12:01 AM

Interesting title, isn't it?

What does it mean?

If you regularly peruse USAJobs in search of  a federal job, then this time may mean something to you.

It may mean "Oh crap! I forgot to apply for that job at the Department of So and So! Why god, whyyyyy!"

But if you're like me, 12:01 AM, Monday through Friday represents hope. It represents a new chance that today is your day to see the job of your dreams.

You see, 12:01 AM is the time that the new jobs for the day appear on the site. It's like Christmas...the anticipation of what could be there as you enter your keyword, city or state, and filter by announcements posted 'Today.'

If you're a federal employee in the competitive service or a veteran with preference, you're lucky enough to get the best of both worlds. New jobs open up that only you can apply to. You also get to apply as a US citizen.

Must be nice.

But if you're like me, just a regular US citizen with no points at all, then 12:01 AM has a more special meaning. You want to see the jobs as soon as possible to get your application in before the thousands of others with the same dream.

You dare yourself to venture over to the Federal employee side to see that the available jobs has doubled. You torture yourself and check to see if your dream job is there.

It is.

Who may apply? Not you.

Undeterred, you go back to where you belong. You're in luck, one job has appeared that you can apply to.

After you apply begins your anxious wait for an answer. Your wait may be three days after the closing. Two weeks. Two months. Maybe even six months before you get the final verdict that you already figured out when the phone never rang.

I wrote all this to let you know you're not alone. We US Citizens with no merit promotion, no vet preference, no special hiring authority, no nothing but our resumes, our questionnaires and our desire to serve our country through civil service......we are here.

And as we wait for 12:01 to start our new shift of checking religiously throughout the day, we aren't going anywhere.