|
With the increased competition for
federal jobs it's more important than ever to submit a high
quality application package. In this era of reinvented
government, that package will consist of either a
federal-style resume (paper or electronic), an OF-612 or an
SF-171 and your supplemental statements. You may meet all the
requirements of a particular job, but if your application
package doesn't convey your qualifications, you may not have a
chance of getting a job.
To understand the important
role your application plays in the selection process, it's
helpful to understand how an opening's requirements are
determined and how your package is evaluated against them.
- A vacancy is created when a
program or staff manager in the government needs someone
to perform specific tasks and has the authority and
funding to hire for the position.
- Typically, the manager meets
with agency personnel representatives to discuss the
skills needed and the best means of finding a qualified
person.
- The result is usually a
vacancy announcement that describes the job and, more
importantly, describes the required and desired
qualifications.
For most vacancies there are
three levels of qualification requirements:
- Basic qualifications
required for the occupational series and grade. These
mandatory requirements are established by the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) and are documented in the
Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General
Schedule Positions, formerly known as the Handbook X-118,
(available for review at agency libraries and personnel
offices). They apply to all jobs in the specific GS series
and grade classification through the government. You'll
find them summarized on vacancy announcements and stated
as a minimum number of years of general and specialized
experience, or a combination of education and experience.
- Unique and essential
requirements of the particular vacancy. These are usually
called "Selective Placement Factors" on the job
announcement and they are determined by the program
manager in conjunction with the agency's personnel
officials. Your application package must show that yo
satisfy these requirements in order to be considered for
the opening.
- Desirable qualifications of
the applicant to fill the particular vacancy. These
qualifications are typically called "Quality Ranking
Factors" or "Knowledges, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)."
They are also determined by the program manager and the
agency's personnel officials. In most cases, you don't
have to possess all these qualifications in order to be
eligible for consideration, but the applications that show
these desirable qualifications will receive extra ranking
points in the competition.
The evaluation process begins
in the personnel office shortly after the vacancy announcement
closes. Each application is examined against basic criteria:
- unless applying
electronically, all required forms must be enclosed and
have an original signature;
- you must meet the basic
experience and education requirements for the series and
grade, etc. If you don't, your application may not
be considered.
At this point, evaluation
processes may vary, depending on the vacancy and the practices
of the agency. Typically, a selection panel will examine the
remaining applications in detail. Such a panel often consists
of three or more agency employees who work at the same or a
higher grade than the job being filled and in the same or a
closely related occupation.
- Candidates who do not meet
the unique and essential requirements of the vacancy
(Selective placement factors) are the first to be
rejected.
- The remaining applicants are
ranked according to a rating plan designed for the
specific vacancy.
- Extra points are given to
the applicants that show the desired quality ranking
factors, or KSAs.
- Highly ranked applications
are then forwarded to the hiring manager for review and a
decision on whether to interview any of the applicants.
There are no government-wide
regulations regarding job interviews although some agencies
have adopted their own policies. In fact, most managers prefer
to interview applicants before making a hiring selection.
If you hope to be among this
select group, your task is clear. You must submit an
application that successfully represents you at all three
levels of the evaluation process:
- basic GS series and grade
requirements;
- unique requirements of the
vacancy;
- desired qualifications for
the vacancy.
Remember, a dynamic and
comprehensive application not only communicates your
strengths, but also stands as an example of your analytical,
interpretive and writing skills -- among the most basic
qualities sought for federal service.
Sandra M. Harris
President
Federal Research Service
|
