5) The Assessment Questionnaire

After applying in USAJOBS, you may be wondering how your application package will be evaluated. 

Evaluation of an application in USAJOBS is based on the applicant’s answers to the assessment questionnaire, self-certifying one’s experience. 

The answers to the questions need to be supported by the information contained in the resume and any required documents.  Assessment questionnaires are located within Application Manager, the tool used to collect applications online and link your application package to USAJOBS.

The questionnaire collects information about your experience, education, knowledge, and skills in order to determine your basic qualifications for the position and to determine who should be referred to the hiring manager as best qualified. 

The assessment questions are job specific and change for each job announcement and position. 

It is to your advantage to take the time to thoroughly and accurately complete the questionnaires so that your application can be accurately evaluated. 

For more information about the Assessment Questionnaire, visit the Department of Navy’s website: http://www.public.navy.mil/donhr/Employment/HiringReform/Pages/ApplicantToolkit.aspx

4) Searching for Jobs using USAJOBS

  
USAJOBS offers you several ways to search for jobs.  For a quick and simple search, fill in the “What: Keyword Tips” and “Where: (U.S. city, state or zip code)” search boxes.
 
 For additional search options (e.g. department or agency, series, grade, job title) select “Advance Search” from either the link on screen or from the “Search Jobs” drop down menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen. 


You can also select “Browse Jobs” to see lists of announcements pre-sorted by agency, location or occupation.  The Search Results page provides a variety of options such as view announcement, save as a search agent, save the job for later, and refine search. 

Many search fields are followed by a blue question mark button which you can click for useful tips.


You can save up to 10 searches as “search agents” which use your search criteria around the clock to email you notifications when job opportunity announcements (JOA) are placed on USAJOBS.


Click on “My Account” from the tool bar and select “Saved Searches” from the drop down menu to modify or delete a saved search, or select “Saved Jobs” to view jobs you have saved for later.


Familiarize yourself with JOA formats in USAJOBS.  Each JOA has tabs at the top of the announcement (i.e., overview, duties, qualifications & evaluations, benefits & other information and how to apply) or click “Print Preview”.

3) PART II: Applying for a Job at NNSY using USAJOBS

In BLOG#2 you were shown how to create a USAJOBS account and resume. If you have done this, then you are ready to apply for jobs.


Click the “Search for Jobs” tab at the top left corner of the USAJOBS screen and you will see there is more than one way to find announcements in USAJOBS.


When you find a job you want to submit your resume to, open the announcement and read carefully to ensure that you know what information is needed to successfully apply. 


When you are ready to submit your resume, click on the “Apply for this Position Now!” button and USAJOBS will redirect you to Application Manager. 


{Application Manager is a separate system from USAJOBS.  It is used to collect online applications for specific positions.  The application package will consist of your resume, assessment questionnaire, and any other documents required to apply for the position.} 


You will have to create an account in Application Manager the first time you use Application Manager.  This account will require a User ID and Password just like USAJOBS.  We suggest that you use the same for both systems. 

Once your account is initially created and used, you will not be required to login to Application Manager each time you wish to submit your application but will be automatically redirected from USAJOBS to Application Manager.


Each position that you apply for in Application Manager will have an Assessment Questionnaire that has questions which are job specific to the position for which you are applying. 


After completing the questionnaire, you will need to upload any additional documents that are requested in the Job Announcement (i.e. SF-50, DD-214, School Transcript, etc.)  Once you have uploaded these documents, they will be available to reuse for other positions for which you apply. 


If you are unable to upload a document, you will also have the option of faxing it using a Fax Cover page that can be retrieved by clicking on the link that is provided.  This Fax Cover page contains specific information about the Job Announcement for which you are applying and must be used so your documents can be associated with your application.


Once all required questions have been completed, you will be able to click the “Submit My Answers” button to submit your application.  After clicking the “Submit My Answers” button, you will receive an online confirmation message.

2) PART I Applying for Jobs at NNSY using USAJOBS

The information provided may help get you started in using USAJOBS and Application Manager.

To get started, follow these steps:

1. Go to www.usajobs.gov


2.  Click “Sign in or Create an Account”


3.  Complete personal information


4.  Click “I agree. Create my Account”


At this point you have two options to get your resume into USAJOBS: you can build a resume or upload an existing resume.  


Upload a Resume. Uploaded resumes must be less than 3 MB and in one of the following document formats: .doc, .docx. .jpg, .pdf or .rtf. 

Take some time to review and update your information, when you are ready, follow the USAJOBS on-screen instructions for uploading a resume.


Note: Uploaded resumes are not “searchable,” which means recruiters will not be able to find your resume unless you submit it to a specific USAJOBS vacancy announcement.


USAJOBS Resume Builder. You can copy and paste the information from your resume into the corresponding fields in USAJOBS resume builder. Be sure to review and update your information as necessary.


USAJOBS does not limit your work experience examples however, the character limits for some fields in USAJOBS are limited so your resume may need to be edited to fit in USAJOBS.

 Note:  You can have up to five resumes saved to your USAJOBS account (two uploaded resumes and three USAJOBS Resume Builder resumes). When you apply to an announcement in USAJOBS, you pick which resume you want to submit. 

1) The Norfolk Naval Shipyard Transitions from CHART to USAJOBS

In compliance with President Obama’s memorandum for changes to the federal hiring process, the Department of the Navy (DON) recently transitioned from the Civilian Hiring and Recruitment Tool (CHART) and Resumix to USAJOBS and USA Staffing for managing online announcements and applications.
  
The primary goal is to make federal jobs more accessible by shortening the amount of time it takes to apply, as well as the length of time to hire new employees.  This transition will streamline and simplify the application process for job seekers as well as the hiring process for managers.
  
Norfolk Naval Shipyard made the transition from CHART and Resumix to USAJOBS and USA Staffing in July of 2011. A “Transition to USAJOBS” fact sheet and toolkit is available at http://www.public.navy.mil/donhr/Employment/hiringreform/Pages/ToolsAndInformation.aspx
  
This website shows the key improvements provided by the USAJOBS tool along with helpful guidance for employees to get started for the transition to USAJOBS.
  
Employees are also encouraged to visit http://www.usajobs.gov/ to create an account, building a resume and search for jobs.

Information provided by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility