Navigating the Hiring Process

Navigating The Hiring Process

A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting the Job

Ready to apply, but not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through it. While the process is intensive, it doesn’t have to be intimidating.

Knowledge is power

This section will help you better understand the hiring process so that you’ll feel empowered to take the plunge and apply. The process varies slightly, depending on what type of position you’re pursuing — still, you’ll be a step ahead once you get the hang of the basic structure.

Read this instructional guide to learn how to search and apply through USAJOBS.gov.

Before You Apply

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply to VA for most positions, although non-citizens may be considered for Title 38 and Hybrid Title 38 health care occupations when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens for necessary services.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Do I meet VA’s qualification standards for my chosen profession?

Our job postings describe the minimum qualifications and specialized experience required for each position, as well as any other necessary qualifications known as “selective factors.” Your experience and education are evaluated against these standards to determine whether you are qualified or not qualified for a particular position. Specialized experience and/or selective placement factors will be listed in the announcement.

You may apply for any position for which you meet both the minimum qualifications and selective factors required. Depending on the position, qualifications may include:

Graduate of an approved/accredited program.
Current full, active and unrestricted professional license from any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or from the District of Columbia.
English language competency.

DO I MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION?

The job posting indicates who is eligible for consideration, which is different than the qualifications for the position. It will include clarification, such as whether the announcement is open to groups such as the public, internal VA employees and/or federal employees.

Preparing Your Application

When you’re ready to apply, the job listing will tell you which VA application you need to complete, along with any other forms you’ll need to submit. Pay close attention to the additional forms required if you are a federal employee requesting a transfer/reassignment, or if you are a Veteran seeking Veterans’ preference.

You can either submit your application online via USAJobs.gov (preferred) or, if you are unable to apply online, follow the alternate application procedure listed in the announcement.

UNDERSTANDING QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Depending on the position, the job announcement will include either the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) or competencies that are required for the position.

They are used to distinguish between qualified and unqualified candidates. The closer your skills and experience match the KSAs or competencies, the better suited you are for the job.

You’ll find qualification requirements listed in terms of “specialized experience” or as “selective placement factors” in the job posting. This is a great opportunity for you to draw attention to specific skills that are of interest to VA.

Be sure your resume demonstrates success in the following area(s):

Initiative: You saw a problem and resolved it.
Innovation: You developed a new way of doing things.
Leadership: You mentored less-experienced employees.
Complexity: You overcame challenging times on the job.
Scope: You were involved in work that covered many functional areas.
Teamwork: Showcase and identify YOUR role in team efforts.

RESUME DOS AND DON’TS

DO

Use action verbs and statements to describe your experience and emphasize your skills related to the qualification requirements.
Include all current experience related to the qualification requirements whether paid or volunteer.
Arrange all of your experience in chronological order.
List education and training, and identify course title, hours and relation to the requirements.
Include awards (with month and year received), a brief description and how it relates to the requirements.

DON’T

Use language from the job description in writing your resume.
Describe the work of others or that of the organization.
Omit church, community or club work.
Cross-reference items in your application.
Attach unsolicited material, such as letters of recommendation, training certificates, copies of awards or examples of work.

Application Tips

You’re almost there! As you review your application, keep these tips in mind:

When VA applications request information that appears on your resume — such as previous employers, education details, etc. — DO NOT write “see resume” in the space provided.
Be sure to fill out the application in its entirety.
Give the full address for each of your references (not just a contact number).

Lastly, take your time to fill out the application properly. Failure to do so could slow your application or even disqualify you from consideration altogether.

Submitting Your Application

You’ve completed and submitted your application — what happens next?

All job postings include an opening date and a closing date. Once the closing date passes, human resources reviews the applications.
Applicants are categorized as either qualified or not qualified. This can take up to a few weeks, depending on the number of applicants. A “certificate of eligible individuals” is sent to the supervisor, who then determines which among will be interviewed.
Interviews are conducted, references are checked and final candidate selections are made. You will be notified once a final selection has been made. If you are not selected, feel free to contact the human resource specialist or the selecting official for feedback on your application and to find out how you may improve your chances in the future.

The Interview

You landed an interview. Nice work! Here are some useful tips to get ready:

Be prepared – Make sure you fully understand the position requirements and prepare any questions you may want to ask during the interview.
Get to know VA – Do your due diligence! Learn as much as you can about the specific part of the organization where the position is located.
Dress to impress – You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make sure your attire is appropriate for a typical office setting.
Show enthusiasm – Speak clearly, smile and be attentive. Demonstrate your genuine interest in joining the organization.
Be yourself – Relax and let your true self shine through.

You’re Hired

Congratulations! Once you accept the offer, you’ll have a few tasks to complete before your start date. These may depend on the position you were selected for, but typical “onboarding” steps include:

Complete new hire documents and forms online.
Have your fingerprints taken for a background check.
Pass a physical and drug test (if applicable).
Enroll in VetPro, VA’s web-based credentialing system—follow this guide for help.
Order your official college transcript(s) addressed directly to the facility (if applicable).