FAQ's on the Senior Level Hiring Process

If I am not a citizen of the United States, may I apply for jobs at the Library of Congress?

Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired provided they meet certain legal requirements, as described at http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/faq/citizenship.html. and the Library determines that there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position. If the position requires secret or top secret clearance, U.S. citizenship is required without exception. If a position requires secret or top secret clearance the vacancy announcement contains this information.

Am I required to submit a separate application for each job for which I want to apply or may I submit one application and be considered for all vacancies for which I am eligible?

You must submit a separate application for each job to which you wish to apply.

Is applying "online" the only way to apply for a Senior Level Library job?

Yes. Please follow the application instructions listed in the vacancy announcement for the position for which you are applying. If you are disabled and need assistance in completing your application, please contact the Customer Service Center at (202) 707-5627 or via e-mail at jobhelp@loc.gov or in person at the Library of Congress (Madison Building), Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in LM-107, 101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington D.C.

If I am applying for a Library job, what documents must I submit in order for my application to be considered complete?

In addition to completion of all mandatory sections of the online application form, you must attach an electronic copy of your resume and any other supporting documentation specified in the vacancy announcement. Failure to submit the required information and/or materials by the announcement’s closing date will result in disqualification of your application from consideration for the position.

What should be included in my resume?

Your resume should provide specific information that clearly describes the job-related knowledge, skills and abilities (to include accomplishments, work experience and education/training) that you would bring to the position.

The following information should be included:

• Work Experience (paid and unpaid experience related to the job to which you are applying:
  • Job Title
  • Employer Name and Address
  • Supervisor Name and Phone Number (indicate if we may contact supervisor)
  • Starting and Ending Dates
  • Salary
  • Duties and Accomplishments
• Education
  • High School (name, city and state, date of diploma or GED)
  • Colleges or Universities (name, city and state, major(s), type and year of degree(s) received; if no degree, show credits earned and indicate whether semester or quarter hours.
• Other Qualifications
  • Job-related training courses (title and year)
  • Job-related skills (for example, other languages, computer software/hardware)
  • Job-related certificates and licenses
  • Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments, (examples: publications, membership in professional honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking and performance awards) (Give dates but do not send documents unless requested.)
• References

Am I required to complete the Race, Sex, and National Origin information?

Provision of this information is voluntary, and will not affect consideration of your application. This information is used for statistical purposes, and is not shared with the Selecting Official or Interview Panel. However, the Library urges all applicants to provide this important information to assist it in meeting its objective of attracting a highly qualified, diverse applicant pool.

After I’ve applied for a LC vacancy, how will I know if my application has been received?

You will be notified immediately via the online system that your application has been received. We suggest that you print a copy of this notification for your records.

I inadvertently submitted an incomplete/inaccurate application using the online application system. May I submit a complete/accurate application?

Contact the Library’s Customer Service Center at (202) 707-5627 or via email at jobhelp@loc.gov to determine how your situation will be addressed.

I submitted an application but could not upload my resume. How can I get my resume to you?

Before the Vacancy Announcement closes, you may fax it to us at 202-707-1454 or email it to jobhelp@loc.gov. Please be sure to include your name and the Vacancy Announcement number for which the resume are being submitted.

The Vacancy Announcement states that I must submit college transcripts and/or proof of license or certification before I can be considered for a Library vacancy. What is the process for submitting these documents?

If you are applying for a position that requires college transcripts and/or proof of license or certification, please attach those documents to your online application or submit them to the Interview Panel at the in-person interview. If you have trouble attaching the required materials online, you may fax them to us at 202-707-1454 or email it them to jobhelp@loc.gov. Please be sure to include your name and the Vacancy Announcement number for which the documents is are being submitted.

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 website, or a self-generated list of courses is sufficient at the application stage. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript.

I want to apply for a Library job, but I do not want my current supervisor contacted. Do you have to contact my current supervisor?

The Library will not contact your current supervisor unless you are one of the final candidates under consideration for the position and you have given us express permission to do so. However, failure to give such permission may affect the Selecting Official’s hiring decision.

I applied for a job that closed over a month ago. Who should I contact to find out about the status of my application?

Please refer to the specific contact information on the Vacancy Announcement You will receive e-mail notification when the job has been filled.

I received notice that a vacancy I applied for had been cancelled. Will it be re-announced? If so, am I required to reapply in order to be considered?

Although the Library tries very hard to limit the instances in which a vacancy must be cancelled, it does happen. Depending on the situation, the vacancy may or may not be re-announced. If the vacancy is re-announced, applicants must re-apply in order to be considered.

I just found out about a vacancy that closed yesterday. May I still submit an application?

No. The Library will not consider applications submitted past the official closing date listed on the vacancy announcement.

After the vacancy announcement closes, how long does it usually take for me to receive notification that I will be interviewed?

Senior Level applicants are typically notified within two to four weeks of the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

How will I be notified if I am to be interviewed?

Candidates to be interviewed are typically notified by telephone. However, if we are unable to reach you by phone we will try to contact you via email or, if necessary, via letter.

Who will interview me?

You will be interviewed by an Interview Panel that includes the Selecting Official and at least two Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

I have been invited to a “structured interview” at the Library. What is a structured interview and how should I prepare for it?

Structured interviews are designed to assess a candidate’s job-related competencies using a predetermined set of questions that are linked directly to the knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics (KSAOs) outlined in the Vacancy Announcement for the position. All interview candidates are asked to respond to the same series of questions. Responses are scored by the Interview Panel using standardized criteria (referred to as “benchmarks”) that are determined in advance of the interviews.

The questions you will be asked during your structured interview are “behavioral” in nature, that is, they are designed to elicit from you specific, focused examples from your past experience, education, and/or training. You likely will be asked to describe past job experiences or situations and to explain the specific actions you took in those situations, your role in the situation, and the outcome of the situations. Since all questions asked during the structured interview are linked directly to the KSAOs outlined in the Vacancy Announcement for the position, familiarizing yourself with these KSAOs and thinking about your past job experiences in relation to them is one good way to prepare for a structured interview at the Library.

I was invited to participate in a “preliminary telephone interview.” What is this?

Preliminary telephone interviews may be used in advance of the full structured interview to verify candidates’ experience related to one or two critical competencies/KSAOs. Essentially, the questions related to one or two competencies/KSAOs in the full structured interview are asked of all interview candidates by telephone rather than in person. Responses are scored by the Interview Panel using standardized criteria (referred to as “benchmarks”) that are determined in advance of the interviews. If the Interview Panel determines that a candidate has “no evidence of experience” in one or both of the competencies/KSAOs, he/she is disqualified from further consideration for the position. All other candidates will proceed to the full structured interview. Preliminary telephone interviews typically last about thirty (30) minutes.

If I am interviewed, how long will it be before I am notified whether or not I got the job? How will I be notified?

The Library strives to make all selections within ninety (90) days of identifying the interview pool. However, the time-frame for selection varies depending on the nature of the position, the interview schedule and the availability of individual candidates and interviewers for interviews. As a result, the Interview Panel is often the best source of information regarding the projected time-frame for filling the position. It is appropriate for you to ask the Panel about their projected time-frame during the informal question and answer portion of your interview.

Once the Selecting Official has made a final selection, he/she will contact the selected candidate(s) and extend a “conditional” offer of employment. Upon successful completion of the Library’s personnel security review, the Library’s Office of Human Resources Services will extend the official final offer of employment to the selected candidate(s). Conditional offers typically are extended by the Selecting Official via telephone; final offers are extended via telephone and are followed by a formal letter outlining the terms and conditions of employment. Candidates who were interviewed but not selected are notified as soon as the selected candidate begins work.

I have been scheduled for an interview, but I misplaced my information on where and when. Who do I contact?

You may call the Library of Congress Customer Service Center at (202) 707-5627 or email jobhelp@loc.gov. The Customer Service Center will direct you to the appropriate staffing specialist.

If I receive a “conditional offer” and intend to accept it, should I give notice to my present employer or should I wait for the official “final” offer?

You should wait until you receive the “final” offer before giving notice to your present employer or making financial commitments to relocate.

If selected, will I be required to undergo any type of background investigation?

Yes. The Library’s Personnel Security Office (PSO) conducts a standard background check on all new hires. For most positions, this is a fairly straightforward process that takes approximately three to five weeks to complete. For positions that require higher-level government security clearances, the background investigation process is more extensive. The vacancy announcement will indicate whether or not a position requires a higher-level security clearance. If you are selected for a position that requires a higher-level security clearance, you will receive specific guidance and instructions from the Library’s PSO about what to expect during the investigation process.

If selected, when will I start working for the Library?

Most new hires typically start four to six weeks after receiving their conditional offer of employment.

If I am hired by the Library, will I be required to complete a "probationary period" of employment? If so, how long will this probationary period last?

Yes. All newly appointed Senior Level executives must serve a one-year probationary period. The probationary period begins on the effective date of the personnel action and ends upon successfully completing the required one-year probationary period.

I do not reside in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. If selected for a Library vacancy, will the Library pay for my moving expenses?

Typically, the Library does not pay for moving/relocation expenses. However, the Library does have the option to pay these expenses in situations where the Library determines that payment is warranted (perhaps, for example, when recruiting from within the United States to fill a position at one of the Library’s overseas offices.) The decision about whether or not to pay for moving/relocation expenses typically is made in advance of a position being posted, and is reflected in the vacancy announcement for that position.

The Library also has the option to offer “relocation bonuses” to current Federal employees who would be required to relocate from a different commuting area in order to accept a “hard-to-fill” position within the Library. A relocation bonus is a one-time payment of up to 25% of the annual rate of basic pay. Before receiving a relocation bonus, an employee must sign a written agreement to complete a specified period of employment with the hiring agency (typically one to three years).

What is a recruitment bonus? Does the Library pay recruitment bonuses?

A recruitment bonus is a one-time payment of up to 25% of the annual starting rate of basic pay (excluding locality pay) to a “newly appointed” Library employee. “Newly appointed employee” means that the employee has never worked for the Federal Government before or has had a break in service of one year or more.

A recruitment bonus may be used when the Library believes that, in the absence of such a bonus, it would encounter difficulty in filling an advertised position due to a shortage of qualified applicants or related factors. Before receiving a recruitment bonus, a “newly appointed” employee must sign a written agreement to complete a specified period of employment with the hiring organization (typically one to three years).

If selected for a Library vacancy, how will my pay be set within the annual salary range shown in the vacancy announcement? Is salary negotiable within the range?

Federal salaries are not negotiable in the same manner as private sector salaries; there are a number of rules and regulations that prescribe how Federal salaries may be set and agencies must comply with these directives. At the time of initial appointment to a Senior Level Executive position, the Librarian of Congress or designee, on the recommendation of the Director for Human Resources Services, sets the basic rate of pay at one of four rates linked to the General Schedule:

• SL-1: 120% of GS-15/1
• SL-2: 128.51% of GS-15/1
• SL-3: 139.51% of GS-15/1
• SL-4: 162.44% of GS-15/1

The initial rate of pay shall be established based on factors related to the position itself and to what the Senior Level Executive brings to the position. These factors include: special qualifications as well as any unique combination of skills; recognition in the academic, scientific, library or artistic community (or any other field directly related to the position) as an expert; candidate’s current pay; organizational level of the position within the Library; significance of responsibilities assigned to the position; comparable positions within the Library and comparable positions in other Federal agencies.

What benefits are available to me as a Library of Congress employee?

The Library offers a comprehensive Federal benefits package. For more information you may visit the Office of Personnel Management’s website at http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/new_employees.asp.

I am a current employee at another Federal agency. If selected for a Library vacancy, will my benefits transfer?

It depends on the type of benefit. Certain benefits are available to all Federal employees and will transfer with you from agency to agency, including to the Library of Congress. These benefits are: health insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits, and any flexible spending accounts you have established for health or dependent care expenses through FSAFeds Program. Certain other benefits (e.g., Metrocheck/transit subsidy, Alternative Work Schedules, and Telecommuting) are unique to particular agencies and may or may not be the same at the Library. These benefits do no automatically transfer; as a new Library of Congress employee you will have to apply for these types of benefits when you report to work at the Library.

What does “Senior Level” mean?

“Senior Level” positions are those positions designated by the Librarian of Congress as meeting the criteria for inclusion in the Library of Congress Senior Level Executive System. Senior Level Executive positions are those classified above GS-15 of the General Schedule and paid in accordance with the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA), Public Law 101-509 of November 5, 1990, which abolished Super grade positions (i.e., those classified at the GS-16, GS-17, GS-18 levels or their equivalents) and established a new Senior Level Executive System covering those positions.

What do “opening date” and “closing date” or “application deadline” mean?

The “opening date” is the date on which the vacancy is first announced and the earliest date interested candidates may apply. The “closing date” or “application deadline” is the latest date candidates may apply.

What does “series” mean?

“Series” indicates the occupational family to which the advertised position belongs. For example, the Federal series code for the Librarian occupational family is 1410.

If I am disabled, what is considered an appropriate "certificate of eligibility" and how and where do I obtain it?

A “certificate of eligibility” certifies the nature and extent of your disability. These certificates are issued by and may be obtained from State vocational rehabilitation agencies or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs if you are a veteran. For further information, contact the Library’s Selective Placement Program Manager at (202) 707-6648 (voice or TTY).

The vacancy announcement states that all Library of Congress positions are in the “excepted service”. What does this mean?

All non-military Federal jobs fall into one of three categories, or “services”, - the Competitive Service, the Excepted Service, or the Senior Executive Service. The Competitive Service includes primarily jobs in the Executive Branch of the Government. The Excepted Service includes most of the positions in the Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch of the Government, as well as positions in the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies that have been excepted from the civil service laws because of their confidential, policy-determining, or policy-advocating character. The Senior Executive Service includes executive and managerial positions that do not require appointment by the President with Senate confirmation.

The primary differences between the three services are in the areas of hiring procedures and job protections. In the Competitive Service, hiring procedures, promotion requirements, and job qualification standards are prescribed by law or by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. In the Excepted Service (all Library jobs) only basic requirements are prescribed by law or regulation and each agency develops specific requirements and procedures for its own jobs.

Does the Library use Veterans' Preference in its hiring practices?

No. Applicants, who meet the definition of "Veteran," as defined in the Veterans’ Preference Act of 1944, are given “preference” when they apply for Federal jobs in the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government. However, because the Veterans’ Preference Act of 1944 does not cover the Legislative Branch, the Library of Congress does not credit Veterans’ Preference. For more information, consult the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website at www.opm.gov.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact jobhelp@loc.gov.