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Announcement Terminology

Our job announcements typically are organized into 5 sections. Descriptions of each job announcement field are provided below.

1. Job Overview Section

Job Announcement Number

A unique number assigned to each job we announce. It is used for tracking purposes. You should include this job announcement number on each page of the application materials you submit.

Job Title

The title that NARA has assigned to the position.

Salary Range

The low and high salary range for the job.

Series & Grade

The job series is the occupational family to which the advertised position belongs. For example, the Federal series code for the Archivist occupational family is 1420.

The job grade represents the pay-level of the position, which is based on the level of difficulty and responsibility. For example, an Archivist position at the GS-11 level of difficulty would be expressed in a job announcement as GS-1420-11.

Promotion Potential

Identifies the highest grade to which you could be promoted without further competition. Some jobs have the potential for noncompetitive promotion and others do not; it depends on how the position is structured.

For jobs with promotion potential, promotions may occur after you have:

• worked at the lower grade level for at least one year;
• performed at an acceptable level of competence;
• and demonstrated your ability to perform work at the next higher grade level.

For example, a position advertised at the GS-11 level with promotion potential to the GS-13 level means that you would be eligible for promotion to the GS-12 level at the end of your first year of employment. Once promoted to the GS-12 level, you would be eligible for promotion to the GS-13 level at the end of a year.

Who May Be Considered

This explains who may apply for the position. The options are:

• General Public
  To apply for a job that is open to the General Public, the only basic requirement is that you must be a United States citizen. There is no requirement for previous government service or government "status".
  
  
• Current and Former Federal Employees
  To apply for a job that is open to Current and Former Federal Employees, you must have status or be eligible under a special appointment authority. Examples include:
  • You are currently working for NARA on a career or career-conditional appointment.
  • You are currently working for a different Federal agency on a career or career-conditional appointment.
  • You previously attained career status in the Federal government on another appointment, left Federal service, and now wish to obtain a new appointment; or you served in the Federal service on a career-conditional appointment within the last three years, left the Federal service, and now wish to obtain a new appointment.
  • You are eligible for appointment under the Veterans Recruitment Appointment (formerly Veterans Readjustment Appointment), the 30% or more Disabled Veteran Program, or the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act.
  • You are eligible for appointment under the Disability Program.
    
    
• National Archives Employees Only
  To apply for a job that is open to National Archives Employees Only, you must be currently working for NARA on a career or career-conditional appointment, or working for NARA under a special appointing authority (e.g., Veterans Recruitment Appointment, Disabilities Program).
  • If you are working for NARA on a temporary or term appointment, you are not eligible unless you previously attained career or career conditional status in the Federal government on another appointment.

Open Period

The time period during which applications will be accepted.

• Applications must be received or postmarked by the closing date; late applications will not be considered.
• Applications must be mailed or hand-carried to the address listed on the job announcement.
• NARA does not accept applications submitted by fax or e-mail.

Position Information

Indicates the duration and work schedule of the job.

• Duration
  — Jobs at NARA are typically listed as "permanent" or "temporary".
  — Permanent jobs do not have a time limit, while temporary jobs do.
  — If you are hired for a temporary job, you may be terminated at any time when the need for the job no longer exists.
• Work Schedule:
  — "Full time" positions have a 40-hour work week.
  — "Part time" positions have a 32-hour or less work week.
  — "Intermittent" positions involve irregular and occasional work schedules.

Duty Locations

Where the job is physically located.

Job Summary

A brief summary of the job.

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2. Duties Section

This section of the job announcement contains information on the major duties and responsibilities of the job.

• Questions about job duties or responsibilities should be directed to the "Agency Contact" listed on the job announcement.

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3. Qualifications & Evaluation Section

This section of the job announcement lists the qualification requirements for the job and explains the process we will use to evaluate your application. Some common terms that typically appear in this section are included below.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum standards set by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to help ensure that Federal employees are, indeed, qualified for employment. You must meet these minimum qualifications to be considered for employment. The job announcement describes the minimum qualifications required for the position. Minimum qualifications are stated in terms of general or specialized experience.

• General experience is progressively responsible clerical, office, or other type of experience that shows you have the ability to perform the duties of the job being filled.
• Specialized experience is usually obtained from having worked in a position similar to the job being filled.

For some jobs, you can qualify based solely on education instead of experience. For other jobs, both education and experience are required to qualify; and for yet other jobs, you can qualify based on a combination of your experience and education. These requirements will be described in the job announcement.

If you are relying on your education to qualify for a job, you must submit a copy of your official transcript with your application. If you are selected for the position, you will be required to submit an official transcript before a final job offer will be made.

Selective Factor

A selective factor is a special qualification requirement that is essential to performing the duties and responsibilities of a particular position. If a position has a selective factor, it will be indicated in the job announcement, and you will be asked to address it in your responses to the KSAO statements. You must meet the selective factor in order to qualify for the position.

Time-In-Grade

This applies to the promotion of current and former Federal employees. Generally, employees must serve six months or one year at the next lower grade level. This requirement is called time-in-grade. Time-in-grade restrictions do not apply to former federal employees who have had a break in service of more than one year. Time-In-Grade also does not apply under public notice announcements.

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4. Benefits & Other Information Section

This section of the job announcement highlights some of the benefits available to you as a National Archives employee, and lists other important facts about the job. Some common terms that typically appear in this section are listed below.

Bargaining Unit

This statement tells you that the job is in the bargaining unit represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

Probationary Requirements

This statement describes the requirement to serve a probationary or trial period. When you are initially hired for a Federal job, you are expected to have the skills required to do the job successfully. You demonstrate that you have these skills during the probationary (or trial) period. If you do not demonstrate the necessary skills or otherwise show you are not fit for Federal employment, you will be separated.

• When you are first hired for a permanent job on a career or career-conditional appointment, you must serve a one-year probationary period.
• You must serve an additional one-year probationary period if you are selected from a public notice announcement for a new position, even if you have already served a probationary period (e.g., when you were first hired).
• If you are hired are on an excepted service appointment, you must serve a two-year trial period.

When you are selected for your first management or supervisory job, you will be required to serve a one year managerial or supervisory probationary period. This probationary period is in addition to any other probationary you may have already served. The purpose of this probationary period is to evaluate your skills as a supervisor or manager.

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5. How to Apply Section

This section of the job announcement lists application materials that are required and provides instructions on where and how to submit your application.

• Questions about the information in this section should be directed to the "Agency Contact" listed on the job announcement.

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