Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

APPLICANT INFORMATION

(Skip to MANAGER INFORMATION questions)

1. What if I don't have a computer?
2. What if I don't have an email account?
3. What if I need help applying?
4. How does an applicant access THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE to apply for a job?
5. What if I forget my password?
6. What happens if I don't submit a resume with my personal information when applying for a job?
7. When exactly do jobs close?
8. Is my application confidential and secure under the new system?
9. How will I know if I am on the certified selecting list to managers?
10. What happens to my application if the automated system goes down?
11. How many questions will I need to answer?
12. How can I address my Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's)?
13. What do I need to put on my resume?
14. Can I create a resume on-line?
15. I already have a resume established. Can I load this onto the system?
16. When I copy and paste my resume into THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE, it has additional characters and spacing problems. How can I correct this?
17. I want to answer the personal questions save it and submit my resume at a later date but the system keeps saying I didn't answer a question. How can I keep from losing information and submit the resume later?
18. Where can I address awards received?
19. I would like to send my application via email.
20. What should I do about submitting supplemental information such as transcripts, DD Form 214s, SF-50s, etc.?
21. Who will be preparing the questions for each vacancy?
22. Will you need to apply for all jobs under The Department of Transportation Careers in Motion Jobsite?
23. Since the system rates me according to my self-assessment and responses to the questions, what prevents me from selecting those choices, which will give the highest scores?
24. I get an error message that the primary key was violated when I hit the submit button to submit my application in THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE.

MANAGER INFORMATION

1. Will managers have input on competency questions before implementation?
2. Why are supervisory assessments no longer used under this system?
3. How can answering questions determine the best applicants?
4. How is the applicant rated under this process?
5. How will the questions be developed?
6. How many applicants will the selecting official receive on the certificate?
7. How is the new system going to save the manager time?
8. Who has access to the QuickHire® system?
9. I routinely send my vacancy announcements to local and national organizations. Can THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE help me with this?
10. What if I advertise a vacancy on a job board?
11. If the system rates and ranks candidates, do I still need a ranking panel or input from subject matter experts?
12. I understand the system is based on applicants self-certifying their responses to the questions; how do I verify if they are answered honestly?
13. What if I need a new question to be added which has not been used before?
14. How can I find the questions that already exist in THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE system?

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APPLICANT INFORMATION

1. What if I don't have a computer?
   Most career resource centers, unemployment offices, public libraries and college placement offices have computers and Internet access for their patrons to use at no charge.

2. What if I don't have an email account?
   There are some Internet service providers that offer free email accounts such as Hotmail, Lycos, or Yahoo. Click on any of these links to register for a free email account. These accounts will cancel if not used or checked in a certain period of time. Check with each to determine rules of usage.

3. What if I need help applying?
   For assistance on applying for a THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE vacancy, please contact the HR specialist listed on the vacancy announcement.

4. How does an applicant access THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE to apply for a job?
   Applicants can access FHWA positions at OPM's USAJOBS site anytime from anywhere. FHWA vacancies within USAJOBS link directly to THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE (https://jobs.quickhire.com/scripts/dot.exe), where you can then apply.

5. What if I forget my password?
   Go to THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE login screen at https://jobs.quickhire.com/scripts/dot.exe and select the "Forgot your password" option, then click the Next button. Enter your Quick Hire ID or email address, your zip code and your date of birth, and then click the Next button. Your password will be changed to your zip code, but you should then change it immediately. If you encounter a problem, contact the system administrator at TRANSJOBS@fhwa.dot.gov.

6. What happens if I don't submit a resume with my personal information when applying for a job?
   If your resume is not submitted in THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE by the closing date of the vacancy announcement, you will not be considered for that position.

7. When exactly do jobs close?
   THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE positions close at midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After midnight EST, jobs that have closed will not be available for review or application.

8. Is my application confidential and secure under the new system?
   Yes. Even though QuickHire® hosts the application, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE is run on a private, secure database.

9. How will I know if I am on the certified selecting list to managers?
   You will receive an email from the HR office concerning your process throughout the system. You may contact the human resource specialist listed on the announcement for further details.

10. What happens to my application if the automated system goes down?
    Once you receive notification that your application is received, then from that point it is saved and is easily retrievable.

11. How many questions will I need to answer?
    All questions should be answered to ensure that you will have a chance to receive the maximum score.

12. How can I address my Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's)?
    There are no KSAs for THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE. You are rated and referred based on your responses to the position-specific questions as supported by information in your resume. The position-specific questions used in THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE are derived from competency questions defined by the selecting official in consultation with a human resource specialist, and have been validated by subject matter experts as appropriate for the job vacancies in THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE.

13. What do I need to put on my resume?
    All of the information listed on the vacancy announcement as required.

14. Can I create a resume on-line?
    Yes. Once you have answered the core questions and established your user ID and password, you can create your resume in the text box provided. Once your resume is in the system, you can update it at anytime. Once you have applied for a particular vacancy and it closes, the system automatically attaches your resume to that particular vacancy announcement. If you later apply for a new vacancy, you may wish to update your resume to correspond more closely with the new announcement.

15. I already have a resume established. Can I load this onto the system?
    Yes. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE will allow you to cut and paste your resume into a specified text box that will accept up to 16K (16,000 characters). There is a feature that tells you how many characters your resume contains. The system currently only allows for simple text, and does not accept special formatting such as bold print and underlining.

16. When I copy and paste my resume into THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE it has additional characters and spacing problems. How can I correct this?
    You can save your resume in a text only format using a word processing application such as MS Word or Word Perfect. In MS Word, go to the Save As Type drop down box. In Word Perfect, go to the "File Type" drop down box. Highlight MS-DOS Text or ASCII DOS Text, and then press save. Remove additional characters such as bullets, underlines, or hard returns. Copy and paste the text resume into the on-line resume box in THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE.

17. I want to answer the personal questions save it and submit my resume at a later date but the system keeps saying I didn't answer a question. How can I keep from losing information and submit the resume later?
    If you do not fill in all fields including the resume field you will not be allowed to proceed or save registration information. If you want to add your resume at a later date, place an "x" in the resume box. This will enable you to go on to the next section.

18. Where can I address awards received?
    In your resume under the section headed Other Qualifications is where that information should be addressed. Please state the type of award, year received, and the achievement that lead to you receiving the award.

19. I would like to send my application via email.
    We will not accept resumes via email. In order to apply for jobs in THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE you must log into the system and apply online by answering the position-specific questions and submitting your resume via the website.

20. What should I do about submitting supplemental information such as transcripts, DD Form 214s, SF-50s, etc.?
    You should follow the instructions in the vacancy announcement about submitting the required supporting documentation. If there is nothing in the announcement about supporting documentation, you should contact the HR specialist identified on the vacancy announcement.

21. Who will be preparing the questions for each vacancy?
    Human Resources Specialists and Subject Matter Experts.

22. Will you need to apply for all jobs under The Department of Transportation Careers in Motion Jobsite?
    To be considered for a position you will need to apply thru THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE

23. Since the system rates me according to my self-assessment and responses to the questions, what prevents me from selecting those choices, which will give the highest scores?
    Falsifying or answering questions to mislead the system's automated process is no different than providing false or misleading information on your application under the old process. Applicants are reminded that this is a federal job application system. Providing false information, creating fake ID's, or failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely may be grounds for not hiring you, for disbarment from Federal Employment or for dismissal after being hired. Falsifying a Federal job application, attempting to violate the privacy of others, or attempting to compromise this system is punishable by fine or imprisonment (US Code, Title 18, section 1001).

24. I get an error message that the primary key was violated when I hit the submit button to submit my application in THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE.
    This is caused when applicants complete the application process then hit the "Submit" button once and "nothing immediately" happens; therefore, they hit the "Submit" button again. This causes the application to be submitted twice as new. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE will send applicants an error message that the primary key was violated. This violation does not affect your application since the data was saved the first time it was submitted.

 

MANAGER INFORMATION

1. Will managers have input on competency questions before implementation?
   Yes. Subject Matter Expert panels will be convened and asked to review questions to determine the questions ability to tap into the necessary knowledge skills and abilities to successfully perform the job.

2. Why are supervisory assessments no longer used under this system?
   Under THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE KSA's are no longer asked or answered in the form of narrative responses and, therefore; supervisors do not have KSA's to address.

3. How can answering questions determine the best applicants?
   To determine the most qualified applicant for a position the hiring office asks questions of an applicant to choose the best candidate. This system only changes the format by which, the questions are asked and answered.

4. How is the applicant rated under this process?
   The responses provided to the questions are the basis for the numerical rating calculated by the system, in accordance with the weighting of questions as determined by the selecting official/subject matter expert and HR staffing specialist.

5. How will the questions be developed?
   The questions are developed from a job analysis performed on the position to determine what knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics are necessary to perform the job successfully. Questions are tailored to fit the series and the grade. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE allows you to create, categorize, and store questions for each vacancy. Questions pertain to both minimum qualification requirements as well as ranking questions (formerly referred to as KSA s). Asking questions upfront automatically pre-screens and ranks candidates for you. Questions can be asked in a variety of formats, such as Yes/No, True/False, Short and Long Answer, Multiple Choice, Multiple Choice/Multiple Answer, and Applicant Assessment.

6. How many applicants will the selecting official receive on the certificate?
   The basic mechanics of the certificates will not change only the method of delivery. Instead of the manager receiving a paper copy of the certificate it will be emailed.

7. How is the new system going to save the manager time?
   Managers save time by receiving certificates within a week, reviewing candidates online, not having to use supervisory assessments or rating guides, optional use of selection panels, and reducing the need for Subject Matter Expert to rate and rank applicants.

8. Who has access to the QuickHire® system?
   Designated Human Resources staff is authorized for certain levels of access. Different user privileges allow all necessary parties to be involved in the hiring process. Your HR site administrator will determine who has privileges to this information.

9. I routinely send my vacancy announcements to local and national organizations. Can THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE help me with this?
   Yes, through the Diversity Notification List feature, you can save, categorize, and store recruitment sources. As you set up each vacancy, select the community organizations, professional associations, or educational institutions that you would like to receive the vacancy announcement. The system then automatically sends an email to those organizations informing them of your vacancy announcement.

10. What if I advertise a vacancy on a job board?
    Whether you post your vacancy on a job board or another Internet site, you can provide a link back to your agency website where they can instantly apply using THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE

11. If the system rates and ranks candidates, do I still need a ranking panel or input from subject matter experts?
    The intent is for the system to relieve the HR specialist from having to go through the manual process of determining basic qualification requirements and to eliminate the need for the ranking panel process. HR specialists will now consult up front with managers or subject matter experts to determine the questions, which will be included in the vacancy and the weights to be assigned. The system does not replace the need for subject matter input; it automates the rating and ranking process.

12. I understand the system is based on applicants self-certifying their responses to the questions; how do I verify if they are answered honestly?
    Applicants will be reminded in the vacancy announcement about the penalties for providing false or misleading information. However, the HR specialist can still conduct a quality review prior to issuing the cert to the selecting official. The quality review can be against the applicants resume entered in the system. HR specialists should also request additional information, e.g., college transcripts, SF-50s, SF-15, DD-214s, etc. The selecting official should use the interview process to ask clarifying questions when applicants experience and response to questions are not commensurate with each other (selecting officials can receive a copy of applicant responses to questions).

13. What if I need a new question to be added which has not been used before?
    If a new question is needed, the site administrator(s) can input/load the question into the system. It will become part of the library and can be used for future vacancies.

14. How can I find the questions that already exist in THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE system?
    Existing questions within THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Careers in Motion JOBSITE system are located at http://careers.dot.gov/faqs.html. You can receive the login and password from your servicing HR specialist.

The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Hiring and advancement in the Federal Government are based on qualifications and job performance. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factors.