Federal/Contracting Job Availability in San Diego (San Francisco: 2013, apartment complex)

[KARW43]

I am a transplanted Virginian in the Bay Area of California. I am looking at moving to San Diego while enrolled in grad school. I am trying to find out the difficulty in finding a contractor or federal government job. I researched it and San Diego has one of the highest per capita federal jobs in the country. I recently learned DOD, and maybe other agencies, have hiring on hold for 60 days approximately due to the pandemic, other than the "local commuting area." Does anyone have a sense of how tough it might be to find a federal job there, compared to San Francisco? I got a bargain on rent until October in the Bay Area but it will really go up, and not be affordable then. I'm trying to head off that issue and find a more affordable place to live, even if by a little. I spent some time down there in 2012-2013 and already am familiar with the area. My apartment complex exchanges in a relocation program so I could move in May. I understand employers are hiring but are doing phone interviews, etc. If anyone has insights, please let me know. My alternative is to return to Virginia, but it seems unsafe to try to drive across the country right now with this pandemic rapidly evolving. I thought it might be smarter to stay in this state and try for a job here. I know so many people are unemployed.

[moved]

Right now you can forget about either one of those. It's literally impossible to get a Federal job these days unless you know someone. I have a friend that's been trying for close to five years, and has gotten nowhere.

[snpdragr]

Originally Posted by KARW43

Does anyone have a sense of how tough it might be to find a federal job there, compared to San Francisco?

That's going to depend so much on your field, I doubt you can get any useful info here without being specific. I'd ask people in your grad program who finished and already went through a job search keeping in mind current conditions.

[echo42]

Originally Posted by KARW43

I am a transplanted Virginian in the Bay Area of California. I am looking at moving to San Diego while enrolled in grad school. I am trying to find out the difficulty in finding a contractor or federal government job. I researched it and San Diego has one of the highest per capita federal jobs in the country. I recently learned DOD, and maybe other agencies, have hiring on hold for 60 days approximately due to the pandemic, other than the "local commuting area." Does anyone have a sense of how tough it might be to find a federal job there, compared to San Francisco? I got a bargain on rent until October in the Bay Area but it will really go up, and not be affordable then. I'm trying to head off that issue and find a more affordable place to live, even if by a little. I spent some time down there in 2012-2013 and already am familiar with the area. My apartment complex exchanges in a relocation program so I could move in May. I understand employers are hiring but are doing phone interviews, etc. If anyone has insights, please let me know. My alternative is to return to Virginia, but it seems unsafe to try to drive across the country right now with this pandemic rapidly evolving. I thought it might be smarter to stay in this state and try for a job here. I know so many people are unemployed.

It is very hard to get a federal job or contractor position right now. Most positions here in San Diego are military/law enforcement or military/law enforcement support. The majority of those positions require a security clearance. If you do not have an active S or TS they are not going to pick you up because it takes too long right now to go through the clearance process. They can hire someone internal and not have to wait 12-18 months for them to go through the clearance process.

I retired from the federal government and do occasional contracting work for them in retirement and I have not had any work for since the pandemic thing. Even before that the opportunities were few and far between.

If you're willing to apply for an entry level position in the GS 2-5 range you may have some luck. Check USAJOBS.GOV