Other Jobs, Other Registers

Other Jobs, Other Registers


OPM also maintains registers for specialized occupations
outside the Career America program. Specialized occupations do
not require a written test but do require specific
coursework--just as the ACWA group 7 occupations do. Ratings
for these registers are based on applicants' education and
experience. The specialized occupations include positions in
accounting and auditing, biological sciences, engineering,
mathematical sciences, and physical sciences. You need to
request Qualifications Information Statements for detailed
information about the specific educational requirements needed.
Call the Career America Connection or visit your nearest OPM
office or Federal Job Information Center.

The Qualifications Information Statements you will receive
for nontest positions do not, obviously, include a test
scheduling card. But you will receive Occupational Supplement
Form B. For nontest positions, your rating is based entirely on
the information you supply on this form. A computer will read
your responses, so you must take special care to indicate that
you meet the specific coursework requirements for that
occupation. For example, with a public administration or other
business degree, you are eligible for accountant positions if
you have 24 semester credit hours in accounting. But the
computer will not recognize that you meet this provision unless
you indicate accounting as an undergraduate major (defined by
OPM as 24 or more semester hours, or 36 or more quarter hours)
on Form B. Read the instructions carefully when completing the
form.

All Form B processing is done at the OPM Staffing Service
Center in Macon. You should receive a Notice of Rating within 2
weeks of mailing your form. If you are eligible, your rating
will be a numerical score from 70 to 100. Currently, applicants
referred to agencies to be considered for openings have scores
in the middle to high 90's, as is the case with the ACWA
occupations in groups 1 through 6. The geographic location you
indicated on Form B likewise plays a role in referrals.
National registers are maintained in Macon for accountant/
auditor and bioscience positions. But engineering, physical
science, and math registers are downloaded directly to the
specific geographic zones you named on Form B. To be considered
for positions in more than one zone, you must submit a separate
form for each zone.


The SF 171


For many jobs, filling out an application is part of the
hiring process. The Federal Government is no exception. An
Application for Federal Employment, Standard Form 171 (SF 171),
is required for every Federal employee's personnel file. For
many positions, including ACWA occupations, you do not need to
submit an SF 171 to take a test or complete an Occupational
Supplement Form B. But you will still need to submit an SF 171.
prior to being hired. For most agencies, the SF 171 is the
designated application.

As your prospective employer's introduction to you, the SF
171 is a chance for you to present yourself at your very best.
Fill it out quickly and you're wasting your time; thousands of
applications are received by Government offices each year, and
only the best attract attention. You should spend several hours
to complete the application. It may seem tedious, but the time
you invest could mean the difference between an interview and a
rejection letter.





Blank SF 171 forms are available at Federal
Job Information Centers, most Federal agencies' personnel
offices, and many post offices, libraries, and State Job
Service offices. You can also buy automated programs for
producing your SF 171 on a computer.





Before you make any marks on the form, make several photocopies
to use as drafts. Then prepare a master copy for each
occupation you wish to enter and make photocopies of them. It's
acceptable to submit a photocopied SF 171 when applying for
jobs. Here are some hints on preparing those masters.

Read the form in its entirety, including the instructions,
before you begin completing it. Most of the blocks are
self-explanatory, but some deserve special attention.

Item 24, the work experience blocks, can make or break
you. This is the section where you are asked to describe your
duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Duties are the
work you perform for your employers, responsibilities involve
your independence and judgment, and accomplishments refer to
duties performed beyond what is expected of you. If possible,
show that you have progressed in each job, and from one job to
the next, by taking on more demanding duties or more
responsibility.

Note all work experience, including volunteer work related
to the position you're applying for. Be specific. You may think
everyone knows what a data entry keyer does, but don't stake
your future salary on it. If you do not spell out exactly what
you did, you may not get credit for any of it. In describing
your work experience, use strong verbs, such as performed,
rather than weak phrases. such as "was responsible for
performing." You also want to use the vocabulary that appears
in Handbook X-118 if you are relying on your experience to
qualify for an occupation. Whenever possible. quantify your
accomplishments. Present yourself in a positive light, but
don't overstate your duties.





Type your work descriptions on blank pieces of paper,
leaving room for the heading block at the top of the page and
the for-agency-use block at the bottom. Then cut both blocks
from a photocopy of the SF 171, tape them in the appropriate
places on your typed page, and photocopy the new page. The
photocopy of your cut-and-paste page. which will not reveal
your tape lines, results in a much neater look than trying to
fit everything onto the tiny lines provided. Type your name,
social security number, the position title, and the vacancy
announcement number on each sheet.

For items 25 through 31, mention all education you have
received. Be sure to include seminars, workshops, training
programs, and vocational or adult education classes. As
mentioned in the Career America discussion, how you specify
your major field of study is key in applying for a rating. For
some occupations, positions are not limited to a specific major
but may require a certain number of course credits. And unless
you designate those course credits as your major, your
application may be overlooked. As mentioned earlier, for
example. accountant/auditor positions may be filled by college
graduates with 24-semester hours of accounting credits whose
degrees are in related fields such as business administration,
finance, or public administration. So if you have 24-semester
hours in accounting but majored in finance, list accounting as
your major when you apply for a rating as an accountant/auditor.

When you list references for item 36, use names of people
who are not related to you who can attest to your working
ability. Ministers, doctors, local political leaders, or other
character references are of little help in commenting on how
you work.



Leave items 1, 48, and 49 blank on your master copy. Item
1 asks what job you are applying for; complete this block each
time you apply for a position. Items 48 and 49 are the
signature and date certification, and they must be signed in
ink on each application. You may wish to leave other items
blank on your master copy as well, especially in the section
marked Availability. This section asks questions regarding the
lowest pay you will accept, the geographic area where you wish
to work, and your willingness to travel. You won't be forced to
accept a job that pays less than you would like or would
require you to move. On the other hand, you could eliminate
yourself from consideration for jobs that you might think about
under some circumstances if you fail to choose your responses
carefully.

Your master copy will save you time because you won't have
to start from scratch for every application you submit. But you
may need more than one master copy if you're applying for
different kinds of jobs. Even if you apply for the same
positions in different agencies, you may find that agencies
place emphasis on different skills or abilities. You should get
a copy of the vacancy announcement for each job you apply for.
(See the next section for a discussion of vacancy
announcements.) You need to make sure each application you
submit reflects that you meet the qualifications required.

Finally, be sure to proofread your SF 171 carefully before
you apply for jobs. And don't forget to fill in the items you
left blank on your master copy, including signing and dating
the application in ink.

Automated SF 171 software is available. According to OPM,
at least two private manufacturers have developed programs that
produce acceptable SF 171 applications. These are Federal
Research Service, Inc., and the Software Den, developers of
"Quick and Easy," and "SF-171 Automated," respectively. Contact
retail stores for more information.