I am very interested in federal employment, and upon exiting the military in 2 years I would like to have a job lined up with the fed and make a transition as seamless as possible. How long on average is the federal hiring process take? I am going to basically applying for everything that i qualify for which is a lot of positions mostly based on education and few on my military experience. I already have a secret clearance and i hear that is where a lot of people get hung up. but if anyone could give me a general idea or personal experiences that would be very helpful. thanks
As is true in the private sector, it depends. Positions can be filled in a matter of weeks, or it could take months. It depends on how badly they want to fill the position, whether or not the position is currently funded, how many applicants they get, security clearances, who may apply (which categories), and many other factors. The government supposedly opened up the hiring process by allowing many forms of applications, including resumes, but the truth is it still takes a very hearty effort to apply for an opening. Resume, essays, questionnaires, interviews, and sometimes more. That said, two years out seems premature. Your clearance may or may not apply/transfer. Depends on the gaining agency. Hope this helps.
