I do not have experience working for SI, but I do have experience
working for the federal government. The important thing to remember is
that SI is a federal facility first. When it comes to HR requirements,
its function (as museum)is coincidental. Applying for government work
is different than applying for non-profit work. This is not because the
HR people are arbitrarily "all powerful bureaucrats", but because of the
very strict government requirements for fair and impartial hiring
practices. (Have a little sympathy for these practices... our tax
dollars pay zillions in suits from our deep pockets when favoritism is
proven).
There are a number of publications on "how to apply for a job with the
federal government". I recommend looking at those. You will need to
pay particular attention to directly showing that you have the "KSAs",
that's knowledge, skills and abilities, required in the job
announcement. Also (unfortunately) if the job announcement asks for
PURPLE experience, the HR screener is likely to completely miss all your
good years of LAVENDAR and PLUM experience. Let me repeat: The
screener isn't looking for the best candidate. He/she is looking and
what would provide no controversy is an Equal Employment Opportunity
case. Once the department sees your application, the lavender and plum
are important (your resume)... but to get past the screeners and to the
department, forget you are applying for a museum job and remember you
are applying for civil service (your SF 171 application form). The
trick is, your SF 171 and resume must not conflict, but they go to very
different audiences.
Some titles that might help:
Government Job Applications and Federal Resumes: Federal Resumes, KSAs,
Forms 171 and 612, and Postal Applications (Anne McKinney Career Series)
Federal Resume Guidebook: Write a Winning Federal Resume to Get in, Get
Promoted, and Survive in a Government Career!
Other tips... Don't be surprised if it takes 6 months for your
application to be processed. Do apply again. And again. Do send both
a 171 and a resume.
Good luck!
Kate Long
California Science Center
(A State, not Federal facility... lol)
Also remember that once you get the job, you will be a civil servant.
The requirements for your conduct will be much stricter than in the
private non profit world. But then, so is your job security.
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Rich Vidutis
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2005 12:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: help with smithsonian applications
Dear Cecelia,
A couple of years ago I talked to a contact in the Smithsonian about
applying for jobs after years of my own frustration trying to get a job
there. Numerous times, here in the DC area, I have heard SI referred to
as the Black Hole in to which applications disappear because
acknowledgement of their receipt is rarely made.
The important points she made were: First of all, primary screening of
the application is made not by the department within SI seeking
applicants, but by the front office of all powerful bureaucrats who will
disqualify the application for any inadequacy they interpret in the
application. She related how often she has had to argue for a
particular applicant with HR over too strict interpretations of the job
announcement requirements. But the good thing here is that if the
particular dept knows you are applying, they apparently will fight for
you if they really want you. That means, somehow, making contact with
the dept and letting them know who you are and that you are applying.
Secondly, she underlined the necessity to stay on point when answering
the questions under Selective Factors. Address the mandatory
requirements clearly and directly and do not wonder off into tangential
discussions. I'm guessing that HR does not have the special subject
background that each hiring dept in SI would, and also they probably
have to deal with many hundreds of applications, so they most likely
employ a cold and quick approach in eliminating those who seem not to be
right on target in their applications.
I wonder what kinds of experiences others have had with SI.
Rich Vidutis
============================================================
From: Cecelia Ottenweller <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 2005/01/14 Fri PM 05:04:18 EST
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: help with smithsonian applications
Hello All,
I'm interested in applying for a few positions within the Smithsonian
and am concerned that I will
botch the job because of not knowing the proper protocal for presenting
my resume. Is there anyone
out there who could help me with this?
Thank you,
Cecelia Ottenweller
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