What is your real chance of landing a government job?

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I occasionally apply to stuff on USAJOBS and I found a position today I was really qualified for but it said that it had a cutoff of the first 50 people to apply and that made me think a lot of people must be applying to it even though it had the selective factor of someone who could identify local birds by both sight and sound plus a degree or one year experience (I have a degree and two years relevant experience) but since it doesn't have a disabled preference per say but it has a veteran's preference any potential bird watching veterans will probably end up with this... I've gotten interviews off USAJOBS before but it was from positions that accepted disabled preference.

I have an MPA (Master's of Public Admin), and I can't even get a government job....only ever gotten one interview for one.

I found someone that I used to work for that now lives in the area the job is in. She said the park is a very highly sought-after place of employment and my competition would likely to be stiff. I feel like I need a break from my relatives though, I actually got into a heated argument with them this morning because I'm trying to feed the birds but my uncle and my husband find it amusing to let the cats outside to watch them try to catch the birds when I ascribe to the "cats should be inside" crowd but they think it's "natural".

After asking someone, they are hiring "at least two" people, maybe more. And they are closing the announcement early so they must have reached the 50 applications. If everyone was equal then that would give me a 1/25 or better chance, but veterans do have a preference on this one, but some people maybe are applying just based on education, etc, I technically have more than the job asks for.

Good thing is position also offers housing with it which comes in handy for a temp position requiring relocation.

I'm also wondering about how many get interviewed for a position such as this.

I had a government job once (assuming I understand the term right), but I was doing the same stuff as an unpaid trainee for half a year before I got the job... I suppose they too mostly hire either those who are truly the best for the jobs or the ones with connections.

I've had one.

Btw: Autism should count as a disability.

Right now I'm diagnosed with bipolar not autism, but bipolar is a Schedule A disability and I get consideration for that already.

Reality is not nice. Even though it is against official policy, most government jobs are filled by pre-selected applicants. You need to know someone in the department, and need a personal recommendation. Then your resume gets sent to the recruiting office. The notice for the opening is created using the exact wording from the resume. Your application is placed on the top of the stack. Amazingly, you are the perfect candidate, no need to look at any other applicants.
If you want that job, start making friends at the department.

I'm still applying to other stuff too, non-government... One of them I'm interested in because it's specific to working in a raptor center which I have done before but I can't lift 50lbs and I had to tell them that. Another is VERY local as in my pharmacy is hiring, but everyone knows me in there... Knows I take bipolar meds.... And I'm always going in there dressed like I just crawled out of bed, lol.

Working in the public sector this is very much true and probably the main reason our staff is voting to strike: not pay, not benefits, not working conditions but how most 'competitions' are rigged. As a member of the public you have almost a 0 percent chance of landing a non entry level job in my department. Here is a perfect example: there is a job posted that one of the requirements is that you MUST have a certain obscure credential. As of right now, only 12 people in my province have it (I am one) and there is no $@# way I or most with it would take this job. The guy who they are looking to promote just got one too: what an amazing coincidence! Never mind the fact it has almost nothing to do with this promotion and you only really need High School + Experience to do it: putting this in pretty much guarantees he will be the only 'qualified' candidate.

I just saw a job posted for the local School board that had very specific requirements (like for example, a Carpenter's license, Class 6 Power Engineering certificate, a Level 2 Certificate of Building Operations and 9-10 years experience). Did I mention that same school board has over a third of their employees with the same last name?

That's not even counting when the "requirements" are flat out ignored. One of my coworkers was very close to my boss (a little too close: we nicknamed them Batman and Robin as they went to lunch together almost everyday). Turns out he was hired directly into his current job (that pays more than mine) with no experience and only a 1 year certificate that was only half related to the job not the 4+ years usually required. This position also required years of experience and a number of credentials yet he STILL got hired! The boss liked him as a summer intern and wanted to make sure he got kept on so he likely picked and interviewed the worst candidates (I think you have to interview at least 3). Otherwise, this guy wouldn't have stood a chance!

I was strongly opposed to initiatives like Affirmative Action before I actually started working in the public sector. I saw my (former) boss flat out say to someone he would not interview people with 'typical' black names or addresses in known black neighborhoods because they are 'trouble'. We actually had to hire a minority for one job (someone else threatened to out his racism) and he is by far the best, most well liked employee we have: nobody even comes close!

What I am trying to say is by all means try but don't think rejection has anything to do with lack of skills, poor resume, disability etc. If anything it may be the opposite.

I feel like I'm kicking myself in the butt because I'm afraid of positions being too physical... I canceled one interview but they referred me to someone else that might be interested and they gave me an interview on Saturday and I was almost trying to talk them out of interviewing me! They said the most physical part about it was kids camp and I've done that successfully before but I'm still scared! Why? Job pretty similar to some jobs I have done in the past.