Q: What if I don't have a computer?
A: Most Personnel Offices have computers available for you to use if you are applying through FNS JobNet. In addition, most college placement offices, job search agencies, unemployment offices, public libraries and some civic centers have computers and Internet access for their patrons' free use.
Q: What if I don't have email?
A: You must first set up an email account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and then use FNS JobNet. There are a number of ISP organizations that offer free email accounts. You can telephone the ISP of your choice for assistance and guidance.
Q: Is it possible to have multiple identities or more than one email address in
FNS JobNet?
A: No. You are identified in FNS JobNet by your Social Security Number, your FNS JobNet user ID#, and your password which you entered in the registration process. FNS JobNet will not allow you to create more than one account using the same email address or Social Security Number.
Q: This is the first time I have ever registered in FNS JobNet and the system is telling me that someone already registered with my Social Security Number. How could this be?
A: No one else is using your Social Security Number. You logged out of FNS JobNet before you finished registering. Log
in to FNS JobNet as a registered user. Type in your USer ID or email
address and password. Select "Edit Personal Information" and press "Next." You can then complete the registration process.
Q: I don't understand why the system won't let me in.
A: Please review the procedures for logging in to FNS JobNet. You must be a registered user of FNS JobNet before you can apply for jobs advertised by FNS. In addition, when asked for a password, choose one that is at least 5 characters long.
Make sure you use the same case both times as passwords are
case-sensitive.
Q: I tried to log in using my email address and it doesn't work.
A: Try using the FNS JobNet ID# you received from the system when you first registered in FNS JobNet. If you don't have it, you can use your email address, but you must use the same case you used when you originally typed it into FNS JobNet. For example, if you originally typed your email address using all capital letters, you must use all capitals when trying to
log in. It is often easier to use your FNS JobNet ID# instead because it is a number and isn't case-sensitive.
Q: I forgot my password!
A: Please refer to the PASSWORD HELP
procedures to receive a new password.
Q: Can you automatically notify me of vacancies as soon as they open?
A: There are two separate ways to receive automatic notification of the vacancies announced through FNS
JobNet:
FNS JobNet Notification Log in to FNS JobNet and select "Edit Personal Information." At the bottom of the screen are "Notification Preferences."
Select Option No. 3.
FNS Email Vacancy Notifier Visit the FNS EMAIL NOTIFIER, enter your email address, and select the types of jobs you are interested in.
- This system only sends (at most) one email per day.
- You can limit the jobs you see by grade, series, and geographic location.
Q: How do I unsubscribe from the email notifications?
A: Please refer to the instructions for Unsubscribing from FNS
Jobnet from Applying Online.
Q: Why do I have to register and put in all my personal information? All I want to do is browse your
vacancies.
A: You can always browse all Federal vacancies on the USAJOBS website. FNS JobNet is designed primarily for online application and streamlining application procedures. It doesn't particularly matter where you browse or review the vacancy, but when you're ready to apply for a job, you must apply through FNS
JobNet. When vacancy announcements are listed in FNS JobNet, it is generally easier to browse jobs using FNS JobNet (once you are a registered user) because FNS JobNet will only show you the jobs that fit your eligibility criteria. This saves you from the time and frustration of applying to a job which you are not eligible.
Q: How do I input my résumé into FNS
JobNet?
A: First, log in to FNS JobNet and select the "Edit Personal Information" button. Scroll down to the middle of the "User Information" screen; there will be a text box for your résumé. You can either type your résumé directly into this box, or you can "copy" and "paste" it from another word processing package.
From that point on, each time you apply for a job and answer the job-specific questions, your résumé and personal information will be automatically associated with your question responses and referred to the selecting official for consideration. Please write to FNS JobNet if you have further questions.
Q: What if I want to change or update my résumé?
A: Should you wish to update your résumé, log in to FNS JobNet, click on "Edit Personal Information," and press "Next." On the following screen, scroll down to the résumé box and make any changes you wish. Be sure to save it by going through the rest of the screens to "Finish."
Please be aware that the system saves only one résumé at a time, so if you are applying to more than one job in the same time period, only the most recent version will be submitted. You may update your résumé and change the answers to the vacancy questions at any time, up until midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the vacancy questions you are submitting. Once a job has closed, your résumé is copied into the record for that job and frozen. You will not be able to change your résumé after the closing date of the announcement, however, you can still update your résumé for use in applying to future vacancies.
Q: My résumé is too long. What can I do?
A: When inputting your résumé into FNS JobNet you should only include relevant job experience (with short descriptions) and your education. Résumés should be brief. Monster.com*** has some good ideas for writing more effective résumés.
Q: The system says it will only accept 16k or 16,000 characters on my résumé. How long is that? Is there a way to get it to accept more?
A: The system accepts 16,000 characters, which is equivalent to about 6-9 typed pages of information. If your résumé is very long, you should consider removing any extraneous spacing in order to maximize the amount of space available to you.
Q: If the system only accepts online applications, how do I send my transcripts or SF-50 or Veterans Preference Documents or CTAP/ICTAP documents?
A: As stated in the announcement, send these documents by fax, email, or US postal service, by the closing date of the announcement. Usually veterans preference documents will need to be faxed to the appropriate
contact person or Human Resources specialist by the closing date of the announcement. The hiring manager or personnel specialist may request other documentation from you through email or telephone.
Q: Are college transcripts required?
A: For occupations with specific coursework required, college transcripts will be required and requested from individuals. They will be used to verify your qualifications for the specific positions and grade levels which you are applying, and your eligibility for special rates or special appointing authorities based on superior academic achievement or Outstanding Scholar qualifications. The vacancy announcement which you are applying to will indicate when transcripts will be required.
Q: Do I have to answer questions for every job I apply for? Some of them have the same questions but different job
numbers?
A: You must answer two sets of questions when applying for a job in FNS JobNet:
- The personal information questions. These questions cover your basic information and include your name, resume, and demographic information. You only have to answer these questions one time, although you can change your answers at any time, if you wish.
- The vacancy-specific questions. These are the questions that are in the vacancy announcement itself, and are used to establish your qualifications for a particular job. You must answer these questions for every vacancy you are applying.
Q: What if I don't answer the vacancy-specific questions?
A: If the announcement closes and you have not provided answers to the vacancy-specific questions, you will not be considered for that vacancy. You must input your résumé into your FNS
account and answer the vacancy specific-questions in the announcement to be considered.
Q: Whenever I submit my application I get a "violation of primary or unique key constraint" error. What's wrong?
A: This error occurs whenever you fill out your application, press "Submit," and then immediately press the "Back" button and try to make changes to your application. When you use the "back" button on this screen, the system thinks you are trying to submit a new application to a job you've already entered. Instead of using "Back" you should bring up the vacancy questions by clicking on the vacancy number from a vacancy-listing page, or you can
re-log in and pull up the vacancy. The application you see will be pre-filled in with your previous answers and you will be able to successfully update them without error.
Q: I completed the vacancy-specific questions and received a message that I missed answering one question. I went back to the form and all of my answers were gone. How can I get the system to save my original responses?
A: Be sure to click on the "Save" button at the
bottom of each page each time you complete a page of questions in order to
be able to return to the application later to finish it.
Q: How do I submit supporting documents?
A: Supporting documents must show the vacancy number and be received by Midnight Eastern standard time on the closing date. Materials submitted as a part of your application will not be returned. Documents can be received via:
1. Fax at (703) 305-2299
2. E-mail at Jackie.Rodriguez@fns.usda.gov
3. Hand-delivery or Mail
ATTN: HRD
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 416
Alexandira, VA 22302
Application materials mailed using government postage are in violation of agency and postal regulations and will not be accepted.
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