Jobs Live

Applying for Government and Security-related Jobs

Derrick Dortch is a career counselor who specializes in government job searching and military transition. Currently, he is president of The Diversa Group, a firm that focuses on career counseling and development, entrepreneurship, leadership and organizational consulting, training and development. He also runs The Career Success Group as well as Targeted Resumes.

Find more career-related news and advice in our Jobs section.

The transcript follows below.

____________________

Derrick Dortch: Good Morning, Good Morning,

Well it seems like the cold has found us but its still a beautiful day outside and we are going to have a great show. Today I will be taking your questions on the federal job search and how to succeed at it. Whether you are trying to get a government job or are a federal worker trying to move up the government career ladder then I am here to help you succeed. Also if you have any questions about security clearances, military transition or anything related to your career please feel free to ask.

Thank you for participating or viewing and without further delay on to the show.

CAREER EVENT

Careers with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

A CIA official provides a unique look at various careers within the agency, discusses the current and future needs of the CIA, and provides information about the recruitment process.

Friday, November 30, 2007

at 6:00 PM

Institute of World Politics (IWP)

1521 16th Street, NW

Washington, DC

RSVP is required! RSVP by emailing: CareerServices@iwp.edu

Please visit www.IWP.edu for more information on The Institute of World Politics

NEWS OF INTEREST

Credentials could ease hiring for IT security jobs

By Alyssa Rosenberg, Govexec.com October 25, 2007

http://govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38380&sid=59

Certification requirements for information security professionals would help agencies smooth the hiring process, representatives from professional certification organizations said at a conference earlier this week.

Clearing the Roadblocks to Telecommuting

By Stephen Barr, The Washington Post

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/05/AR2007110501586.html

Concerned that too few federal employees are getting plugged into telecommuting, House Democrats are drafting legislation that would encourage agencies to allow eligible employees to telework four days a month, on average.

Pentagon to add 75,000 employees to new personnel system

By Brittany R. Ballenstedt bballenstedt, Govexec.com, October 31, 2007

http://govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38430&sid=59

The Defense Department is planning to transfer an additional 75,000 nonbargaining unit employees to its new pay-for-performance system, according to an online notice posted Wednesday.

To Recruit on Campus, Use E-Mail, Dude

By Stephen Barr, The Washington Post

Friday, October 26, 2007

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/25/AR2007102502532.html

A two-year research project on how to market the government on college campuses indicates that e-mails touting hot jobs and cool internships, along with other low-cost outreach activities, could increase interest among students in working for Uncle Sam.

_______________________

Derrick Dortch: Hello Washington, DC,

Since the schools are accredited and well known I would see no reason why you would need to get a certification. Usually an accredited degree will suffice in terms of positions within the government that require a degree at a certain level. If you went to a school like London School of Economics (LSE) or any of the other well know British institutions then I see no problem in your degree being accepted by a government agency in the United States.

In terms of certifications make sure you check to see what the agency is looking for. Many agencies will require certain technical or specialized training and certifications for the position they are hiring for. One that is common is for the position of Contract Specialist. Some of these positions require training and certification from the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). If you do not have this then you will not be eligible for this position. In looking at the requirements of the position make sure you do have everything they are looking for before you apply. If you do not you will be wasting your time in applying to a position that you are not qualified for.

But in terms of the degrees you have I think you are quite fine.

I hope this helps. Take care and I wish you much success.

_______________________

Washington, D.C. : How long does it generally take for interviews to take place and the hiring process on a whole following the closing date of a government position?

Derrick Dortch: Hello DC,

Great question. I usually tell clients I am working with that it may take 30 - 45 - 60 days before they hear back from a federal agency about interviews. Now I have seen some agencies move much faster and I have seen agencies move much slower. What I usually recommend is the following:

Before you submit your application package make sure you get the HR contact information off the announcement. Make sure you keep the information and you may want to call the HR person in advance to make sure it is the right person who is handling the announcement and to ask some questions about the process.

Do not hesitate to call the HR contact. There job is to answer questions and to assist people who are applying for the position. I have honestly found many to be quite helpful and friendly. It is always good to know the person who is handling the job posting.

When you call make sure you ask targeted questions about the hiring process. Ask how quick they are trying to fill this position. Ask about interviews. Ask about any additional information you can provide that might be helpful. Whatever you need to ask make sure you do.

After you submit your application make sure you call back and verify they have received it and that it is good to go. From there I would suggest you touch base with the HR contact every few weeks until you hear something.

After you receive the call about interviews make sure you do extensive preparation in terms of research and in terms of selling yourself. Be prepared for both one-on-one interviews as well as a panel interview. Also make sure you are prepared to take a test which can be anything from a writing sample to a standardized test. This will depend on the position. You can find out about any testing from the HR Representative.

After the interview if you are selected for the position things can either go very quick or can slow down. This is usually very much so dependent on if you need to get a security clearance or not. It can also depend on the federal budget and if it has been passed or not.

If you need to get a clearance it may take anywhere between 1 month to 12 months before you start. This all depends on the level of clearance you need and your background.

I hope this gives you some insight and is helpful. If you have more questions please contact me at dtd@diversagroup.com.

Take care and I wish you much success.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I have just entered into the adjudication stage of getting my clearance w/the defense department. I'm told my case is fairly uncomplicated (I'm young and have not travelled extensively). Do you have any idea how long I might expect to be waiting? Also, is there any reason that I would be called in for more information/testing during this stage?

Thanks.

Derrick Dortch: Hello DC,

If you are in the adjudication stage and you do not have any red flags in terms of your final history (bad credit), criminal record, drug history, mental health, and foreign associates and travel then you should be hearing from the agency or government contractor very soon about your clearance being granted. I would say before the end of the year you should be good to go.

If your case is uncomplicated as you say then the only thing that would hold you up is a backlog with the adjudicators. With that being said I have seen some people get cleared in record times recently so hopefully you will be one of them who is cleared in the very near future.

In terms of additional information it is possible you will be called to provide more. What I suggest is that you go through your SF-86 or the Security Clearance Questionnaire you completed online and make sure you have provided as much information as possible for each section. The more the adjudicator has the better. If you have more then contact your security officer at the agency or govt contractor and let them know you have more information to provide. They will take it from there.

Let me know how it works out. Take care and I wish you much success.

_______________________

Annandale, Va.: Morning, Derrick. This is Ernest, I spoke with you over the phone about a week ago, for what I am grateful to you.

Just want to know your thoughts regarding all this mess with the appropriation bills and their submission to the president. Is there a possibility that we could run into another Continuing Resolution? And if we do, will we experience another "hiring freeze" similar to one in 2007? How about the applicants (FBI IA & CA in particular) who are clear to go and are only waiting for a budget to be approved?

As always, thank you for your valuable input.

Derrick Dortch: Ernest,

It was good talking to you. Anytime the federal government does not fully pass the budget then it effects hiring in a negative way. When monies are not appropriated to agencies they can not bring on new people whether they are cleared or not. Unfortunately that is the bottom line. For all of those who are cleared or going through their final stages of being cleared with their security clearances you just have to hang on. When the monies are allocated to the agencies they will more than likely bring you aboard.

The key is while you wait make sure you stay in touch with your security officials and with your hiring manager and other points of contact. Make sure you keep everyone in the loop of progress and give the security officials anything they may need that will help in getting you cleared faster.

From there it is just a waiting game. If you keep in touch with the agency and you let them know you are still enthusiastic and very much so interested and they say the same about you coming on board then you should be fine. It will just be a matter of waiting for the agency to get their monies so they can begin hiring and bringing people on board again.

Be patience. It is coming. Hang in there a little while longer.

Let me know when you hear something.

Take care and I wish you much success.

_______________________

Anonymous: What impact would past mental health problems like depression have on applying for jobs within the federal government?

Derrick Dortch: Hello Anonymous,

The impact could be quite serious and much depends on how serious the depression has been and how it has been treated. This is what the Adjudicative Desk Reference - ADR (The ADR is used to train Adjudicators on what to look for in determining suitability for a security clearance) says about mental and emotional disorders. Below take a look at why it is relevant to security, what are the potential disqualifying factors and what are the mitigating conditions.

-----

Relevance to Security

Mental health is a security concern because it determines how a person reacts to the stresses and strains of daily life. The fact that an individual has had, or continues to have, an emotional, mental, or personality disorder does not, of itself, preclude granting access to classified information. The issue is whether the individual's condition causes, or may cause, a lapse in judgment or reliability.

Mental health problems may relate to security in the following ways:

* They may cause behavior that is unpredictable or not under conscious, rational control, thereby raising doubts about an individual's reliability, stability, or judgment under stress. The security relevance of specific disorders is discussed as part of the Nontechnical Descriptions of Selected Disorders.

* They may predispose an individual to undesirable or illegal behavior, including espionage. See Behavior Patterns Associated with Espionage.

In adjudicating mental health issues, we do not look only at an individual's past and current mental health and stability. We also look for potential future instability, unreliability, or untrustworthiness. How the individual actually behaves may be more relevant for security adjudication than the medical diagnosis.

Potentially Disqualifying Conditions

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association describes several hundred emotional, mental, or personality disorders. Such disorders are relatively common.

The key issue, however, is not whether an individual has some disorder, or which disorder it is. The key issue is whether subject has behaved in a manner that suggests current or future unreliability, untrustworthiness, poor judgment, or any other reason for believing subject may be a poor security risk.

Adjudicators should not try to be amateur psychologists, but they should:

* Understand how to use professional diagnoses of mental health disorders, including their limitations.

* Recognize indicators that suggest a need for professional evaluation.

* Recognize behavior patterns associated with espionage and other illegal or unethical behavior.

The potential security significance of any disorder depends upon its severity (intensity and duration of symptoms), how destabilizing it is, how responsive to treatment, whether there has been appropriate treatment, and a professional judgment about possible recurrence and what else might happen in the future.

The following are potential security concerns:

* Behavior that indicates an individual may suffer from an emotional or mental problem. Relevant behaviors are listed under Indicators of Potential Emotional or Mental Problems.

* Personality disorders or character weaknesses that clinical and empirical research indicate are associated with white-collar crimes, including espionage. See Behavior Patterns Associated with Espionage.

* Any current emotional, mental, or personality disorder diagnosed by a mental health professional. Some of the most frequently encountered diagnoses are explained in Nontechnical Descriptions of Selected Emotional, Mental, and Personality Disorders.

* Taking any prescription drug intended to influence mental or emotional functioning. See Drugs for Emotional and Mental Disorders.

* Premature termination of mental health treatment, unsuccessful treatment, or noncompliance with treatment recommendations, e.g., failure to take prescribed medication.

* History of violent or abusive behavior toward spouse, children, elders, or work associates.

* Compulsive behaviors, such as compulsive gambling, eating disorders, paraphilias, compulsive sexual behavior, or compulsive lying. A behavior is compulsive when it is beyond a person's control, i.e., the person continues to engage in it despite adverse medical, legal, social, family, or work consequences.

* Abnormal preoccupation with or irresponsible use of weapons.

* Refusal to take medical/psychiatric tests when so directed by competent authority.

Many forms of short-term counseling (less than six months) have no relevance to security. This includes counseling for adolescent or school adjustment problems, bereavement counseling, or counseling for victims of rape, incest, or other trauma.

Mitigating Conditions

An emotional, mental, or personality disorder might be considered mitigated if:

* A temporary condition (less than six months) was caused by a traumatic personal circumstance which no longer exists and has minimal chance of recurring. Death of a loved one, serious illness, or marital breakup are examples of circumstances that might trigger temporary emotional instability.

* There is no indication of a current problem. Recent evaluation by a credentialed mental health professional finds that the previous emotional, mental, or personality disorder has been cured or is in remission with a low probability of recurrence.

* An ongoing emotional or mental disorder is (a) mild, or (b) has been controlled by the conscientious use of prescribed medication for a period of at least two years. Long-term continuation of the medication must be medically practical and must be expected to preclude recurrence of any condition that may affect judgment or reliability.

------

As you can see the government takes mental and emotional disorders or issues serious but just because you have some issues in the past does not mean that you can never get a security clearance. Now that you know what they are looking for make sure you meet the mitigating conditions and then go forward from there.

You can find more information on this at:

http://www.smdc.army.mil/ADR/emotion/emoteF.htm

If you need additional assistance please contact me at dtd@diversagroup.com.

Take care. I hope this helps and I wish you much success.

_______________________

Rosslyn, Va.: Just a comment on how important contacts are in job hunting. My boyfriend was not happy in his previous job and had been looking for some time to make a move. By chance, a work acquaintance mentioned a possible opening, and it panned out. He loves his new position. Goes to show that you never know where an opportunity will present itself.

Derrick Dortch: Rosslyn, VA,

Well said, well said. Thank you for sharing that piece of wise advice. I always say this to clients and to people in seminars that it is both "What you know and who you know" that counts in succeeding in your career, work and life.

When doing a job search make sure you tell people who you can trust about your job search. Let them know what you are looking for in terms of positions of interest. You never know if they may know someone in the right position at the right agency, company or organization and in need of the right person which is you.

Your network contacts are just as important in a job search as searching for posting on the Internet and other places. So make sure you use them.

Thank you again Rosslyn for your comments. Take care and I wish you and your boyfriend much success.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: For job announcements that are open for about a week (opens Monday and closes Friday), would it be safe to assume that the organization already has someone in mind to fill it and that they are only making the announcement as a requirement?

Thank you.

Derrick Dortch: Hello Arlington, VA

YES, YES, and YES. This job is usually targeted towards an individual or a certain group of people who are already doing that work.

There are a couple things you want to look at when evaluating whether you should target a federal job or not.

1. Open and Close Dates

If a position is only open 5 - 7 - 10 days then you should be very careful of that position. Short open and close dates are always an indicator that the job is targeted towards someone or a group of individuals.

2. Targeted/Too Specific KSA Questions

If a KSA question is too targeted or too specific and asks for knowledge, skills and abilities in an area that you could have only received if you worked for that agency or for a government contractor working with that agency or a related one then and you do not have those qualifications then the position is one you should avoid.

Many people make the mistake and think they have all the KSA questions answered except one because its too targeted/specific. If this is the case do not waste your time applying to that position. KSA questions are designed to weed people out very quickly and a HR person can tell if you know what you are talking about or not in your response.

When looking at federal jobs on USAJOBS be very analytical and evaluate the positions closely. Check the qualifications carefully as well as the dates and make sure it is truly and open position for you to apply to. Since federal agencies do not spend money to post on USAJOBS you will see both open positions and targeted positions on there.

When you do see government positions actually advertised in The Washington Post, in other papers, on job sites, in magazine and other places that costs money then that means that the job is actually open to the public. Federal agencies do not spend money unless they are seriously recruiting people from the public.

When you see the CIA saying they want people in a magazine or in the paper then you can best believe they paid a good amount for that ad and they are really looking for people from the public to apply. So do not only look at USAJOBS keep looking at WashingtonJobs and other places for federal jobs as well.

I hope this was helpful and if you need any additional help please contact me at dtd@diversagroup.com.

Take care and I wish you much success.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I am interested in becoming a special agent with NCIS. I went to their Web site, read everything related to becoming an agent, but still have some questions. What exactly are they looking for? Is there anything in particular I should emphasize when applying? Are grades important or do they just want to see you have a college degree? Thank you.

Derrick Dortch: Hello DC,

NCIS is a great agency to work for. I know some good people over there and the work they do in terms of counter terrorism, intelligence, counter-intelligence, investigations, and other areas is amazing. The television show on CBS has made them a much more popular agency but they are always looking for good candidates.

It would take me quite a while to answer your questions so I suggest you contact me at dtd@diversagroup.com and I can break down what exactly they are looking for when it comes to a Special Agent candidate.

What I will tell everyone is that NCIS is looking for a variety of people including:

- Former military

- Former Law Enforcement

- IT Professionals

- Various professional backgrounds with a record of performance and achievement

- Good Academics

- Moral integrity

- Ability to travel worldwide

These are just some of the things that make a good applicant. Much of what I have mentioned is general but I will go more in-depth if I talk to you.

Please contact me at dtd@diversagroup.com and we will talk about the NCIS Special Agent position. Make sure you send your resume when you email me.

Take care and I look forward to hearing from you.

_______________________

Annapolis, Md.: Hi, Derrick. Thanks as always for your chats, they are a great resource. I always find it interesting to read about how different agencies are trying hard to market to the younger generations. In my experience (having given up after several years of being unsuccessful in finding federal employment), the hiring process itself is a huge part of the problem. It is SO difficult to find out anything about jobs, you get very little feedback, and the deck seems to be stacked way too much on the side of current federal employees. Maybe if they acted like they really wanted to hire new people, instead of just talking about it, people would want to work for them.

Derrick Dortch: Hello Annapolis,

Thank you for your question and comments. First I do not want you to give up on the federal job search. If this is something you really want to do then lets talk about it. To me "Everything is Possible with the Right Strategy".

I know that the process can be difficult and many government agencies have been very, very slow to change but I have seen quite a few take strides to improve the hiring process as well as the notification process of if a person is qualified, and if their materials were sent to a selecting official or not.

Many agencies are recognizing the need to change to make sure they bring in quality, qualified talent. So do not give up on the process just yet. Contact me at dtd@diversagroup.com and lets talk about your interest in the federal government and then lets talk about what strategy needs to be put in place to help you succeed in achieving this goal.

Take care and I hope to hear from you.

_______________________

Greenbelt: I already have a NACI clearance requested by DOJ. Will this help me or speed up the process if a apply for a position that requires a confidential clearance from say a defense agency?

Derrick Dortch: Hello Greenbelt,

Your National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) should help in speeding up your process. The confidential clearance includes the NAC/NACI and then a few other steps so if you have that knocked out then it will help the investigator in getting his/her investigation completed and turning your file over the the adjudicator. If you do not have any other major problems I would say that your clearance should be granted in one to three months (best case scenario). If it is not then there may be something that is being looked at with more scrutiny or there may just be a backlog. Right now with the massive volume of individual being cleared there is often a backlog.

Let me know how it works out for you. Thanks for your question and I wish you much success in your career, work and life.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Both of my degrees (BA and MA) are from schools in Europe. The bachelor's is an accredited American school and the master's from a well known British university. I have seen in the government job listings that I may need to get a certification to ensure that my degree(s) match up to a US equivalent. Do you believe this is the case with me? And if so, can you recommend a good place?

Derrick Dortch: Hello Washington, DC,

Since the schools are accredited and well known I would see no reason why you would need to get a certification. Usually an accredited degree will suffice in terms of positions within the government that require a degree at a certain level. If you went to a school like London School of Economics (LSE) or any of the other well know British institutions then I see no problem in your degree being accepted by a government agency in the United States.

In terms of certifications make sure you check to see what the agency is looking for. Many agencies will require certain technical or specialized training and certifications for the position they are hiring for. One that is common is for the position of Contract Specialist. Some of these positions require training and certification from the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). If you do not have this then you will not be eligible for this position. In looking at the requirements of the position make sure you do have everything they are looking for before you apply. If you do not you will be wasting your time in applying to a position that you are not qualified for.

But in terms of the degrees you have I think you are quite fine.

I hope this helps. Take care and I wish you much success.

_______________________

Virginia: Many feds are being and getting promoted with fake diploma mills. The Department of Education has a new Web site for colleges/universities with real accreditation.

Derrick Dortch: Hello Virginia,

You are right many federal agencies are being to look at degrees with more scrutiny. When applying to a federal position the key is to tell the truth at all times. Lying or being deceptive on a federal application can come back to haunt you and have numerous consequences.

Thank you for your comment.

_______________________

D.C.: If you a have a felony conviction, can you still apply for a federal job?

Derrick Dortch: I don't have time to get into this in-depth but here is a great resource for anyone who has been convicted on a felony and is trying to get back to work. It is from the HIRE Network and I hope it is helpful in answering your question.

Federal Occupational Restrictions Affecting People with Criminal Records

http://www.hirenetwork.org/fed_occ_restrictions.html

Let me know if you have any more questions. If so please contact me at dtd@diversagroup.com.

Take care and I hope that was helpful.

_______________________

Derrick Dortch: Well that is it for me folks. Time truly does fly when you are having fun and I truly enjoyed taking your questions. We will be back in December with another show on the federal job search, security clearances, military transition, the general job search and taking your questions on how to succeed in your career, work and life.

As usual, I would like to thank my producer for all of her great work and I would like to thank you for stopping by the show and participating or viewing. I truly appreciate you.

Enjoy the holidays with your families and be safe and I will see you in December. Take care and I wish you much success in your career, work and life.

Derrick T. Dortch

_______________________

Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.