chipsy_queen

US gov application filtering software is extreme. There are so many tiny little rules you have to follow regarding the content included in your resume, and if you don't, you're tossed out without a person ever seeing it. I applied for dozens of GS-06 jobs, over qualified based on the requirements. Never heard a peep back until I fixed those details. Immediate interview & hire. Might be worth checking into?

You've got a great attitude about this--I was worried for you but you're rocking it! (Nolite te bastardes carborundorum!)

Thanks for doing this AMA, Celeste.
From the inside, what's the relationship with APM? Cooperative, rivals, cooperative rivals?
As someone who grew up in the middle of the country, can you tell me more about Middle Ground? What inspired you, how long you've wanted to do it, what kind of feedback you've gotten, etc.

I'm definitely not an expert, and NPS was not my agency. I also should have said it's more about spewing the right content, rather than "formatting," I'll edit it above. Caveats aside, check out this link and follow it carefully. If there's a choice between keeping a nice-looking style and including the content that the site calls for, choose the content. Include hours per week worked, the job title and series number, and have an additional page with contact information of your references.

There is a federal resume builder (see here and here) you can use that will give you an idea of the additional information to add (I didn't use this, so I can't personally vouch for it), but you could either use that as is or take the additional content from it and add it to your existing style.

You can do everything right and still not get through; some jobs close after a set number of applicants, regardless of their qualifications, and the position will go unfilled until the next cycle if they can't find the right person from that small pool. Also, veterans (tyfys) will always get through to the next level even without the minimum stated qualifications of education or experience, so that can jam up the chances for you.

Don't get attached to just one perfect position, keep applying, and see if you can get the scoop from someone on the inside of NPS that can give you some tips of how to break through. It's not uncommon for rangers to move around, so even if you're not certain it's a park you want to live at long term, apply; you probably won't have to stay for more than a few years.

Again, I'm not an expert, but this is what helped me crack into federal employment. I hope it can help you!

I really hope you reach your goal! It sounds like an amazing undertaking that could really help to heal some old wounds. Thanks for your passion in representing the softer-spoken part of the country. Best of luck!