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Further Information for Applicants to HHS Careers NIH Jobs

Evaluation Method

You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required; and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledges, skills, and abilities associated with this position. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. You will receive a numeric rating based on your responses to the questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities or you may lose consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully, errors or omissions may affect your rating.

If you have an existing online resume: Make sure the resume content is reflective of the experience, education, and qualifications outlined in EACH vacancy announcement. If you need to edit or review your resume, you must do so BEFORE midnight on the closing date of EACH vacancy announcement.

How to Apply

Applications (resume and vacancy questions) MUST be received online via USAJOBS before midnight Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Go to Find and Apply for Jobs for details on using the integrated USAJOBS/HHS Careers system.

Submit a copy of your basic personal data and resume information. Respond to personal/eligibility questions. The answers to these questions can be revised at any time clicking Apply Online from the vacancy announcement. This will establish a profile for you in the system. Respond to position-specific questions. Resumes and answers to vacancy questions may be updated/amended until 11:59 pm ET on the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

The HHS Careers system simplifies the Federal application process by replacing the former KSA job-element statements with on-line self-assessment questions. Your resume and responses to the self-assessment questions are an integral part of the process for determining your basic and specialized qualifications for the position. Therefore, it is important to support your responses to the applicant assessment questions by providing examples of past and present experience in your resume.

There are several parts of the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application:

  1. Your resume
  2. Your responses to the core questions
  3. Your responses to the self-assessment questions
  4. Your supporting documents

High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume, essay responses, and/or supporting documents may eliminate you from consideration for the position or result in a lowered score.

To apply to subsequent HHS Careers at NIH vacancies, you will only need to respond to position-specific questions, and, if necessary, update your personal questions and online resume.

You should receive an e-mail notification regarding the receipt of your application and, later, the results of the rating process. At any time, you may log in to view the status of positions for which you have applied through MYUSAJOBS, even after the announcement closes.

Supporting Documentation

Additional documents listed in the vacancy announcement as mandatory for you to submit to receive consideration (e.g., transcripts, performance evaluation, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214; Application for 10-Point Veterans Preference, SF-15; Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50; etc.) MUST be received by midnight ET on the closing date of the announcement to be considered. You may fax the documents to the contact fax number on the fax coversheets or email the documents to the vacancy announcement contact email address. Failure to submit the required documentation may result in not being considered, preference not being granted, and/or a lower rating in the evaluation process.

Do not submit any paperwork that has not been requested in the vacancy announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the HR contact on the vacancy announcement at least three business days before the closing date of this announcement. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

If applying online poses a hardship to you, the HR contact listed on this announcement will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date. You must contact the HR contact on the vacancy announcement at least three business days before the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.

Additional Details on Using the HHS Careers at NIH System

  • If you have never used the USAJOBS system you will need to register as a new user. Registration will involve entering your resume into the system and responding to a series of core questions that will allow HR specialists to evaluate your background for basic employment eligibility.
  • Once you have completed the registration process you must locate and view the vacancy you wish to apply for, scroll down to the end of the vacancy announcement and click the “Apply Online ” button. Submit your vacancy-specific resume and answer ALL questions that follow. You must click "Finished" button at the bottom of the screen to be considered for a specific position. Upon completing the application process you will receive an electronic acknowledgement that you application has been successfully transmitted. Select the “I would like a copy of the questions and my responses sent to my e-mail account.” option to have your responses emailed to you.

    NOTE: We encourage you to select the “View Vacancy Questions” button so you may preview the vacancy questions prior to applying for this position.

You will not be considered for the position if any part of the application is incomplete. You must provide the required user information (including your resume in the designated section), as well as responses to the questions specific to the vacancy in order to receive consideration.

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This page last reviewed on February 12, 2013

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