Cream of the Crop 12/Cream of the Crop 12 (Part II)/Cream of the Crop 12 (Part II).iso/BBS/SHADOW2.ZIP/1.EMP

Text File | 1994-01-09 | 16.6 KB | 356 lines

======OPM EXPRESS=============BULLETIN 20================================


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                GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT FEDERAL JOBS
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COMPETITIVE SERVICE

        Most of the jobs you know about, and many you have never heard
of, exist in the Federal civil service.  Only about 12 percent of them
are in Washington, D.C.  Government employees work in offices,
shipyards, laboratories, national parks, hospitals, military bases and
many other settings across the country and around the world.  Most
Federal civilian jobs are in the competitive services, which means
that people applying for them must be evaluated by the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM).

EXCEPTED SERVICE

        Some specific occupations (among them lawyers and chaplains)
and some agencies (for example, the U.S. Postal Service, the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency) are
excepted from OPM competitive service procedures.  If you are
interested in an excepted service job, you should not apply through
the Office of Personnel Management, but should contact agencies
directly.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

        All applicants for Federal employment receive considerations
without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex,
political affiliation, age (with authorized exceptions), handicapping
conditions, or any other non-merit factor.

HOW FEDERAL JOBS ARE FILLED

  +--------------------------------+
  | Get qualifications information |-------->     See Note # 1
  | and decide what you should     |
  | apply for.                     |
  +--------------------------------+
                  |
                  |
  +---------------------------+
  | Fill out forms and submit |
  | complete application.     |
  +---------------------------+
                  |
  +--------------------------------+
  | Take written test if required. |--------->    See Note # 2
  +--------------------------------+
                  |
  +---------------------------------+             +--------------+
  | Qualifications evaluation by    |--> OR -->   | Agency panel |
  | Office of Personnel Management. |             +--------------+
  +---------------------------------+
                  |                             If qualified, you
  +---------------------------------+           may be hired by the
  | Office of Personnel Management  |
  | list of qualified applicants.   | <------|
  +---------------------------------+        |  Your name goes back
                  |                          |  to the Office of
  +---------------------------------+        |
  | Referral to agency requesting   |        |  Personnel Management
  | applicants for consideration.   |--> NO -|
  +---------------------------------+
                  |
               +-----+
               | YES |
               +-----+
                  |
         +----------------+
         | You are hired. |
         +----------------+

NOTE #1:  Do not apply unless you fully meet the qualifications
requirements, will work in the location(s) for which applications are
being accepted, and will accept the salary of the position.

Obtain current Federal Job Opportunities List (FJOL) or specific
agency announcement.

NOTE #2:  There is no one "general" Civil Service test that can
adequately measure the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for
all positions.  You may file for as many jobs as you wish if you are
interested in and qualified for them.  Each job may require a
different test or set of qualifications, and may require a separate
application.

HOW JOBS ARE FILLED

The Office of Personnel Management accepts applications for Federal
employment based on the number of jobs Government agencies estimate
they will fill in various locations over a period of time.  After you
apply, OPM examiners evaluate your application to see whether you are
qualified for the kind of work you want.  If you are qualified, your
name goes on a list with the names of other people who are qualified
for the same kinds of jobs.  When Government hiring officials have
vacancies, they may ask the Office of Personnel Management for the
names of applicants qualified for the job.  The best qualified
applicants' names are referred from OPM for consideration by the
agency.  The final decision on who will be hired is made by the
officials of the Federal agency to which names are referred and not by
the Office of Personnel Management.

If you receive an eligible rating or notification, your name will be
placed on the register or list of eligibles for employment
consideration, usually for a period of 6 to 12 months.  If you have
not been selected for a career-conditional appointment during this
time and wish consideration for the following year, you may extend
your eligibility sometime during the 10th, 11th, or 12th month of your
eligibility by requesting it in writing and submitting it to the
address listed on your Notice of Results.  For some jobs, however,
after the first period of consideration, the list of eligibles may be
terminated at any time without advance notification.

For some competitive service jobs, usually those which exist in only
one agency, the Office of Personnel Management authorizes the hiring
agency to examine applicant's qualification.  In that case, you apply
directly with the agency.  Check with the agency where you want to
work to see which procedure is used for the job in which you are
interested.

HOW TO APPLY  (Texas-Area Applicants)

Call the OPM Area Office 24-hour recorded job listing message or visit
a Texas Employment Commission (TEC) office to find out whether
applications are being accepted for the kind of work you want.  This
information is available on the monthly Federal Job Opportunities List
(FJOL) or the semimonthly Mid/Senior Announcement, available at TEC
offices.  You may also request a copy from the OPM Area Office.'

All Federal jobs in North Texas announced through OPM are listed in
TEC's computerized job-bank system.  If you register with TEC, they
will give you a referral card to be mailed to OPM for application
forms for appropriate vacancies.

Whether you are referred by TEC or simply see a job of interest on the
FJOL the next step you need to take is to write to the proper OPM
office (specified on the FJOL or TEC listing) and request application
forms.  Be sure you state the correct job title as listed on the FJOL
when you write or it may not be possible to fill your request.

OPM accepts applications only for those positions listed in the FJOL
and/or Mid/Senior Announcement.

CHANCES FOR EMPLOYMENT

Your chances for being hired depend on your qualifications, how fast
vacancies are occurring in the area where you want to work, the number
of qualified applicants who want the same kind of job, and the salary
level you say you will accept.  When there are many qualified
applicants on Office of Personnel Management lists, applications are
no longer accepted until there is a need for them.  Because Government
hiring needs vary from time to time and from one location to another,
you might be able to apply in one location for a particular kind of
job and be unable to apply for the same kind of job in another
location.

VETERANS PREFERENCE

Veterans are entitled to certain preferences in obtaining Government
jobs and in keeping jobs in the event of a layoff.  If you are a
veteran, be sure to state that you are when you inquire about a
Government job.  OPM will accept application from veterans who have
been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces within 120 days of
separation or hospitalization (which continued for not more than 1
year after separation).  Veterans may apply for any job which closed
while they were in the military service, provided the list of
eligibles still exists.

OPM will also accept applications from persons entitled to 10-point
veteran preference at any time for any positions for which a list of
eligibles exists or is about to be established, or to which
appointment has been made within the preceding 3 years from a list of
eligibles.

Recently separated veterans who may file delayed applications and
compensable preference eligibles who can reopen examinations may
review a list of all vacancy announcements at the OPM Area Office.

Veterans who have been discharged with less than 14 years of education
may contact Federal agencies directly for employment under a special
Veterans Readjustment Appointment (VRA) at grades GS-1 to GS-9 or WG-1
to WG-9.  To be eligible in this special VRA hiring procedure, service
dates must have been between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975.  Other
special hiring procedures are available for certain disabled veterans.

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED

Government jobs are classified by grade levels based on each job's
level of difficulty and responsibility.  Salaries correspond to the
grades; the higher the grade level, the higher the salary.  A
Government employee's pay is determined by the level of the job he or
she fills, not necessarily by the employee's qualifications.  (For
example, if you are qualified for a GS-9, but will accept a job at the
GS-5 level, you will be paid the GS-5 salary, not the GS-9 salary).

There are several pay systems, covering different kinds of jobs.  For
example, the General Schedule (GS) system covers most white collar
jobs and protective occupations, such as guards.  It starts at grade
GS-1 and goes up to GS-18. Clerical workers usually start at GS-1, 2
or 3; guards at GS-4 and white collar workers with experience or
education equal to a college degree at GS-5. The grade level for which
you qualify depends on your education and experience which is related
to the kind of work you want.

FORMS

You can get qualifications information and forms you'll need at OPM
area offices.  Application forms vary depending on the position; do
not assume that an application for one position can be used for
others.  Applications are not accepted when openings are not expected.

WRITTEN TESTS

Written tests are not required for many Government jobs.  However, for
others -- including general administrative and clerical positions -- a
written test is required.  If a written test is required for the kind
of job you want, you will receive a notice telling you when and where
to take the test, or an information sheet will list the dates and
times when the test is given.  It is not necessary to prepare for the
test by taking a "Civil Service" course.  No school can guarantee that
you will be found qualified or that you will be offered a job.

RATING

If you take a written test, you will receive a notice of your score
and your name will go on the OPM referral list in the order of your
score.

If the job you apply for doesn't require a written test, your rating
will be based on the experience, education and training you describe
in your application.  You will be notified of the status of your
application by the office where you applied.  For most scientific
positions and many other jobs at GS-9 and above, you will not receive
a numerical score at the time your application is processed.  You will
receive with your Notice of Results a short explanation of the codes
used in the Notice.  For example, an NR (not reviewed) code is neither
an eligible nor an ineligible rating.  NR does not limit your
opportunity for employment consideration.  It means your
qualifications will be reviewed for specific jobs as vacancies occur.
If you are among the best qualified, your name will be referred to the
employing agency along with names of other best qualified applicants.

"THE RULE OF THREE"

Agency hiring officials are entitled to select from among the top
three available applicants referred to them for a particular job.
This explains why a person lower on the list may be hired, while the
highest person is not.

When veterans are included in the three names referred, the selecting
official generally may not pass over a veteran to hire a non veteran
with the same or lower numerical score.

The name of applicants not selected are returned to the Office of
Personnel Management for consideration for future vacancies.

TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT

Temporary Employment:  Since Federal agencies often have a need for
temporary employees, you may have simultaneous consideration for both
temporary and permanent positions.  If you accept a temporary
appointment, your name will remain on the register for consideration
for permanent positions.

If you are interested in any TEMPORARY blue collar jobs or General
Schedule (GS) jobs, we suggest you contact directly the Federal
agencies of your choice.

REINSTATEMENT OR TRANSFER

Reinstatement or Transfer:  Former Federal employees with status may
seek employment through reinstatement based on their previously civil
service employment.

Persons who have a competitive status (or who have served under
appointments leading to competitive status) and who are entitled to
veteran preference have unlimited time eligibility for reinstatement.
Former nonveteran employees who completed the three years of
substantially continuous creditable service for career appointment
also ave unlimited time eligibility for reinstatement. Generally, the
three-year period begins with other than a temporary appointment to a
position in the competitive service it must include service under an
appointment based on or conferring a competitive status or leading to
a competitive status it must not contain a single break in service or
more than thirty calendar days.

Former nonveteran employees who have not had the three years of
substantially continuously creditable service for career appointment
ay be reinstated only within three years following the date of their
separation.  The three-year time limit begins with the date of
separation from the last position in which the person served under a
career appointment, career-conditional appointment, reinstatement (or
indefinite appointment in lieu of reinstatement) or an appointment
under which he acquired competitive status.

Reinstatement is a privilege accorded i recognition of and on the
basis of former service and is not a right to which the former
employee is entitled.

Current career or career-conditional Federal employees may also seek
transfer from one Federal agency to another.  If you are eligible for
reinstatement or transfer, you should contact directly any Federal
agencies i which you wish employment consideration.

If you submit an application to a Federal agency, include a copy of
your most recent Standard Form 50, "Notification of Personnel Action,"
showing you r civil service status.  If you are a former employee and
do not have your SF-50, you may obtain a transcript of your Federal
employment records from the National personnel Records Center
(Civilian), 111 Winnebago Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63118;  if you
are a current employee, ask your personnel office.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

You must be physically able to perform the duties of a job without
being a hazard to yourself or others.  A physical or mental handicap
or s prior emotional problem isn't disqualifying.  For information on
testing and placement of handicapped persons, contact an OPM area
office or the selective placement coordinator in an agency where you
want to work.

Area offices in the Dallas regional are located in Oklahoma City, OK;
Dallas, TX; San Antonio, TX; New Orleans, LA; and Albuquerque, NM.

AGE

Unless you are 16 and a high school graduate, the usual age at which
you can be hired is 18.

For some jobs (for example, many law enforcement positions),
applicants may not have passed their 35th birthday when they are
hired.  If this is true for the job you want, the qualification
information will say so.

SUITABILITY

At the time they are hired, or shortly thereafter, Federal employees
are investigated to ensure their fitness for Government employment.
The extent of the investigation depends on how sensitive their jobs
are from the viewpoint of national security.

CITIZENSHIP

With few exceptions, employees in the competitive service must be U.S.
citizens.  For more information, check with the agency in which you
want to work.
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U.S. Office of Personnel Management
1100 Commerce Street, Room 6B12
Dallas, TX  75242
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