I recently applied for both a private sector one similar to one I have now, and a state job with greater responsibilities. I got offers from both.
My current salary is 50% more than what the state offered. And the benefits are about comparable!
It's well known in my field that fed jobs are nearly impossible to get based on qualifications alone. We got one woman in our office from one of those dream positions, and I asked her why she left. She pointed out that "the system is flooded with those damn [ex-]military guys who don't know what they're doing, and they just sit in those positions and block anyone from advancement or getting anything done." Her ambition and eye on quality were frustrated there.
The federal government should hire the most qualified people, not base things on gender, race, military service, etc. As much as I honor the military, it's ridiculous to give preferences, IMO.
“the system is flooded with those damn [ex-]military guys who don’t know what they’re doing, and they just sit in those positions and block anyone from advancement or getting anything done.”
True that. I was a lowly GS-7 warranted Contract Specialist trying to train a dumba$$ (although very nice) veterans preference GS-13 hire. Most of our Veterans Preference hire’s couldn’t, and can’t, do the job.
As much as I support and admire all our veterans, they need to qualify for the job on skill, education and experience, not entitlement.
Maybe for jobs where military experience is actually relevant (e.g. defense/intel agencies). Not across the board the way it is now (another case where one-size-fits-all stupidity screws up the system).