Lessons Learned from Bahrain 8 Problems and Pitfalls for Jobseekers with USAJOBS

Lessons Learned from Bahrain 8 Problems and Pitfalls for Jobseekers with USAJOBSLessons Learned from Bahrain 8 Problems and Pitfalls for Jobseekers with USAJOBSLessons Learned from Bahrain 8 Problems and Pitfalls for Jobseekers with USAJOBSI taught 9 classes in Bahrain to US Navy Sailors a few weeks ago. We discovered these 8 major problems and pitfalls with applying for a federal job online that popped up repeatedly. If you have other problems with the automated application systems, please write comments here, and I will forward your suggestions to our USAJOBS point of contact. I hope that with mora communication, we can help them improve the application process.1. Dealing with Difficult and Duplicative ProfilesProfile Questions in USAJOBS and Applicationmanager are complex and difficult to understand for job seekers. It was surprising to our first-time applicants that both systems require complex user names and passwords (which are shockingly leid the same) and repetitive profile questions.2. Hiring Eligibility A Hidden PitallThis is not clear in the profile form, but in the Profile section, be sure to check off I am a current federal employee if you are in the US military.From the USAJOBS FAQ As veteran of the U.S. military, should I click yes in the Applicant Eligibility box even though I am not a current or former Federal employee? Yes. In general, if you are preference eligible or have served at least 3 years of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces, you should click yes in the Applicant Eligibility box. You may apply for jobs that are open to U.S. citizens as well as jobs that are open to current and former Federal employees.3. What type of work are you willing to accept?Avoid this pitfall In your profile, always check off at a minimum that you are interested in Permanent, Temporary and Term positions, and include any other types of positions that might be applicable. Dont just limit yourself to permanent positions. Permanent Temporary Term Detail Presidential Management Fellows Recent Graduates Internships Telework4. Notification SettingsNotification alerts enable you to stay informed of changes to your application position. It is very important to track your applications after you hit the submit button, and many people dont know how to utilize this convenient feature in USAJOBS. Be sure to turn these alerts on in order to get emails from OPM on the status of your applicationsWhen jobs I have applied to have closedWhen jobs I have saved are scheduled to close in three daysWhen the status of an application Ive submitted changes5. The Upload Problem Recommendation Use the Resume Builder InsteadYou are able to upload and store five resumes to your USAJOBS account. But BEWARE Uploaded resumes may not be accepted by some agencies online application processes, and it is still best practice to use the resume builder to create your federal resumes in USAJOBS.6. ProblemThis is a very annoying problem. It takes a lot of time to find and delete every single from Work Experience and Additional Information. I mean, what about Profit Loss?7. Double Work is Burdensome with Applicationmanager.gov Repeat of user name and password setup Repeat of Bibliographic Info Repeat of Profile Questions Repeat of Eligibility Questions Social Security Number Required a surprise8. Personnel, Profile, and Job-Related Assessment Questions are BurdensomePractice your application I recommend that you actually apply for a position ahead of time, so you can get familiar with the questionnaire, profile, and document uploads. Dont wait until the last minute to find out that an application involved many more steps and time than you anticipated to complete it.Write here with your worst USAJOBS application problems. Share the pain. Maybe change can occur, if OPM can listen to our problems Kathryn Troutman, Federal Career Coach(r), Author, Federal Resume Guidebook and President, www.resume-place.com