VA Hiring Process

Specialties Government

Published

From the previous posts I've read the VA hiring process is pretty long and drawn out. I've applied to two different VA sites. The VA an hour away from my home I can always get in contact with a nurse recruiter and my application status for two posting says "referred to selecting official." The VA closest to my home, I can't get through to the recruiter, she emailed me back once and the status of all the apps just says "application received." I do know a nurse practitioner that works at this VA site and she tried to give my resume to the recruiter, but I had to apply online.

For those of you that are familiar with the hiring process, any idea what the next step is. In all there are around 20 RN vacancies. The two systems have two completely different online application submissions, how will I know if I've completed the application process correctly, its a little confusing :(

I've been applying since I've graduated and earlier this year I found out that I was applying the wrong way so those positions don't count. These positions closed in September.

Thanks in advance ?

Specializes in ER, Med Surg, Endoscopy, Telemetry.

Hello everyone, I've been following your posts about getting hired with the VA. Congratulations to those of you who have successfully completed the journey. Good luck to those of us who are still in the process of getting a start date. I live in NC. All of my stuff is in and completed. I'm only waiting on a start date. My credentialing was completed in early December. I finally called to see what was going on, and was told there is a hiring freeze. Needless to say I was devastated. But I have not given up hoping. I was selected in October, and have been through the hiring process. I can't imagine they wouldn't eventually take me on after spending the money to vet me. I am also shocked to learn of a "Hiring freeze" with all the bad press about our veterans' health care. Does anyone have any info?

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It's amazing how different things can be from one VA to another by all these posts. I hope that there isn't a hiring freeze in California because I spied one of of my paperworks that stated I was estimated to be starting at the end of March.

I have just submitted my 9 domains to the NPSB for salary determination. Early next week I finish up my physical and will be turning in the rest of my documents to HR. It feels good to be in the home stretch...I just want to get to work.

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I hope there is no "freeze" in NJ because I am also waiting for a start date also.

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There is no national 'hiring freeze'. Each facilty works within its own budget and staffing; hiring goes up and down accordingly.

As for bad press.....that comes, that goes. Like anything else in any industry out there. The facilities that were affected (the 'bad press') have made the changes necessary; ones that were NOT affected would have no reason to change anything (they were already doing what they were supposed to be doing).

My facility is one of the many, many good ones, and no one pays much attention to the press in general ;)

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Hello all, I have read comments about some VAMCs being not so very good place to work while others are rated better. Does anyone have any experience with VISN3? Any comment will be helpful. Thanks.

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I see you say put down all experience. Does it get frowned upon if I've accepted several positions within a short time. When I was in long term care they continued to put me on schedule how they wanted. One day I'm on days two days later I'm on mid nights. This happened with a couple long term care facilities. I just had to quit. So I don't want to seem like a hopper. My last job however I have been at for over a year. Thx I know this post is a lil old but any feed back is appreciated. Thanks

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I see you say put down all experience. Does it get frowned upon if I've accepted several positions within a short time. When I was in long term care they continued to put me on schedule how they wanted. One day I'm on days two days later I'm on mid nights. This happened with a couple long term care facilities. I just had to quit. So I don't want to seem like a hopper. My last job however I have been at for over a year. Thx I know this post is a lil old but any feed back is appreciated. Thanks

Well, as I'm sure you realize, it doesn't look GOOD how your resume reads. Still doesn't mean it's a good idea to skip it; they WILL know, and you WILL lose your job (if you even get it). Seriously, I'm not kidding.

Thing is, if you are the right fit for the unit that interviewed you (the hiring manager put you through the interview process and wants to hire you), then the rest can be overlooked. Be aware, though, that if you leave the VA quickly (in essence, confirming your employment history wasn't a fluke) you will be mighty difficult to employ in the future.

Put it all down. Explain as necessary if they ask. And maybe none of it will matter, because they want you for the job! :)

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Yes I do realize. When I became a lpn I had no idea how longterm care would be. Handling 25-30 residents at once. However I was a medical assistant for 7 years in the same department that the lpn position is for at the Va. I haven't gotten to the vetpro part yet. But when filling out the initial application, I didn't list all jobs because a couple were very short and wha t I learned in school was not to list those jobs with less than 6 months experience. However, I see the VA is very different so I'll be sure to mention it to my HR rep and list them all in vetpro. Can't worry myself to death. What's done is done but I definitely will input all jobs in vetpro!

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​also if I get in the VA I hope to retire from there. Clinical position is the right fit for me.

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I'm so excited because I'm get boarded by the NPSB tomorrow. The job closed about a month ago and all my stuff is complete except for this. I want to get to work and my new boss has been asking about my progress, too.

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... I learned in school was not to list those jobs with less than 6 months experience. However, I see the VA is very different so I'll be sure to mention it to my HR rep and list them all in vetpro. Can't worry myself to death. What's done is done but I definitely will input all jobs in vetpro!

Yes, VA is different, no doubt. You'd have to explain any gap in employment greater than 30 days, and if you explain it by saying you weren't working (and you were) you will have lied during the credentialing process and forfeit the job. They don't allow for an omission (like you can do on a simple resume submitted to an employer for consideration); any time span that doesn't have you working from the time you became licensed must be explained, and that's where you'd get caught.

Good luck!

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Any job that you do not put down on the application and sign could get you fired but the VA has access to the tax system which will show where you have worked which gets you caught if you lie about it.

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