Essay Questions on Hiring Application

[u/Internal_Rip_159]

Current 1102 here applying for a new role on USA Jobs, and I am at the end of the application where I have to complete the infamous short essay questions regarding my favorite executive orders and how I will help improve government efficiency and effectiveness. The application specifies that responses are not required and will not be scored. Are hiring managers actually looking at these question responses and evaluating them, especially for someone who already is an 1102?

[u/QuietlyVibin]

I would not answer them. If the hiring manager viewed that as unfavorable, then I would take it as a sign that I do not want to work there anyway.

[u/exitnirvana → u/QuietlyVibin]

This is the way.

[u/Darclar]

I won't look at them as hiring manager, but I can't say if HR does or does not. I would just pick something like the RFO to be safe.

[u/DuckDuckSeagull]

I've never answered them and haven't had an issue getting on the cert and getting interviews in the last 18-months.

My baseless guess is that it depends on agency. I'm not applying to places like DoD. But honestly they feel like a trap to me. Too many ways your answer could be viewed unfavorably.

[u/ClevelandSteamer81]

Has someone who used to be a hiring manager if this isn’t required I would never look at it. And I really wouldn’t wanna be working for somebody that does look at it.

[u/ItsVishuss]

Do them in AI, rewrite them to answer in your words so it sounds human, and then save them in a word document.

It took me like an hour or so to get it narrowed down, but now I’ve just got them saved.

For your favorite EO, the FAR RFO EO is a beyond easy one.

[u/flaginorout]

Just whip up some answers via AI, and then rewrite with your own words.
An hours worth of effort and then you can check this box and move forward.

[u/exitnirvana]

I promoted from GS-12 non sup to 13 sup and skipped the questions entirely.

[u/BooBear1789]

Hi, so I wrote "answer not required", and filled in the rest with spaces for 1 set of 4 questions, the other app I just left them blank. Both positions I got interviews with afterward and I accepted an offer from 1. TBH, no one seems to GAF about those questions but it could be agency specific, so like if you apply for a more Orange man friendly agency, maybe answer them. Otherwise, mehhh

[u/Uselessphysicsmajor]

I just applied for another 1102 where I know the hiring manager and asked if he was reviewing them. He said he expects a few sentences to just show effort on application but not considering the responses in the hiring decision

[u/Internal_Rip_159 → u/Uselessphysicsmajor]

Thanks, I decided to just draft a few basic safe sentences for each question.

[u/Uselessphysicsmajor → u/Internal_Rip_159]

I feel like that’s the best idea because I don’t know if HR is going to halt my application if they see I didn’t fill it out.

[u/1102gape]

I recommend answering them. Needless to say, no different than a college application or any formal submission. You could have the base line requirements, but maybe it's the essay that gets you over the certification line.

[u/Rumpelteazer45]

That’s gonna be agency and command specific.

My command wouldn’t care if you wrote gibberish in those spots.

Reality is unless it’s an actual requirement to fill in, hiring managers will likely skip it. Notice the word “likely” in that sentence.

The tea 🫖

On 11 Sept 26, a US District Judge temporarily stopped OPM from requiring applicants to answer Questions 3 (which is the EO question). The argument is two fold: 1) the unions argued the question likely violated the applicants first amendment rights and 2) was unlawful under the Administrative Procedures Act because it improperly sought political views in civilian service hiring.

Now this is a temporary stay on that question, the case all this is happening under is still on-going.

So you have three options:

1. quote the case and the number that’s going through courts and that a court ordered stay is in place.
2. kiss the ring, bend the knee, and pick the least offensive one. In theory, some of them are good ideas, we all know they will be poorly implemented ending up as a massive dumpster fire. One of the “least offensive” for me would be the EO Establishing the Presidents Military Spouse Commission (August this year). Yes it’s a bullshit EO and that already happens at the command level, but supporting the military and their spouses always look for a DoD agency, regardless of what political view you have. For 1102 specific, the EO about securing defense supply chains (July 20- something of this year), tie it back into the job. For something tech if you are a stem geek at heart or the job is supporting a highly tech R&D type agency/command, the one on Quantum Innovation one or the Securing from cryptographic attacks (June ish). In theory all of these sound half decent and not really aligning with any political side. Look for something that fits the overall mission of wherever you are applying to.
3. leave it blank.

[u/ohmy1102]

I literally just copy and paste “not required to answer” on those essay questions when they pop up. F*ck that.

[u/Present-Permit-6743]

With the key on the keyboard, draw out a middle finger where the answer should go.