Tips Tricksfor Usa Jobs

Tips & TricksTips & Tricksfor for

USA JobsUSA Jobs

Tips & TricksTips & Tricksfor for

USA JobsUSA JobsBy Junell L. Norris

Human Resource Office

Central Region

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OverviewOverviewOverviewOverview• Creating a User AccountCreating a User Account• Creating Your ResumeCreating Your Resume• Creating Job Search AgentsCreating Job Search Agents• Reviewing Reviewing ““My ApplicationsMy Applications””• Uploading Supporting Documents to Uploading Supporting Documents to

““My PortfolioMy Portfolio””• Reviewing Reviewing ““My Account ProfileMy Account Profile””• Basic Tips & TricksBasic Tips & Tricks

• Creating a User AccountCreating a User Account• Creating Your ResumeCreating Your Resume• Creating Job Search AgentsCreating Job Search Agents• Reviewing Reviewing ““My ApplicationsMy Applications””• Uploading Supporting Documents to Uploading Supporting Documents to

““My PortfolioMy Portfolio””• Reviewing Reviewing ““My Account ProfileMy Account Profile””• Basic Tips & TricksBasic Tips & Tricks

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Creating a User AccountCreating a User AccountCreating a User AccountCreating a User Account

• Start with an easy to remember e-mail address Start with an easy to remember e-mail address as your log-in name.as your log-in name.

• Your password must have a combination of Your password must have a combination of upper & lower characters, numbers & special upper & lower characters, numbers & special characters.characters.Whatever your password, be sure to write it Whatever your password, be sure to write it

down OR make sure that you can remember down OR make sure that you can remember it.it.

• Start with an easy to remember e-mail address Start with an easy to remember e-mail address as your log-in name.as your log-in name.

• Your password must have a combination of Your password must have a combination of upper & lower characters, numbers & special upper & lower characters, numbers & special characters.characters.Whatever your password, be sure to write it Whatever your password, be sure to write it

down OR make sure that you can remember down OR make sure that you can remember it.it.

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Creating Your ResumeCreating Your ResumeCreating Your ResumeCreating Your Resume• Decide if you’re going to make your Decide if you’re going to make your

Resume ‘Searchable’.Resume ‘Searchable’.• You can create up to 5 different You can create up to 5 different

resumes.resumes.• Utilize the Resume Builder within Utilize the Resume Builder within

USA Jobs – it’s a simple step-by-step USA Jobs – it’s a simple step-by-step guide to creating a resume.guide to creating a resume.

• There is a “Sample Resume” that There is a “Sample Resume” that might be a good way to start.might be a good way to start.

• Decide if you’re going to make your Decide if you’re going to make your Resume ‘Searchable’.Resume ‘Searchable’.

• You can create up to 5 different You can create up to 5 different resumes.resumes.

• Utilize the Resume Builder within Utilize the Resume Builder within USA Jobs – it’s a simple step-by-step USA Jobs – it’s a simple step-by-step guide to creating a resume.guide to creating a resume.

• There is a “Sample Resume” that There is a “Sample Resume” that might be a good way to start.might be a good way to start.

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Getting Started on Your ResumeGetting Started on Your ResumeGetting Started on Your ResumeGetting Started on Your Resume

• Basic Information Basic Information on You – the on You – the Candidate.Candidate.

• USA Jobs will not USA Jobs will not let you continue if let you continue if you have left a you have left a ‘* - required’ field ‘* - required’ field empty.empty.

• Basic Information Basic Information on You – the on You – the Candidate.Candidate.

• USA Jobs will not USA Jobs will not let you continue if let you continue if you have left a you have left a ‘* - required’ field ‘* - required’ field empty.empty.

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Work Experience, Education & Job Work Experience, Education & Job Training on Your ResumeTraining on Your Resume


• This is your employment history.This is your employment history.• In the “Duties, Accomplishments, In the “Duties, Accomplishments,

and Related Skills” field, include and Related Skills” field, include Major Duties from your current Major Duties from your current

position description.position description. Awards you have received.Awards you have received. Skills you have learned or Skills you have learned or

developed. developed. • There is a 3,000 character limit There is a 3,000 character limit

per field.per field.• Use the Spell check.Use the Spell check.• Use the ‘+ Add Work Experience’ Use the ‘+ Add Work Experience’

button to add additional positions.button to add additional positions.

• This is your employment history.This is your employment history.• In the “Duties, Accomplishments, In the “Duties, Accomplishments,

and Related Skills” field, include and Related Skills” field, include Major Duties from your current Major Duties from your current

position description.position description. Awards you have received.Awards you have received. Skills you have learned or Skills you have learned or

developed. developed. • There is a 3,000 character limit There is a 3,000 character limit

per field.per field.• Use the Spell check.Use the Spell check.• Use the ‘+ Add Work Experience’ Use the ‘+ Add Work Experience’

button to add additional positions.button to add additional positions.

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• Within the Education Within the Education Section, list all educational Section, list all educational institutions you have institutions you have attended.attended.

• Report any “Relevant Report any “Relevant Coursework, Licensures, and Coursework, Licensures, and Certifications”.Certifications”.

• There is a limitation of There is a limitation of 2,000 characters in this field.2,000 characters in this field.

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• Job Related training Job Related training includes all types of includes all types of training you have training you have participated in.participated in.DOI Learn coursesDOI Learn coursesUSDA Graduate USDA Graduate

School coursesSchool coursesSupervisory Challenge Supervisory Challenge

• Max of 5,000 character Max of 5,000 character count.count.

• Job Related training Job Related training includes all types of includes all types of training you have training you have participated in.participated in.DOI Learn coursesDOI Learn coursesUSDA Graduate USDA Graduate

School coursesSchool coursesSupervisory Challenge Supervisory Challenge

• Max of 5,000 character Max of 5,000 character count.count.

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Related Information on Your Related Information on Your ResumeResume


• AvailabilityAvailability Type of Work & Type of Work & Schedule you want.Schedule you want.

•Specific Work EnvironmentSpecific Work Environment Student, Retiree, Part-Student, Retiree, Part-Time, Term, Tele-Work are Time, Term, Tele-Work are a few of the types of work a few of the types of work environments listed.environments listed.

• Additional Information Additional Information Includes job-Includes job-related honors, related honors, awards, leadership awards, leadership activities, skills, etcactivities, skills, etc..

•Desired Location(s)Desired Location(s) Choose the State(s)Choose the State(s) Choose the Locale(s)Choose the Locale(s) Add to Your Desired Locations List.Add to Your Desired Locations List.

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• ReferencesReferencesProfessionalProfessionalPersonalPersonal

• Additional Language SkillsAdditional Language Skills• AffiliationsAffiliations• Professional PublicationsProfessional Publications

• ReferencesReferencesProfessionalProfessionalPersonalPersonal

• Additional Language SkillsAdditional Language Skills• AffiliationsAffiliations• Professional PublicationsProfessional Publications

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Finishing Up Your ResumeFinishing Up Your ResumeFinishing Up Your ResumeFinishing Up Your Resume

•Activate Your Activate Your Resume.Resume.

•At any time you At any time you need assistance with need assistance with USA Jobs contact the USA Jobs contact the USA Jobs Support USA Jobs Support Service at Service at [email protected]@fedjobs.gov

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Creating Job Search AgentsCreating Job Search AgentsCreating Job Search AgentsCreating Job Search Agents

• You can have up to 10 different You can have up to 10 different Search Agents working for you at Search Agents working for you at the same time.the same time.

• You decide how frequently you You decide how frequently you want ‘e-mail’ reminders from want ‘e-mail’ reminders from each search agent you create. This each search agent you create. This saves YOU time!saves YOU time! You don’t have to log onto You don’t have to log onto

USA Jobs every day and USA Jobs every day and search manually through all search manually through all of the different postings.of the different postings.

• Search Agents will continue to Search Agents will continue to search until YOU delete them.search until YOU delete them.

• You can have up to 10 different You can have up to 10 different Search Agents working for you at Search Agents working for you at the same time.the same time.

• You decide how frequently you You decide how frequently you want ‘e-mail’ reminders from want ‘e-mail’ reminders from each search agent you create. This each search agent you create. This saves YOU time!saves YOU time! You don’t have to log onto You don’t have to log onto

USA Jobs every day and USA Jobs every day and search manually through all search manually through all of the different postings.of the different postings.

• Search Agents will continue to Search Agents will continue to search until YOU delete them.search until YOU delete them.

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Creating Job Search AgentsCreating Job Search AgentsCreating Job Search AgentsCreating Job Search Agents

• Search agents can be as generic or as specific as you want.

• You can select specific employment series, locations, grade levels, even Department/Agency specifics.

• Search agents can be as generic or as specific as you want.

• You can select specific employment series, locations, grade levels, even Department/Agency specifics.

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CreatingCreating Job Search AgentsCreatingCreating Job Search Agents

• Be aware of this Applicant Eligibility Be aware of this Applicant Eligibility question/section. [Selecting the question/section. [Selecting the ‘‘wrongwrong’’ answer here will hamper the vacancy answer here will hamper the vacancy announcements you can view and you announcements you can view and you could miss vacancies you want to apply could miss vacancies you want to apply for.]for.] If you select If you select ‘‘NoNo’’, the default answer, , the default answer,

then the only vacancies you will be then the only vacancies you will be able to view/apply for will be the able to view/apply for will be the ‘‘DEUDEU’’ –– Delegated Examining Unit Delegated Examining Unit vacancies {which are open the any vacancies {which are open the any U.S. Citizen.}U.S. Citizen.}

If you can answer If you can answer ‘‘YesYes’’ to any of the to any of the questions listed in this section, then questions listed in this section, then you need to you need to ‘‘clickclick’’ the the ‘‘YesYes’’ button. button. Then you will be able to apply for all Then you will be able to apply for all ‘‘DEUDEU’’ and and ‘‘MPMP’’ –– Merit Promotion Merit Promotion vacancy announcements.vacancy announcements.

• Be aware of this Applicant Eligibility Be aware of this Applicant Eligibility question/section. [Selecting the question/section. [Selecting the ‘‘wrongwrong’’ answer here will hamper the vacancy answer here will hamper the vacancy announcements you can view and you announcements you can view and you could miss vacancies you want to apply could miss vacancies you want to apply for.]for.] If you select If you select ‘‘NoNo’’, the default answer, , the default answer,

then the only vacancies you will be then the only vacancies you will be able to view/apply for will be the able to view/apply for will be the ‘‘DEUDEU’’ –– Delegated Examining Unit Delegated Examining Unit vacancies {which are open the any vacancies {which are open the any U.S. Citizen.}U.S. Citizen.}

If you can answer If you can answer ‘‘YesYes’’ to any of the to any of the questions listed in this section, then questions listed in this section, then you need to you need to ‘‘clickclick’’ the the ‘‘YesYes’’ button. button. Then you will be able to apply for all Then you will be able to apply for all ‘‘DEUDEU’’ and and ‘‘MPMP’’ –– Merit Promotion Merit Promotion vacancy announcements.vacancy announcements.

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Reviewing “My Applications”Reviewing “My Applications”Reviewing “My Applications”Reviewing “My Applications”

• Watch “My Watch “My Applications.”Applications.”

• This feature allows This feature allows you to track the you to track the different different applications that applications that you have submitted.you have submitted.

• Watch “My Watch “My Applications.”Applications.”

• This feature allows This feature allows you to track the you to track the different different applications that applications that you have submitted.you have submitted.

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Reviewing “My Applications”Reviewing “My Applications”Reviewing “My Applications”Reviewing “My Applications”

• Select the Job Title you want to Select the Job Title you want to review from within “My review from within “My Applications.”Applications.”

• You will be able to review the You will be able to review the vacancy announcement for that vacancy announcement for that position.position. If you will not have easy access If you will not have easy access

to your USA Jobs account, print to your USA Jobs account, print the vacancy announcement out the vacancy announcement out prior to the closing date of the prior to the closing date of the announcement in the event you announcement in the event you are contacted for an interview - are contacted for an interview - you can ask ‘insightful’ you can ask ‘insightful’ questions.questions.

• Select the Job Title you want to Select the Job Title you want to review from within “My review from within “My Applications.”Applications.”

• You will be able to review the You will be able to review the vacancy announcement for that vacancy announcement for that position.position. If you will not have easy access If you will not have easy access

to your USA Jobs account, print to your USA Jobs account, print the vacancy announcement out the vacancy announcement out prior to the closing date of the prior to the closing date of the announcement in the event you announcement in the event you are contacted for an interview - are contacted for an interview - you can ask ‘insightful’ you can ask ‘insightful’ questions.questions.

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Uploading Supporting Documents Uploading Supporting Documents to “My Portfolio”to “My Portfolio”

Uploading Supporting Documents Uploading Supporting Documents to “My Portfolio”to “My Portfolio”

• Upload any and all Supporting Upload any and all Supporting Documents in Documents in ““My PortfolioMy Portfolio””.. TranscriptsTranscripts DD-214DD-214 OF-306OF-306 SF-50SF-50 SF-15SF-15 Other: Could be publications in a Other: Could be publications in a

Word Document.Word Document.• Not All Department or Agencies have Not All Department or Agencies have

the ability to receive any of the above the ability to receive any of the above supporting documents via their USA supporting documents via their USA Jobs account.Jobs account.

• Read the vacancy announcement - you Read the vacancy announcement - you may need to e-mail, fax, and/or mail may need to e-mail, fax, and/or mail these documents to the agency listing these documents to the agency listing the vacancy announcement.the vacancy announcement.

• Upload any and all Supporting Upload any and all Supporting Documents in Documents in ““My PortfolioMy Portfolio””.. TranscriptsTranscripts DD-214DD-214 OF-306OF-306 SF-50SF-50 SF-15SF-15 Other: Could be publications in a Other: Could be publications in a

Word Document.Word Document.• Not All Department or Agencies have Not All Department or Agencies have

the ability to receive any of the above the ability to receive any of the above supporting documents via their USA supporting documents via their USA Jobs account.Jobs account.

• Read the vacancy announcement - you Read the vacancy announcement - you may need to e-mail, fax, and/or mail may need to e-mail, fax, and/or mail these documents to the agency listing these documents to the agency listing the vacancy announcement.the vacancy announcement.

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Reviewing “My Account Profile”Reviewing “My Account Profile”Reviewing “My Account Profile”Reviewing “My Account Profile”

• Keep your Keep your account profile account profile up-to-date.up-to-date.

• Maintain a Maintain a current e-mail current e-mail address!address!

• Keep your Keep your account profile account profile up-to-date.up-to-date.

• Maintain a Maintain a current e-mail current e-mail address!address!

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Basic Tips & TricksBasic Tips & TricksBasic Tips & TricksBasic Tips & Tricks

• Print out the Vacancy AnnouncementPrint out the Vacancy Announcement Highlight important items, such as, submission of supporting Highlight important items, such as, submission of supporting

documents, deadlines, closing date, contact information in the documents, deadlines, closing date, contact information in the event you have questions.event you have questions.

• Remember to do the “Time Conversion” so that you are applying Remember to do the “Time Conversion” so that you are applying for the position prior to the closing date/time of the for the position prior to the closing date/time of the announcements {Make sure you are reading the announcement announcements {Make sure you are reading the announcement carefully.}carefully.} Most announcements close at 12:00 Midnight (EST-Eastern Most announcements close at 12:00 Midnight (EST-Eastern

Standard Time). So, if you live in Colorado (Western Time) Standard Time). So, if you live in Colorado (Western Time) you really only have until 10:00 pm CST to COMPLETE the you really only have until 10:00 pm CST to COMPLETE the entire application and submit any required supporting entire application and submit any required supporting documents that must be submitted by the closing date/time of documents that must be submitted by the closing date/time of the vacancy announcement.the vacancy announcement.

• Print out the Vacancy AnnouncementPrint out the Vacancy Announcement Highlight important items, such as, submission of supporting Highlight important items, such as, submission of supporting

documents, deadlines, closing date, contact information in the documents, deadlines, closing date, contact information in the event you have questions.event you have questions.

• Remember to do the “Time Conversion” so that you are applying Remember to do the “Time Conversion” so that you are applying for the position prior to the closing date/time of the for the position prior to the closing date/time of the announcements {Make sure you are reading the announcement announcements {Make sure you are reading the announcement carefully.}carefully.} Most announcements close at 12:00 Midnight (EST-Eastern Most announcements close at 12:00 Midnight (EST-Eastern

Standard Time). So, if you live in Colorado (Western Time) Standard Time). So, if you live in Colorado (Western Time) you really only have until 10:00 pm CST to COMPLETE the you really only have until 10:00 pm CST to COMPLETE the entire application and submit any required supporting entire application and submit any required supporting documents that must be submitted by the closing date/time of documents that must be submitted by the closing date/time of the vacancy announcement.the vacancy announcement.

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Basic Tips & TricksBasic Tips & TricksBasic Tips & TricksBasic Tips & Tricks

• Go to the Qualifications Tab in the vacancy announcement.Go to the Qualifications Tab in the vacancy announcement. At the bottom of the page you can ‘preview’ the vacancy At the bottom of the page you can ‘preview’ the vacancy

announcement questions, prior to applying for the position.announcement questions, prior to applying for the position.• Select the appropriate answer to each question prior to applyingSelect the appropriate answer to each question prior to applying

OROR• Write out your answer to any of the ‘essay’ questions in a Word Write out your answer to any of the ‘essay’ questions in a Word

Document.Document. This will allow you to copy & past your answers directly into the This will allow you to copy & past your answers directly into the

‘essay’ questions when you are applying for the position.‘essay’ questions when you are applying for the position. This will save you a lot of time.This will save you a lot of time.

• Don’t copy and paste sections of your resume into these ‘essay’ questions Don’t copy and paste sections of your resume into these ‘essay’ questions - your resume is going to be attached to your answers.- your resume is going to be attached to your answers.

• Go to the Qualifications Tab in the vacancy announcement.Go to the Qualifications Tab in the vacancy announcement. At the bottom of the page you can ‘preview’ the vacancy At the bottom of the page you can ‘preview’ the vacancy

announcement questions, prior to applying for the position.announcement questions, prior to applying for the position.• Select the appropriate answer to each question prior to applyingSelect the appropriate answer to each question prior to applying

OROR• Write out your answer to any of the ‘essay’ questions in a Word Write out your answer to any of the ‘essay’ questions in a Word

Document.Document. This will allow you to copy & past your answers directly into the This will allow you to copy & past your answers directly into the

‘essay’ questions when you are applying for the position.‘essay’ questions when you are applying for the position. This will save you a lot of time.This will save you a lot of time.

• Don’t copy and paste sections of your resume into these ‘essay’ questions Don’t copy and paste sections of your resume into these ‘essay’ questions - your resume is going to be attached to your answers.- your resume is going to be attached to your answers.

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ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

• Utilizing these basic tips & tricks will help ensure Utilizing these basic tips & tricks will help ensure that your resume is ready for any and all vacancy that your resume is ready for any and all vacancy announcements that you plan to apply for.announcements that you plan to apply for.

• Don’t hesitate to contact USA Jobs Service Support Don’t hesitate to contact USA Jobs Service Support Desk (help desk) via the e-mail address if you have Desk (help desk) via the e-mail address if you have any difficulties or questions. The Help Desk email any difficulties or questions. The Help Desk email address is [email protected] is [email protected]

• Utilizing these basic tips & tricks will help ensure Utilizing these basic tips & tricks will help ensure that your resume is ready for any and all vacancy that your resume is ready for any and all vacancy announcements that you plan to apply for.announcements that you plan to apply for.

• Don’t hesitate to contact USA Jobs Service Support Don’t hesitate to contact USA Jobs Service Support Desk (help desk) via the e-mail address if you have Desk (help desk) via the e-mail address if you have any difficulties or questions. The Help Desk email any difficulties or questions. The Help Desk email address is [email protected] is [email protected]