is often just for show as a legal requirement.

[Sunshine808]

Originally Posted by prospectheightsresident

Veterans get hiring preference, not an inherent first right of refusal over non-veterans. They get extra points on their application so to speak.

And whether prohibited by law or not, this is how things often operate sadly. I'm not saying people are hiring their friends and family (though it wouldn't shock me), but there is often an internal hiring process, whether internal to the agency (i.e. picking from current employees) or just a process separate from the official process on USAJobs. The posting on USAJobs is often just for show as a legal requirement.

Sorry I meant I have no veteran status. Yes non-veterans are not referred, if there are veterans on list. I am currently moving to the mainland for a federal job. The job which I got hired for is highly competitive especially the location I got selected for in the 3rd biggest city in the United States.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Sunshine808

I submitted over 10 resumes with various USDA agencies in Hilo & Kona, I was referred but they never wanted to interview me.

I submitted 9 resumes with NPS and FWS, there HR SPECIALIST thinks I don't have the qualifications for GS-4/5 position.

By now, you've overapplied. You've resume dumped to the point where any recruiter who brings your profile see 19 submissions to various positions and moves on.

[Sunshine808]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

By now, you've overapplied. You've resume dumped to the point where any recruiter who brings your profile see 19 submissions to various positions and moves on.

From my experience, HR cannot see how many jobs you have applied through the federal system. Are you a federal employee, if this is true I would like to know more about?

This would fall under retaliation and discrimination. You are black listing an applicant for applying X amount times for a job. Definitely I would like to know about this, if this true.

[Sunshine808]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

By now, you've overapplied. You've resume dumped to the point where any recruiter who brings your profile see 19 submissions to various positions and moves on.

I don't believe they can see that information from looking at the federal HR program. There would be applicants filing all sorts of discrimination complaints, if that was the case.