How to Apply in 4 Easy Steps

Step 1 Read the entire job announcement carefully!

First and foremost, make sure you understand the position duties, how you will be evaluated, and which documents are required for the submission. (Note: for some jobs, you may have to take a USAHIRE test. You’ll have 48 hours to complete the test.) 

Not sure if you should apply?

Simply make sure you meet the minimum qualifications for the job. For example, if it requires you have 6 months of work experience in comparable “customer service”, you will HAVE to show that your volunteer/paid work experience, has the equivalent of 6 months aka 1,040 hours (40 hours per week x 26 weeks). In other words, if you have not worked fulltime at one place for minimally 6 months, you can still qualify for the position if your combined customer service experience can add up to 1040hrs— if you do, move on to Step 2! And remember that volunteer/unpaid experience counts as well.

Step 2 Your resume is important!

Federal agencies only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. This is your opportunitiy to show that your past work/volunteer experiences are in line with the job requirements and support your answers to the application questionnaire. It is strongly encouraged to use the usajobs.gov RESUME BUILDER, since it will automatically place required resume information (US Citizen, address, phone number and email, # of hours worked at each position, etc.) in the resume for you.

Resume Tips:

1. Volunteer work is just as significant as the paid work you have listed on your resume. Your application is rated on the knowledge, skills, and abilities you demonstrate that you have. It does NOT matter whether you gained those in paid work or in a volunteer position.

2. Each paid/volunteer experience (job) on your resume needs to include certain information. Failure to include the information may very well lead to your application not being forwarded to the hiring official!

• You MUST for EVERY volunteer or paid job include: starting MONTH and year and ending MONTH and year. So, if you were a cashier at Safeway in the past it should have a line such as Safeway, Cashier, June 2005 – August 2006.  Do not put 2005‐2006.
• You MUST for EVERY volunteer or paid job include an exact number of hours you worked there per week. If it varied, put a rough average.  So, your work experience should include Safeway, Cashier, June 2005 – August 2006.  25 hours per week.  Do NOT just say “Part Time" or “Full Time”.
• You MUST list the duties performed at EVERY volunteer or paid job. Do NOT expect that the person reviewing your application will assume anything or fill the duties in or you. So, for example, if you were a cashier at Safeway, state what customer service duties you had.  Want a short cut? Google search the duties of a job similar to what you held and cut and paste as appropriate!

3. Be sure to sure to write using an active voice & to quantify/qualify your experience, for example:

 

Sample Experience

JLC Company
Hollywood, FL 
*Supervisors Name & Phone # and/or Email* 
Safety Inspector, March 2017 - September 2022, 40 hours per week 

-Perform monthly safety inspections including testing emergency lights and checking fire extinguishers for expiration and refill needs
-Work with crew to install new veneer walls: laid down mud, installed bricks, pointed joints with mud mortar, cut bricks with Arbortech masonry saw as needed, installed mud caps.
-Conduct routine preventive maintenance on 4x4 pickup truck, Polaris and Kawasaki UTVs; checked tire pressure, safety features, oil levels, coolant levels, installed components and parts, cleaned exterior as needed 

 

4. Before uploading your resume, be sure you tailored your resume to the job announcement as much as you could. In other words, aside from listing all relevant experience, list any relevant training, education, software knowledge, honors, and awards.

Step 3 Don’t undersell yourself!

Some applications will send you to a page where you are asked to rate yourself in the occupational questionnaire. Do not be humble! Most people aren’t!  Don’t lie, but make sure you give yourself the highest rating that you can justify. Also remember that your resume must support the rating that you give yourself.

Step 4 Submit your application!

Once you have submitted all the required documents, be on the lookout for all emails. Check your SPAM folder as well as your inbox! If HR does not hear from you, they will assume you are no longer interested in the work.

Good luck with your application! 

*For any questions, please email both Ken Bigley at [e-mail] and Natalie Craig at [e-mail]