Application Process FAQs
- If I am not a citizen of the United States, am I still permitted to apply for jobs at the National Archives?
- Am I required to submit a separate application for each job I want to apply for, or may I submit one and be considered for all jobs for which I am eligible?
- I do not work at the National Archives, but am very interested in a job that is open to "NARA Employees Only". Can I still apply and be considered?
- Can I apply for National Archives jobs online?
- What documents must I submit in order for my application to be considered complete?
- Where can I obtain a copy of the Optional Form 612?
- Am I required to complete the Applicant Background Survey Form? If I don't complete it, does it affect my chances of getting a job at the National Archives?
- What is an SF-50?
- After I've applied, how will I know if my application has been received?
- The job announcement states that I must submit college transcripts and/or proof of licenses or certification before I can be considered for the position. What is the process for submitting these documents?
- If I am required to submit a transcript of college courses, must it be an official transcript or is a photocopy sufficient?
- I received notice that a job announcement that I had applied for had been cancelled. Will it be re-announced? If yes, am I required to reapply in order to be considered?
- I just found out about a job that closed yesterday. May I still submit an application?
- If I am not a citizen of the United States, am I still permitted to apply for jobs at the National Archives?
By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the National Archives, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired provided they meet certain legal requirements, as described by the United States Office of Personnel Management at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI9.asp. - Am I required to submit a separate application for each job I want to apply for, or may I submit one and be considered for all jobs for which I am eligible?
You must submit a separate application for each vacancy to which you wish to apply. - I do not work at the National Archives, but am very interested in a job that is open to "NARA Employees Only". Can I still apply and be considered?
No. Prior to advertising the job, the hiring organization determines the pool of applicants it wishes to target for the position - National Archives employees only, current and former Federal employees, or the general public. This process is commonly referred to as establishing the "area of consideration". Once the area of consideration has been determined, that is the only pool of applicants from which a selection can be made. Applications received from individuals outside the area of consideration will not be considered. - Can I apply for National Archives jobs online?
Yes. You may submit your resume and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) statements electronically via the USAJOBS Resume Builder.- Instructions for how to apply online will be included in every NARA job announcement.
- Please read job announcements carefully, as application requirements vary by announcement, and some application materials (e.g., transcripts) may still need to be submitted on paper.
- What documents must I submit in order for my application to be considered complete?
Because application requirements can vary by position, it is important to consult the job announcement for a definitive list of required application materials. For example, some of our positions require college transcripts and/or proof of licenses or certification; this information will be clearly stated in the job announcement. You should carefully review the entire job announcement for full "How to Apply" instructions. Generally speaking, the following requirements apply:- An application or resume will always be required.
- KSAO statements will be required for most announcements.
- Other documents that may be required (or recommended) are college transcripts, NARA Form 3035 - Applicant Background Survey, and documentation supporting your claim to veterans preference (if applicable).
- If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must also submit your latest SF 50 Notification of Personnel Action documenting that you have career or career conditional status, and your latest performance appraisal.
- Where can I obtain a copy of the Optional Form 612?
The Optional Form 612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment) may be obtained from the OPM web site. - Am I required to complete the Applicant Background Survey Form? If I don't complete it, does it affect my chances of getting a job at the National Archives?
Failure to complete the Applicant Background Survey Form will in no way affect your chances of getting a job at the National Archives, and you are not required to provide this information on your application. However, we urge all applicants to provide this important information; without it, we cannot determine accurately whether we are meeting our objective of attracting highly-qualified diverse pools of applicants to our positions.
When you do supply the information requested on the Applicant Background Survey Form, it is treated in a highly confidential manner and used for statistical purposes only. The information is not released to the Selecting Official, the Interview Panel, or anyone else involved in the application or selection process. - What is an SF 50?
An SF-50 is the Standard Federal form for Notification of Personnel Action. If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must include a copy of your latest SF-50 with your application as proof of your Federal service and civil service status. If you are a current Federal employee, you may obtain a copy of your latest SF-50 from your agency's human resources office. If you are a former Federal employee, you may obtain it by contacting us at the following address:National Personnel Records Center
111 Winnebago Street
St. Louis, MO 63118-4126
Phone: 314-801-9250
E-mail: cpr.center@nara.gov
- After I've applied, how will I know if my application has been received?
In most cases, you will receive a letter from our Human Resources Operations Branch once they have completed their initial review of your application. However, workload considerations sometimes prevent us from sending letters to every applicant who applies. If it has been more than a month since you submitted your application and you have not heard from us, please call the contact listed on the job announcement. - The job announcement states that I must submit college transcripts and/or proof of licenses or certification before I can be considered for the position. What is the process for submitting these documents?
You should refer to the job announcement for specific instructions on how to provide these documents to us. All applications materials must be received or postmarked by the closing date of the announcement - If I am required to submit a transcript of college courses, must it be an official transcript or is a photocopy sufficient?
A photocopy (or a copy downloaded from the university web site) is sufficient at the application stage. However, if you ultimately are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official version of your transcript. - I received notice that a job announcement that I had applied for had been cancelled. Will it be re-announced? If yes, am I required to reapply in order to be considered?
Although we try to limit the instances in which a job announcement must be cancelled, it does happen. Depending on the situation, the job may or may not be re-announced. If the job is re-announced, applicants typically must re-apply in order to be considered. The job announcement re-announcing the cancelled position will contain official instructions on whether and how to re-apply. - I just found out about a job announcement that closed yesterday. May I still submit an application?
Unfortunately, you may not. We will not consider applications submitted past the official closing date listed on the vacancy announcement. Applications must be received or postmarked by the closing date.
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