Facebook live chat recap: The application and hiring process

On Tuesday, June 14th, VHA recruiter Hillary Garcia took to Facebook Live to answer your questions about the application and hiring process at Veterans Health Administration. The video is available to view on the VA Careers Facebook page, but for those who missed the live chat, here is a recap.

This was our very first Facebook Live event and it encouraged followers to ask Hillary questions directly. Some of those questions she was able to answer live, while others were answered in the comments section after the chat was finished.

Many of the common questions revolved around whether VHA hires candidates who have certain degrees, certifications, or experience.

The answer to many of these questions is that much of the time, continued education is preferred, but it all depends on the position requirements. VHA suggests job seekers focus on applying for positions in which you’re completely qualified, even if that means waiting until after you graduate to complete an application.

You can find more information about opportunities for students and graduates looking to start a career with VHA on our site.

Another question asked was about application wait times.

As Hillary mentions in the chat, VA receives hundreds of applications per job post. This is one of the biggest reasons why it takes so long for some applicants to hear back about a job. You can, however, check the status of your application by logging in to your USAJOBS account, under Application Status. We also offer plenty of information about our application process on our site.

Of course, a question that is raised quite frequently concerns our policy about hiring Veterans. Do Veterans receive a hiring preference?

Approximately 36 percent of our employees are Veterans who’ve chosen to continue their service in a different way, by helping Veterans. And many of them were able to get their foot in the door by having the right qualifications for their positions, tailoring their resumes to fit the job requirements and leveraging Veterans’ preference. But not all Veterans qualify as health care professionals, so we rely on civilians to fill our roles as well.

Hillary also spoke about the types of benefits VHA employees qualify for, everything from health care and dental, to PTO and sick time, to education assistance. VHA offers employees great benefits and opportunities, no matter the position.

Other questions included:

Do you have specific positions available?

Search our current openings and filter for your specific area of expertise or by your location.

How do I contact a recruiter?

You can find your local VA recruiter on our recruiter page by searching for your state.

Are there any hiring events in my area?

We are constantly adding and updating events on our event calendar. Check it frequently to get the heads up on VA hiring events near you.

Finally, though rumors might say otherwise, VA is not under a hiring freeze – at any location.

 

So, feel free to search for and apply for your next job and make the first step toward a career of helping our Nation’s Veterans.

Thanks for all of the great questions during our very first Facebook Live chat. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more information about upcoming chat events.

And, check out recaps of some previous chats:

• Recent Graduates
• Occupational Therapists
• Nursing Careers (Nurse Week)