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LasVegasGovJobs.com
Government Employment Application
After reviewing the job announcement for a particular job opening you may decide that you meet the qualifications for that position. Your next step would be to submit an employment application.
Just like the hiring process you will find differences and similarities among government agency employment applications. Whether paper or online, the format may differ, but the content is similar.
Government agency employment applications ask for specific information. Completing all portions of the application thoroughly cannot be over emphasized. In many cases, agencies will not process your application if it is lacking information. Below are some of the common errors recruiters see when they review employment applications.
Application Filing Deadline
It does not matter how well you complete the application, if you do not submit it before the filing deadline it will not be accepted. Filing deadlines for employment applications are very specific as to time and date. For example, you may find the filing deadline in a job announcement is 4:30 p.m. on July 31, 2008. There are no grace period plan accordingly.
Minimum Qualifications
Each job classification has minimum qualifications for education, training, experience, and license/certificates. One of the first tasks of the recruiter is to screen your application to see if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If a recruiter cannot determine this from the application the recruiter will consider you not qualified and you will not move forward in the process. Your application must show that you meet the minimum qualifications.
Work Experience
Detail is key in completing this section of the application, especially for experience that is related to the minimum qualifications and essential job functions. This detail is needed for each employer. Some applicants have heard that employers do not have time to read applications and resumes so they provide an overview of their duties and responsibilities. That assumption may be appropriate for private industry, but it can be a huge mistake when completing government applications.
If the job requires four years of technical bookkeeping experience, for each employer detail this experience on your application. "Related bookkeeping duties include; matching invoices, purchase orders, and shipping receipts; posting entries for accounts payable and receivables; making adjusting and year end entries; running various monthly financial reports" provides much more detail than "performed various duties related to bookkeeping." Remember, your job title does not tell the recruiter what you did, you must detail that in the work experience section.
Work History
Most agencies ask for an accounting of your employment status for a certain amount of time (i.e, for the last ten years). This accounting usually includes gaps in employment. Failing to provide a full accounting will most likely disqualify your application.
Resumes
Most agencies have a policy that you can not submit a resume in lieu of completing the application. That is true even if you are required by the agency to submit a resume. You should also ensure that the information on your application and resume match. Different dates of employment on these documents for the same company will not serve you well.
Conviction Information
Do not overlook the importance of disclosing information regarding criminal convictions and moving violations if requested to do so. Some applicants are under the false impression that disclosing this information will disqualify their application. It is true that some convictions may disqualify an applicant for a law enforcement position, but this is not necessarily the case with most other job positions. However, when the agency verifies the information on your application and you have not disclosed information regarding convictions, you can be almost sure that you will be disqualified.
Education, Certificates, License
These requirements are always outlined on the job announcement. Overlooking these sections of the application is a big mistake. If the position requires a CPR certification, you must indicate that on your application.
Dates of Employment
Its rare to find a government job that doesn't require some amount of experience. To determine if an applicant has the years experience required in the minimum qualifications the recruiter looks to the application. Dates of employment are recorded on the application in months and years. Applications that list only the year of employment can not be properly evaluated.
Requested Documentation
There are times when you may be asked to submit certain documentation with the application. Common requests are copies of licenses, certificates, degrees, or in the case of military service Form DD-214.
