5 Secrets No One Tells You About Landing Government Contracting Jobs

1. Many job listings from government contractors are regurgitated versions of labor category requirements included in the Government's Request for Proposal (RFP) for the contract which holds the position you're applying for.

If something is required, its more often than not...ACTUALLY required. There may be instances where the contractor can ask for a waiver for the qualification but don't get your hopes up if you're missing something in the required section.

If the job requires a security clearance and you don't have one, don't waste your time applying because the contract company simply can not hire you pursuant to their contract with the government customer.

2. Often times, the job you're applying for has several levels depending on the size of the contract (Analyst I, Analyst II, Analyst III, etc.)

If you feel you are overqualified, look for the next level position - a good company would likely try to get you slotted in the highest level position you qualify for regardless, but its better for you to apply to the highest level you qualify for - to avoid shenanigans.

3. You are entitled to ask for information about the contract you are being hired onto. Ask questions beyond just about pay and benefits!

Take your new job seriously and try to gain a full understanding of what you're getting into. There is nothing worse than moving for a new contract only to learn the government intends on cancelling it or the company you just started with lost the recompete - congrats you get to apply to the same job all over again with the new awardee! Here are a few you can ask:

How much time is left on the period of performance (PoP)?

Is this a Prime or Subcontract? What are the differences?

Why are there vacancies on the contract?

What is the leadership and culture like?

4. Ask about escalation on the contract. The recruiter may not know or may not be able to tell you for market competition reasons but you should still ask.

Many government contracts include annual increases to rates contractors charge the government. They should be passing the escalation increase onto your salary. Be warned this one can be a bit tricky as sometimes the escalation is worked into offset costs elsewhere or is so low its not worth fretting over - but it doesn't hurt to ask!

5. The best time to establish a connection with the senior leadership in the company is within the first three months or so of your employment. They should be very receptive to you as newcomers as they know you're unlikely to be seeking favors or special treatment and the best time to start to develop new leaders is yesterday, take advantage of these learning opportunities.

See if you can schedule a quick coffee or swing into their office. Don't make them work around you, here is a great way to ask for a meeting:

Greetings, my name is name and I just started working on the XXX contract on Manager's team at location I'm very interested in connecting with you as I learn about the company goals and objectives, is it ok if I swing by your office?

Take advantage by learning from them about what it takes to get ahead on the contract and at the company. Think about your broader career and what you really hope to gain from your employment with the company.

Good luck out there.

-Nick