For This Issue

Maintenance Mechanics
Needed In Building Trades

Interior and Commerce employ many thousands of mechanics with multiple skills

in the building trades. Work is steady with good benefits. Duties are similar to a “mill right.”

The current vacancy list includes 110 openings for Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Worker or Maintenance Helper, WG-4749. These jobs are with Department of Justice, Interior and Veterans Affairs. The openings are occurring throughout the U.S.

The Federal government has made an effort in the last several years to hire mechanics with multiple skills to fill vacancies on its building maintenance staffs as opposed to hiring specialists in each of the building trades. These workers are called Maintenance Mechanics, Workers or Helpers. The work is similar to a mill right in that the worker is expected to fix or repair whatever goes wrong.

Job Requirements
Maintenance Mechanics maintain and repair exterior structures, buildings, grounds, and related fixtures and utilities. Their work is related to trades such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, cement work, painting and others.

Typical Maintenance Mechanic responsibilities include the performance of visual examinations and operational tests to determine the need for repair of carpentry, plumbing, painting, roofing, gardening, cement work and asphalt work.

Higher level jobs (WG-8 and above) may involve electrical work, air conditioning, sheet metal, heating equipment and pest control.

Multiple Skills
At any level, applicants with multiple skills have a distinct advantage. Applicants should cite their skills in as many of the building trades as possible. A large number of Maintenance Mechanic jobs are filled by part-time and intermittent workers. Taking these positions is often an important step in getting a permanent, full-time position.

The following is drawn from the Vacancy Announcement from a current opening with the Department of Homeland Security. It shows typical duties for a Maintenance Mechanic:

“Incumbent will perform building maintenance, construction and repair tasks that require knowledge and application of a variety of trade practices associated with such occupations as electrical, plumbing, painting, carpentry, pipefitting, air-conditioning and refrigeration.”

Jobs for Veterans
Many of the Maintenance Mechanic jobs are reserved for Veterans Preference applicants.

Veterans can be hired directly by any VA medical center or office by applying to the facility’s personnel office under the Veterans Readjustment Appointment (VRA) Act or by using their eligibility as a Veterans Preference applicant. Eligibility requirements for Veterans Preference and VRA applicants are outlined on page 4 of FJD. Often no veterans are available. Non-veterans are then considered.

How to Apply
Applicants for Maintenance Mechanic positions stand the best chance of getting hired if they pursue either part-time or temporary positions. Agencies are more likely to offer first-time applicants part-time or temporary jobs instead of full-time positions. Part-time and temporary vacancies are also more frequently announced than full-time openings. Once selected, candidates should establish contact with their supervisors in an effort to secure future full-time jobs.

Candidates should scan this site for current Maintenance Mechanic, WG-4749 vacancies.

Candidates can also visit the Agencies' websites for further information See addresses below:

Department of Justice

Veterans Affairs

Department of Interior

An acquaintance who works at a VA, Commerce or VA installations and can keep an ear open for job openings can be another good source for finding out about job openings.
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