Hey, I have an interview for a Federal job next week. Don't know how I got the interview b/c I'm only a 5 point veterans preference. Seems 10 & 15-point vets have preference. Any advise? I may get a new pant suit (neutral color with white shirt) and neutral noiseless shoes. Gosh, it might behoove me to get 2 shirts and the suit ready -- most interviews I've just worn a sweater set, but an HR person at a recent job workshop said a neutral suit would be best. Hate to spend the money, tho.

Dee are you there? I know you have experience with DoD and Fed appointments!

Any advise gals!

Hey Mustang!

That's good news!! My first husband was a federal employee his entire life. Actually worked for the DOD.

I'm not sure what he did to land the first job, but once he was in the system, he was "golden," as he used to say.

I am sure the suit is a good idea. I know that it's hard to shell out money for interview clothes, but I also know there is a program that helps provide suitable clothes for unemployed people who need interview suits, etc.

I think the program is called "Dress for Success," but it might have other names in other communities. Here's an article I found about the program: Dress for Success

I've also heard that sometimes local Junior Leagues or YWCA's also have programs like this.

Can't hurt to check into it, I always say!

Here's a link to Dress for Success locations worldwide: Dress for Success

I treat public sector interviews pretty well the same as private sector interviews....EXCEPT for the following to note:

*Understand there maybe a work culture difference between public and private. But depends on job, manager and work environment.

*Demonstrate a sense of knowing how to navigate quickly within a large, sometimes complex organization to get things done.

I've had several different public sector jobs (13 yrs. so far) vs. several private sector (16 yrs.). I am currently working for a govn't. Yes, this why I made the choice to relocate. I consider myself lucky given the the fact some govn't employees around my age, are retiring.

In Canada, also some federal govn't jobs are unionized, below manager. Some govn't acutally give tips on types of questions they ask on their website.


Good luck.Let us know.

So MustangGal, any news yet? Also when applying for jobs you will be going to different places right, so all you need is one good tailored outfit and wear the same thing to each interview. So long as it is clean and neat it won't matter because no one will see it twice and even if they did, I doubt they would remember it. They see so many applicants after all.

Wondering if Mustang Girl has heard back on her interview.

Hey Mustang! How's it going? Did you land that job yet? Or are you still looking around for just the right thing? Good luck.
We're thinking about you. Prayers and blessings...

The best kind of job seems to be a government job right now, no one else seems to be hiring and certainly not offering any worthwhile benefits.

Wonder how the job interview went. Mustang Gal...I too am a 5-point preference because of my military service. To be quite honest I enjoyed being IN the military rather than working as a DoD employee. There are so many DoD positions and I guess it depends upon the field you are entering. The benefits are very good and once you meet the standard time test (90 days?), you're in.
Mustang...what field are you going into?
My stepson just got hired on with AT&T. And their benefits are wonderful, too.

You are certainly correct Dee, that there are all kinds of jobs with the DoD. My first husband worked for the DoD and was headquartered at the Rock Island Arsenal.

When he was first hired, he was in a 3-year intern program which required that he get initial training at the RIA by a group called then called AMETA. Army Management Engineering Training Agency, or something like that...

Two years into the training, they hired him as an AMETA instructor. He trained people in computer languages. While some of the training he did was on the Island, he also traveled to other locations, like White Sands, NM, St Louis, somewhere in California and his favorite -- an Army facility in West Germany.

It was a secure job, paid very well and offered excellent benefits. I am sure he would still be there if he were alive. (Well, except that he might have retired by now, as he would be 63.)

Strange thing was, he had been a dedicated anti-war passivist as a college student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison during the late 60s/early 70s, so the fact that he ended up getting -- and loving -- a job with the DoD always seemed so odd. Ask him about that, however, and he'd just laugh it off. Guess the job was just that good.

so Mustang, I hope your experience with the DoD is just as great as his was.

Anne....sounds like your husband had a really good job and saw lots of the world because of it...one of the perks working for DoD.
I haven't been on BWS for a very long time so I didn't know he was deceased. I'm sorry.
Where in Germany, do you remember?