FAQ's Before Applying For A
Federal Government Vacancy

If you have never worked for the Federal Government, you may be confused about the competitive hiring process and the Federal service in general. With this in mind, we have put together some questions most frequently asked by new applicants. Please take a few minutes to read this material. We hope that it, along with the attached fact sheets, will provide the information you need about employment in the International Trade Administration (ITA).

HOW DO I FIND OUT WHICH ITA JOBS ARE BEING RECRUITED FOR?
There are a number of ways:
1. Our positions are listed on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Federal Job Opportunities Board (FJOB). FJOB can be accessed via OPM Mainstreet.
2. You can call OPMs Career America Connection to get current job information. The local number is (202) 606-2700.
3. You can also get current job information on the World Wide Web. The address is: WWW.USAJOBS.OPM.GOV
4. You can call the ITA Personnel Hotline at (202)482-1533, or TDD (202)482-1556.


WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO APPLY FOR A VACANCY IN ITA?
Each of our vacancy announcements list the documents required when applying for an ITA position. Upon request, we will mail you copies of current vacancy announcements which also contain instructions on how to apply for that particular vacancy. Applications received in response to each vacancy announcement are used only for those specific vacancies.

WHICH OPM ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD I APPLY UNDER FOR JOBS IN ITA?
None. OPM terminated the announcement called "Financial, Administrative, and Social Science Position (FASS)" (which had earlier replaced the Mid and Senior Level registers). The numerous occupational series previously under FASS are now handled under individual case examining authority shared between OPM and ITA.

ISN'T THERE STILL AN OPM STANDING REGISTER SYSTEM?
No, not for the positions at ITA. For information about registers for other (technical and scientific) positions, call the Career America Connection on (202) 606-2700, to determine which positions are currently being filled through OPM registers.

HOW MUCH DETAIL ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE SHOULD I PUT ON MY JOB APPLICATION?
Since we use your application to qualify you, don't leave out any of your experience or education, especially if it's related to the position. But please be concise. We know it's tempting to add a lot of attachments to your application, but before you start stapling, put yourself in the place of the selecting official whose time is extremely limited. We do, however, like to have copies of evaluations or letters of reference from past supervisors. We also suggest that you enclose a copy of your college transcript(s).

I HAVE APPLIED TO ITA FOR SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL TRADE SPECIALIST POSITIONS AT THE GS-9 LEVEL. WHY DO I QUALIFY FOR SOME AND NOT FOR OTHERS?
Because positions with the same title, series, and grade level often have different experience requirements. Read the basic qualifications requirements and selective factors of the advertised vacancy before you apply to make sure you meet the requirements. We also suggest that you enclose a narrative statement in response to Selective and Quality Ranking Factors citing pertinent experience and education specific to the position being filled. ITA Staffing Specialists will use these Selective and Quality Ranking Factors to rate and rank the qualified applicants.

I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE, BUT AM APPLYING BASED ON MY EDUCATION. HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY FOR A POSITION?
In occupations for which minimum education requirements have been established, and in occupations for which education may be substituted for experience, you will generally qualify for a GS-5 if you have a bachelor's degree with a major in a field related to the position; for a GS-7, with one year of related graduate education; and, for a GS-9, with a related master's degree. If you have a bachelor's degree in a field related to the position and a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher, you may qualify for a GS-7.

WHAT IS AN OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR APPOINTMENT?
Based on the Leuvano decree, there is a special direct-hire authority for Outstanding Scholar candidates. To qualify for consideration under this provision applicants must be college graduates and have a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 or above, on a 4.0 scale, for all undergraduate courses, OR have graduated in the upper ten percent of their class. Applicants interested in applying under this authority must attach a copy of their college transcript verifying their GPA or identifying their class standing. This authority is not available for Import Administration positions

AFTER I HAVE APPLIED FOR A POSITION WITH ITA, HOW WILL I KNOW THAT I AM BEING CONSIDERED AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE SELECTION IS MADE?
If you are qualified, the ITA Personnel Office will forward your application to the selecting official for consideration. It takes about 3 weeks after the closing date of an announcement before the selecting official begins interviewing. It may be another 6 to 8 weeks, however, before a selection is made.

IF I AM QUALIFIED FOR A POSITION, WILL I BE INTERVIEWED?
Not necessarily. Only the best qualified status candidates have to be interviewed. If you have no status, the selecting official is not obligated to interview you unless he/she wants.

WHAT IS "STATUS"?
Career-Conditional and Career (permanent) employees may be promoted, reassigned to another job, transferred to another agency, or be reinstated after leaving Federal service (with a three-year reinstatement time limit for Career-Conditional employees) without having to compete. This eligibility is called competitive status or just "status".

WILL I BE GIVEN A WRITTEN TEST BY OPM?
It depends on the examining process. Some require tests; others require only that you complete certain forms and furnish information about your qualifications.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE TO APPLY FOR A CLERICAL/SECRETARIAL POSITION?
For grades 2, 3, and 4, you will need to take the Clerical and Administrative Support Exam, given every Wednesday at the Office of Personnel Management at 1900 E Street, N.W., Room 1416, Washington, D.C. The test is open to U.S. citizens only and you must be able to present a picture I.D. Tickets for the exam are handed out starting at 7:30 a.m. to the first 130 people who arrive and the exam starts no later than 8:15 a.m. The test takes approximately 2 ½ hours to complete. Notice of Ratings are prepared and mailed to you within two weeks. Once you have received a passing Notice of Rating, you may go to Federal agencies accepting applications and apply for employment directly. For grades 5 and above, a test is not needed - you may approach Federal agencies accepting applications and apply to the agency for the vacancy.

ONCE I ACCEPT A JOB WITH YOUR AGENCY, HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE I CAN BE PROMOTED?
It usually takes 1 year of specialized experience to be eligible for promotion to the next higher grade in the career ladder established for ITA positions. If, however, you initially accept a job at a grade level lower than that for which you qualify, you may continue to be considered for higher grade position(s) only in circumstances under which you are willing to apply and compete over again through the competitive process.

WHAT BENEFITS DOES THE FEDERAL SERVICE OFFER TO EMPLOYEES?
If you are hired as a permanent (Career-Conditional) employee, you will be fully covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System, which is a 3-tiered retirement plan (Social Security, Basic Annuity, and Thrift Savings Plan). In addition, employees will be able to make tax deferred contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan, of up to 10% of your salary with a government match of up to 5%. You will also be eligible to elect health and life insurance. All employees are covered by Worker's Compensation should they be injured on the job.

Federal employees hired after January 1, 1987, pay 8.45% of their salary to Social Security and the Basic Annuity, as follows:


SOCIAL SECURITY OLD      MEDICARE	BASIC ANNUITY
AGE, SURVIVORS, &
DISABILITY INSURANCE*

      6.20%               1.45%	             .80%

*Social Security Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) deductions are based on all earnings up to a defined wage base adjusted annually. Medicare taxes are deducted up to the wage base as described for OASDI. The 1990 wage base is $50,400.

WHAT ABOUT VACATIONS AND SICK LEAVE BENEFITS?
All employees (except for a few special categories) accrue sick leave at the rate of 13 working days per year and annual leave according to their total years of civilian and military service. For the first three years, employees earn 13 days of annual leave per year; after three years, 20 working days per year; after 15 years, 26 working days per year.

	Types of Positions

International Trade Specialist	  International Economist
Trade Program Assistant		  Economist
Commodity Industry Specialist	  Import Compliance Specialist 
				  Antidumping/Countervailing
				  Duty Financial Analyst

	Qualifications Required

College Degree: BA, BS, MA, MS, MBA

International Economics		International Trade 
International Finance		or International Relations   
International Business		Business with Accounting Major

1. Plan carefully. Your application is the first thing a prospective employer sees; apply the concept that you are selling your skills, experience, and potential.
   
   
2. If you apply using the SF-171 or OF-612, list the position for which you are applying, and answer all questions fully and correctly to avoid delaying the review of your application and loss of job opportunities. The SF-171 or OF-612 must be signed and dated in ink.
   
   
3. Always include your social security number and citizenship on any form of application you use.
   
   
4. Before completing your application, obtain a copy of the job announcement. This document describes the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the job.
   
   
5. Be sure to indicate the lowest grade or salary level that you will accept. When applying for a specific job, indicate the lowest grade level shown on the announcement; if qualified you will be considered for grade levels above the level you indicated
   
   
6. "Work Experience" is the most important aspect of your application. "Duties" are what you do for your employer. "Responsibilities" involve your independence and judgement. "Accomplishments" are duties you have performed above and beyond what is normally expected of you; describe those assignments which represent your highest skills. Your application will be evaluated based upon the extent to which your experience and education reflect the criteria listed in the basic requirements.
   
   
7. For each position you've held, indicate the beginning and ending dates, hours per week, and percentage of your time spent on each duty. For example, a Secretary may (1) make travel arrangements 20% of the time, (2) answer and respond to telephone inquiries 50% of the time, And (3) file 30 % of the time.
   
   
8. Volunteer work may also be used to qualify you for a position. Remember to include volunteer work experience that is related to the position for which you are applying.
   
   
9. Addressing the "selective" and/or "quality ranking" factors as stated in the job announcement could make the difference in whether or not you are considered for the position. A typed supplemental statement relating your experience to these specific factors, helps avoid having to tailor your application each time you apply to a different position.
   
   
10. List degrees you expect to receive within 3 months of the date of your application. Education can often be substituted for experience.
    
    
11. Indicate any special qualifications, skills, and accomplishments: memberships, publications, presentations, letters of commendation, certificates, nominations, honors, awards, etc. Do not attach copies unless instructed to do so.