What to Expect Next

A Look at the Process Timeline for Recruiting Most NIH Positions***

(i.e., Office Automation Clerks, Biologists, Administrative Officers, etc.)

The following steps explain what happens to your application after you have submitted it.

1. (5 – 30 calendar days) – The job announcement is advertised and open to receive applications.
   
   
2. (9 – 20 days) – The Office of Human Resources (OHR) assesses the applications and provides a list of best qualified applicants along with their resumes and supporting information to the selecting official, usually the program supervisor who will make the hiring decision.
   
   
3. (5 – 90 days) – The selecting official assesses applicants through personal interviews and reference checks.
   
   
4. (1 day) – OHR is informed of who has been selected for the job. If no selection is made the process may start all over. Applicants will be notified if the job is not be filled and if they need to reapply to a new vacancy announcement.
   
   
5. (1 – 5 days) – OHR calls the selectee and makes a job offer over the phone and then follows up with a letter mailed to the selectee’s home address.
   
   
6. (1 – 15 days) – The selectee accepts or declines the offer. Job offers can be negotiated. If the selectee declines, the timeline returns to Step 3 or 4 and other applicants may be considered.
   
   
7. (7 – 30 days) – If the job offer is accepted, OHR processes the paperwork for the new hire(s) and informs all other applicants of the hiring decision.

Approximate minimum number of days: 29 (4 weeks)
Approximate maximum number of days: 191 (27 weeks)

How to Stay Informed

• To check the status of a vacancy through USAJOBS, logon to the MyUSAJOBS portion of the website and click on “Track your online job Applications”. This will show whether or not your application has been received.
• Always keep a copy of the vacancy announcement. You are welcome to contact the Human Resources Specialist on the announcement for information regarding the status of your application.

***Note: Timeframes represent the typical amount of time needed to complete each step within the recruitment process and are subject to change for various reasons.