Individuals attempting to secure federal employment within civil service face a highly competitive field of worthy applicants who are seeking similar goals. Everyone is capable of reviewing daily offerings as published on all U.S. Government web sites and most begin their quest by monitoring the official U.S. government job site carried by the Office of Personnel Management. This site lists tens of thousands of government jobs worldwide and contains most of the same positions advertised on individual Agency web sites. It does not carry all however because not all Organizations are legally required to post their listings there. A small percentage therefore may be different and we recommend you go directly to the originating Agency's home page to verify all available postings.
FCPS has carefully reviewed one particular Defense Intelligence Community Organization's vacancy announcements for an eleven month period to identify certain data points of interest that are relevant to the pursuit of federal employment. Within the following pie chart we will illustrate the annual totals for all categories of vacancy announcements [minus the month of January]. In order to accomplish five major strategic actions, satisfy five fundamental imperatives and achieve eight goals listed within this defense intelligence organization's Strategic Plan there is a recurring need to retain and recruit qualified professionals. Further review of the 2009 data has allowed us to see trends and identify position availability within categories. Short term trending such as Nov 09's drop off due to DCIPS/General Service grade conversion are therefore balanced out.. As you read this pie chart slide, please note the groupings on the right side and their corresponding slices illustrate the major job categories carried by the defense intelligence organization and where opportunities exist. The numbers assigned to each category are a cumulative tally of each month Analysis consistently is the largest category and other major offerings are likewise seen as shown. To read the slide we recommend starting at the top with analysis and then proceed in a clockwise direction to follow categories listed in sequence on the right.
Carrying the discussion further, FCPS has analyzed monthly statistics over an eleven month period to provide the following conclusions for consideration. Again, this is unofficial information being compiled and presented by us as a tool for aspiring applicants seeking federal employment. Looking at slide 2, it is important to recognize that vacancies are commonly batched within overall Occupational Groups. Referring to analysis again, you should note that this occupational group contains analytical position categories such as military capabilities, political-military, medical, and scientific & technical positions. The unfamiliar and those not monitoring vacancies closely may not realize that a large number of opportunities exist within this overall grouping for intelligence planners, all-source collection managers and generic staff officers. Those watching only select categories such as "collection" and others failing to monitor each daily posting frequently miss out on promising positions.
Another important call out for the general public is that non-intelligence job categories and operational groupings make up many of the highest percentages of available vacancies. Going back to what we have said previously throughout our web site, FCPS career placement representatives understand this data thoroughly and work one-one-one with our clients to help them compete against all potential vacancies they qualify for. You do not have to be an expert in intelligence to work at this or similar defense / US government intelligence organizations, and many clients possess administrative, human resources and IT expertise that increases their chances of being hired. Those with law enforcement or prior military experience are fundamentally competitive.
Focusing with an eye on one more angle of the data, we would like to examine monthly vacancy announcements for August 2009 in terms of Pay Band grades available. Groupings shown on the right illustrate Pay Band categories available for all vacancy announcements. Numbers assigned to each category and slice are compiled from vacancies posted for the month of August with a numerical percentage then calculated. Again, our analysis illustrates an overall consistency within categories over an eleven month period with minimal fluctuation due to fiscal year offerings and seasonal imbalances. It should become blatantly obvious that roughly half of this particular defense intelligence organization's vacancy announcements are within the Pay Band 03 grade. In comparison to the old General Schedule competitive and excepted service (GS/GG) pay scales used before DCIPS [Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System], applicants now compete within a wider Pay Band 03 for a significant amount of vacancies that offer a starting salary range [with Washington D.C area cost of living allowance included] between $60,989 to $118,803. Under present economic conditions, and in conjunction with a large benefits package, this is a very competitive offering that FCPS helps clients to obtain. Second, the competition is fierce for Pay Band 05 positions with so many retiring Lieutenant Colonels/Colonels. Combining these with numerous senior level consultants and the large number of current Pay Band 04s that are also trying to get promoted, we understand why so many clients are requesting our assistance and support. Facing this kind of competition, we firmly believe our full service, turn-key "Gold Standard" value packages are unquestionably the most economic option and proven method to obtain a government job within federal service employment. We are unaware of any similar service available at any price.
The next slide provides a synopsis of this year's vacancy announcement totals beginning in February 2009. Data was not obtained for January. This illustrates the year's span of monthly offerings as a historical consideration for availability.
Allow us to complete our discussion by looking at one more important aspect of the overall employment process. First, we would like to make it clear that every U.S. government Agency has differing timelines and business processes for hiring new employees. Second, the following timelines portrayal is based in a large part on personal experience and observations obtained over a seven year period. The underlying takeaway we would like to leave with you is that obtaining employment with the federal government, and in this case within a defense intelligence organization, is a time consuming process that does not happen overnight. Those who are searching for a job that they can start at within a week or two are looking in the wrong place.
Please take a moment to look through the weigh points along the sliding scale to understand the lengthy period involved from the time you view an announcement released on the web until the time one can expect to report for duty. As a scene setter, the slide begins in the lower left with an entry indicating a generic posting day a vacancy announcement appears on the web site. Moving upwards to the right, we have annotated key milestones and events that normally occur during the overall hiring process. Some times have been averaged and may even contain a band between best case and worst case. Towards the upper middle we have captured timelines where current employees, present civil service members of the Intelligence/Law Enforcement Communities, and cleared contractors can expect to begin work respectively. Ending at the top right illustrates applicants can expect on average to take six to ten months from the position's initial posting before you are drawing salary and reporting to work for in-processing. Issues with clearance processing or administrative concerns can delay this even further.
Fundamentally speaking and with consideration to the metrics and analysis presented here, we again put forward that the pursuit of federal employment is a worthy cause with exceptional opportunity. It remains however a strategic decision that requires long term commitment and dedication. The overall number of available positions is relatively small in comparison to the number of applicants competing against each other. Do not let gross numbers indicating 20-30,000 federal jobs being advertised to mislead you into complacency. Applicants who employ a tactical strategy focused against individual vacancies may on occasion be successful but more remotely so if going it alone. Obtaining Federal Career Placement Services, LC as a full-service partner over a 365 day period remains the most economically sound and practical approach to reaching one's employment goals. We stand ready to support your efforts as a devoted and enthusiastic partner.
