How to apply
This section tells the job seeker how they can apply to a job.
Current fields
This section may contain the following:
Begin this section with the following:
Prepare your application in USAJOBS
To start your application, click Apply and we'll walk you through a five step process where you'll attach a resume and any required documents.
During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes.
Required by USAJOBS
Yes
Required by policy
Yes
Apply by fax
Tells the job seeker how they can submit their application by fax.
Required by USAJOBS
Yes
Required by policy
No
Positions filled statement
Tells the job seeker that the agency has the flexibility to hire additional people beyond the number of vacancies listed in the Locations section from the pool of applicants to this announcement.
Competitive Service Act (CSA)
The CSA allows an agency to share a competitive certificate issued under delegated examining procedures with other agencies to hire for a permanent or term position that is in the same occupational series, grade level (or equivalent), full performance level and duty location during the 240-day period beginning on the date that the originating agency issued the certificate of eligibles; not the date when the originating agency issued the certificate to the receiving agency.
Job announcements used for this purpose must include the following language to take advantage of the CSA guidelines.
Required text
After we select a candidate, we may share the remaining list of qualified candidates with other federal agencies. You can opt-in if you want us to share your name, application material and assessment results for similar jobs with other agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore and apply to other job announcements.
Myth: Job announcements must be less than 5 pages when printed
Office of Personnel Management Policy (OPM)
In 2010, OPM recommended that job announcements keep to five pages, but there is no official policy on job announcement length.
Impact
We’ve expanded the print version to include all URLs for all links and ensured that all fields now appear in the print version. We have split the display version of the job announcement into smaller chunks.
This is no reason to expand the length of the job announcement. Our research shows that job seekers spend 106.5 seconds looking at a job announcement. The longer it is, the more difficult it is for the job seeker to identify key details.
Preview questionnaire URL
A URL pointing to the questionnaire for this announcement.
Required by USAJOBS
Yes
Required by policy
Yes
Agency contact information
Tells the job seeker how they can contact the agency. The Learn more about this agency link opens the agency pop-up window that tells the job seeker more about hte agency.
Required by USAJOBS
Yes
Required by Policy
Yes
We display the information you provide as follows:
The following fields are required:
- Agency contact name
- Phone number—check your voicemail often and respond to applicants as soon as possible.
- Street address
- Email address—Please use an active email address and check it often, because job seekers may contact you there.
Next steps
Tells the job seeker what may happen next after their application is received.
Required by USAJOBS
Yes
Required by policy
Yes
Questions? Concerns?
This site is a work in progress. We will continue to work on this content until it is as complete as possible. If you have questions or concerns about anything you read here, please reach out to your human resources director who can contact the Office of Personnel Management policy.
If you have comments about the site itself or suggestions on content to add please write to recruiter-help@usajobs.gov.