Jack, we’re on the same page here. In my earlier post, I was relaying some information given to me by someone involved with the hiring practices at a Federal agency. I wasn’t supporting the practices; on the contrary, I was criticizing them.
But it gets even worse. I was also told that due to the large number of applications that are received for most openings in the federal sector, many of the submitted applications never even make it to the selecting officials. Applications may be filtered in a number of ways. For example, many of the jobs listed on OPM’s web site, USA JOBS, include an online questionnaire. Just as with the broad KSAs, the questions usually cover a wide range of hypothetical situations seemingly unrelated to the specific job. But unless you answer yes to almost all of the questions, your application won’t even be forwarded to the selecting officials. Another screening method which is sometimes employed is to have your resume machine searched for certain key words which appear in the KSAs. This is why Brutus’s advice is invaluable. If you haven’t included enough of those key words in your resume, your application doesn’t make the cut and is never even considered.
When my daughter was applying for her first job out of college, she made the mistake of treating these questionnaires as if they pertained only to professional work experience. For example, a question might ask: “Have you ever improvised a solution to an unexpected crisis which threatened to interfere with the mission of your employer?” Or, “Have you ever worked overtime to complete mission critical deadlines?” Since my daughter had only worked part time jobs while attending school, she rou
Brutus, you have careers waiting for you in recruiting and sales. Hopefully, toy train sales for the benefit of the rest of us. = employee discount passed on to us.
Apologies to all who find this job hunt chat off target a bit. But there’s been more than a few Forum members who have been going through this transition in the past couple of months. After years of experience on both sides of the fence, I know how difficult and frustrating a job search can be, gut check time.
I’ve spent a lot of time helping family, friends, and acquaintances with job searches. What I usually find is that we all tend to underestimate our value to employers, downplay our achievements, or simply fail to communicate our value. Everything goes South from there (sorry, Chief).
ERR ERR AH What? Reclinerized right after eating a snack for lunch around noon. Just woke up. Chilly, windy but sunny. Going to the pond to check things out right after some New Mexico Elk Hunting. Pam just left for FIL/MIL’s. Bring me some bar-be-qued chicken [dark meat]. Later
Hope all are enjoying the day with family and friends. Our company should start arriving shortly, only about twelve this year as kids grow-up and start traditions of their own. Got a nice pork loin on the rotisserie, scalloped taters ready for the oven and asparagas ready for the grille.
I’m already pooped, grandson wore me out yesterday and haven’t recovered yet.
Evening all. Shake and Bake [Don] has had a relapse. In bed sick again per Mrs. [V] Ran trains. Gotr my new CN SD40-2 with Legacy runing great. Did a MU [lashup seems to be model train term] of the CN and NS SD40-2’s. Run and SOUNDS great. Now back to TV. Later
I hope you had a wonderful and enriching Easter Holiday. It has been pretty much non-stop here. We had services Thursday, Friday Saturday and today.
I’m beat. Not much time for trains this weekend except looking at the new CTT with my Grandson. That was fun.
This has been an especially great Easter. A lot of work but worth every minute. Just want to check in.
We had a plesant day with our kids and gr.kids. The little ones were quieter than usual today which was good for old gramps. Brutus I thought of you today as we got out sons large collection of legos kids and son on the floor building things. when he married he began a collection of lego pirate ships so we kept his old ones here for the kids to play with. Just like old times as they say. Of course dinner was great and we all got well fed without grits. Oldest son and family drove to florida friday said I75 was door to door cops from ohio through Ga. DIL tried grits for breakfast sat, today she said she was still trying to get the sand out of her teeth. Well thats my easter sunday, I hope yours went well too…S.J
It was a cool day in SE Indiana with temps in the 30s. Had a good day with the family. Ran the 384E for the nieces and and grandsons. Watched the F-1 race. Kimi won. Will update further tomorrow. I hope everyone has a good day.
It’s a sunny, cold 25 degrees. Going up to 42 today with some snow flurries later.
Today is a busy day. I have a few errands to run and chores at home. I don’t think I will have time for trains today. Had a very relaxing Easter Sunday. Sun was out all day. Not much else new.
This is certainly an odd situation. I am replying to my post from yesterday. Has the forum been down? IIABSDISEI with temps in the 40s. It is almost nice to get back to work as the last three days have been busy. When I was running trains yesterday, the one grandson was a real handful as he kept trying to grab everything in the room!!! Thirty minutes of that wears a body out. We found out the son-in-law lost his job in December. While that is upsetting enough, it bothers me even more they did not tell us until now. This is the second time this type of event has occurred. Oh, well, it does make for an interesting day. I did some more work exploring “Second Life”. It is a weird environment. The only reason I am checking it out is that my IT boss wants us to try so we can have “virtual meetings”. I would like to make a few comments on that idea and they would not be “virtual” !!! I had bran muffins on the dining car this morning. I hope everyone has a good day.
Hope everyone had a joyous and uneventful Easter. I started working on the under girder bridge (think that is what it is called), used one and a half kits of JB Weld and probably need to get some more. Took a bit of work to get the alignment correct, but it will be worth it in the long run. Now need to get some 1/2" x 1/2" stock to build the risers. Trying to get the some more work done through the valley so I can start on the next portion of the second level. Just jumping around on layout projects as I run into snags… hopefully in the end it will all work out.
Nothing of merit to comment on during the weekend other than it was nice and relaxing. My NCAA tourney bracket (did one for fun) got totaly flumoxed this weekend when Pitt, UConn, and Duke decided to lay eggs.
Saturday was a littel slow at the ol’ LHS, did run the NEW PRR AA engines (F7 I think) 1 dummy and 1 powered. Nice set. Having problems with my TMCC, it won’t pick up the signal from the CAB 1 (yes, it has batteries!) Works ok with Convential, but not with the TMCC. CAB1 bad?
Went to Easter Vigil service Saturday night @ 7. Jim(Phish) can attest, longest service on the Catholic calendar. Got out at 9:45. Lots of new members, great choir. was very entertaining!
Cooked Ham Dinner last night ate, cleaned up and reclinerized! Watched From here to Eternity last night, another Bert Lancaster Classic, not to mention the Chairman of the Board!
OK, back to work, coffee time…and a belated Happy Easter!
I was glad to read your post this am and see I’m not the only one that got worn to the nub yesterday by a grandchild. Seems like the little ones operate at full throttle until you notice the quiet and see them passed out in the wierdest places and positions. The UCLA marching band could have blasted through the living room and she wouldn’t have stirred.
My FIL and MIL would not be my first choice for sharing the subject of a job loss. Don’t take the silence the wrong way. Went through that scenario last Fall. In retrospect, it drew my SIL closer to me as a confidante beyond a job hunt resource.
I’m using the CW80 for now, as soon as I get my control center done, it’ll be a KW.
So, if I understand this and remember it’s Monday Morning, 2 wires go from the transformer to the track then 1 wire from the base to the U on the track. Izzat right?
!!! I had bran muffins on the dining car this morning. I hope everyone has a good day.