How to get a job at Veterans Affairs.

october mist in buffalo, New York said: I was recently hired at the VA in San Antonio TX as a social worker. After my second attempt and 8 months later, I was finally offered the job. I am still praising God for the opportunity to serve the US Veterans. I can also empathize with Michelle England. I feared a bad referral from 13 years ago, but God worked it out for me. My references were in fact very good. Parking is a horrible mess, but I am very happy to be a part of the VA.

Did it take 8 months for them to complete the pre-employment process and give you a start date? I am waiting on a start date. I was told I was found qualified and they had to have a committee meeting to accept the start date I wanted. Which is ridiculous to me? Now I'm wondering if I was actually hired. I was informed I was selected for the position 1 Oct and here it is 10 Jan and I don't have a start date.

october mist in buffalo, New York said: Hi there! From the time HR called me to offer me the job, to the credentialing to determine my salary it only took a few days. It is just that the whole process is laborious and very nerve racking as I was employed somewhere else but my head and heart was with the VA. It was very stressful indeed as I had to focus on the now former job and worry about if all was indeed well with the VA's impending job offer. I know that the final decision was in Gods hands because I had done everything I could have done. I am soooooo glad to be a part of the VA and I thank God for the opportunity that I thought had passed me by. Friends had told me to relax and let God work it out and He did!!!!!!!!!

Did it take 8 months for them to complete the pre-employment process and give you a start date? I am waiting on a start date. I was told I was found qualified and they had to have a committee meeting to accept the start date I wanted. Which is ridiculous to me? Now I'm wondering if I was actually hired. I was informed I was selected for the position 1 Oct and here it is 10 Jan and I don't have a start date.

Michelle,
What type of job were you applying for? It sounds like your experience has been difficult!

I am currently in the HELLISH application process. Online app submitted 2/3/11. Interviewd 2/24/11. "Accepted for position" 10 days later. Was told this is not a job offer and do not give notice at current position. Completed ALL online applications (which was totally time consuming and frustrating). I am now scheduled for my pre-employment physical, which I was told will take at least half-a-day. Than I need to take a math/pharm test. I still have not been made any financial offer because all credentialing has to be reviewed by a panel who decides what my salary will be. I am assuming that until all my references are in, my pre-employment phys is complete and I have taken my math test than I will receive my financial offer. All I can say is if they do not meet my minimum I will just flip! I've also been told there really is no room for negotiation. HR sent me a link to a salary table that is broken down by level and grade. I know the job grade I applied for but not sure what level I qualify for. According to the table they should meet my minimum but HR told me not what the range is for the job and that I may not necessarily receive that compensation!
I cannot begin to tell you how frustrated I am with this whole process, I am just about ready to give up!

october mist in buffalo, New York said: Hi there! From the time HR called me to offer me the job, to the credentialing to determine my salary it only took a few days. It is just that the whole process is laborious and very nerve racking as I was employed somewhere else but my head and heart was with the VA. It was very stressful indeed as I had to focus on the now former job and worry about if all was indeed well with the VA's impending job offer. I know that the final decision was in Gods hands because I had done everything I could have done. I am soooooo glad to be a part of the VA and I thank God for the opportunity that I thought had passed me by. Friends had told me to relax and let God work it out and He did!!!!!!!!!

I am currently in the HELLISH application process. Online app submitted 2/3/11. Interviewd 2/24/11. "Accepted for position" 10 days later. Was told this is not a job offer and do not give notice at current position. Completed ALL online applications (which was totally time consuming and frustrating). I am now scheduled for my pre-employment physical, which I was told will take at least half-a-day. Than I need to take a math/pharm test. I still have not been made any financial offer because all credentialing has to be reviewed by a panel who decides what my salary will be. I am assuming that until all my references are in, my pre-employment phys is complete and I have taken my math test than I will receive my financial offer. All I can say is if they do not meet my minimum I will just flip! I've also been told there really is no room for negotiation. HR sent me a link to a salary table that is broken down by level and grade. I know the job grade I applied for but not sure what level I qualify for. According to the table they should meet my minimum but HR told me not what the range is for the job and that I may not necessarily receive that compensation!
I cannot begin to tell you how frustrated I am with this whole process, I am

jrow15 in Ridgewood, New Jersey said:

Yes, applying for the VA is a huge pain. It has been made slightly easier by being able to now apply online (I had to fill out papers and mail them in. very time consuming)

Not every position within the VA has to be boarded, mine was and they started me at the lowest grade and step for my job description, which was okay because I was told I would be boarded at the appropriate amount. Not only did it take 3 months for them to board me (all the while I was paid at the lower rate and NO, they did to retro my pay)they came back with a lower grade/step then I was initially promised. and No, there is no negoitation in this.

I have only been with the VA for a year, but I am looking to leave. There isn't really a lot of room for advancement, and the mindset of the people I work with is frustratingly ridiculous.

This was not meant to discourage, but to share my experience, I hope yours goes better.

I am applying for a nursing position, how about you?

no, PFS.

like I said, I wasn't trying to discourage, but rather just to share my experience. I have known quite a few nurses who love the VA and have been here for 10-20 years. I just don't think its a good fit for me

I appreciate your info! Thanks and sorry that it is not working out for you. Good luck!

I was shocked by how cut throat the employees and the supervisors are. I have gone to the EEO for relief due to the lies and hatefulness of staff and the unreasonable demands of the doctors. I cant believe ppl can write you up, affect your livelihood and you are never told a thng, until it is too late!

michelle england in perry, Kansas said: so i few days ago, i got a letter from my senator in kansas, they are having their congressional liason at department of veteran affairs look into the matter on why they did what they did. and they are going to see about restating my job offer. after what i told them they did. they clearing agreed that something has to be done. because you tell someone too keep applying for the same position , and keep sending the same letters. so hang in there. contact your senator, or get online to their site, get form and fill it out , like it did. send them everything. they work for you ,we vote them in office. make them find out why , you are being over looked. being a doctor. and i have also got a attorney too. i am hitting them at both ends. cause i want to work for the va. and to note. like you i am really overqualifed for the position i applied, but i wanted to get my foot in the door. so i hope my story helps you.

I'm sorry if this comes off as rude, but I must say, if your grammatical skills are a reflection of how you handled this situation, then it is no wonder they retracted their offer. One can tell a lot about a potential employee by their basic grammar ability.

I am not sure if ur comments about Michelle England are helpful, although it is clear that the young lady needs help with grammar, sentence structure, and spelling et cetera. There is however, no way to say with certainty that this is the reason the offer was retracted though.

Question - if I'm considering applying to get a job with the VA hospital system, but have some financial hardships (like most of the US) & my credit isn't great & my student loans are behind/going into default...will that automatically disqualify me from the VA hospital system? I'm a 10 pt qualified vet per the "preference" system if that makes any difference & have my BSN/meet all other qualifications for the job posted.

Thanks.

C.L. in Rockledge, Florida said: Question - if I'm considering applying to get a job with the VA hospital system, but have some financial hardships (like most of the US) & my credit isn't great & my student loans are behind/going into default...will that automatically disqualify me from the VA hospital system? I'm a 10 pt qualified vet per the "preference" system if that makes any difference & have my BSN/meet all other qualifications for the job posted.

Thanks.

I am not sure if it will "automatically disqualify" you for a position. In ur comments u stated that ur student loans are behind and u have poor credit. The VA is so incompetent, who knows? Maybe some good winds will blow in ur favor. PPl there have been there for so long, they think it gives them the right to abuse u and the doctors are unreasonable in their demands. I am glad to be out!

Host said: Do you work at Veterans Affairs? How did you find the job? How did you get that first interview?

Any advice for someone trying to get in?

I have left a fortune 500 company (laid off) and would like to make life better for our vets, how do you get a job in a VA hospital?

Host said: Do you work at Veterans Affairs? How did you find the job? How did you get that first interview?

Any advice for someone trying to get in?

There currently is a hiring freeze for civilians. Only hiring veterans.

Thank you

There is no "civilian hiring freeze". There is a facility goal of having 40% veterans, which may allow a facility to discriminate, but when it comes to patient care and specialty facility jobs, there's no congressional mandate to hire only veterans. Facilities put jobs out to the facility first, merit/status second, then to the public in some cases.

Host said: Do you work at Veterans Affairs? How did you find the job? How did you get that first interview?

Any advice for someone trying to get in?

IF NOT VETERAN FORGET ABOUT IT

Kyle14 in C-burg, Pennsylvania said: There is no "civilian hiring freeze". There is a facility goal of having 40% veterans, which may allow a facility to discriminate, but when it comes to patient care and specialty facility jobs, there's no congressional mandate to hire only veterans. Facilities put jobs out to the facility first, merit/status second, then to the public in some cases.

YES DEFINETLY DESCRIMINATION

I am a non-vet that was hired in 2011. Engineering positions can't always be filled by veterans. I'd encourage non-vets to apply if it's open to US Citizens. That means they've already tried to find a veteran and need your help. This seems to be the general rule of thumb right now.

Michelle Anderson in Addison, Illinois said: I have a Master Degree / Addiction Therapaist how do I get a position in my career realted feild. I have made a many attempts and have not yet suceeded.

Maybe it is just me but a Degree like you say you have is null and void if you can't spell. Mistakes happen but too many can make people nervous.

I don't know if this will make you feel better or not but I am a perm civilian federal employee with 13 years of solid IT experience and a BA with superior academic achievment and really everything you want to have on a resume. I have had several hiring officals in my agency review my resume to make sure it is not missing something and all said it's great. I have never had trouble getting jobs before and now I am on 15 referral lists, only had 2 interviews, and thats for 5 months looking in my own series!! I am a GS 12-6, I qualify for GS-14's because I am a program manager and cannot even get an interview for GS 11 jobs in my series and parenthetical. I am female btw also and I think that I am in the same boat as the veterens are. The jobs being posted are being written for an internal employee and they pretend to be looking but already have only one person in mind. I would bet 85% of all jobs out there are that way right now.

One thing I do have an issue with is the added glass ceiling for women if they give even more preference to veterans for jobs then they already enjoy in the goverment. I am all but shut out of any public job posted on usa jobs even though I am already a permenant employee because of veterans preference and it is already hard enough to get a job when you are a female over 40 without additional reasons why you won't be hired. I was told by several hiring officials to not even bother applying for jobs that are not merit promotion or status becuase my resume won't even be looked at because of all the veterans. Don't misunderstand my issue, I have been supporting our troops every single day with the work I do, I support our military and I think we should help them get employment but I don't think it is fair to do it at the expense of women who already have bias to overcome in even getting a federal job. There must be a better way to do this.