Job Announcement

To attract the most qualified applicants, your job announcement must be an accurate and compelling representation of the position. Plan where you'll advertise before the job is posted.

Planning checklist before JOA posting

• If using USA Staffing, have you set up the manual assessments in order to import the SMEQA assessment results into USA Staffing? Not doing this will cause a large amount of manual work.
• Do you have a final private copy of the competencies and proficiencies that SMEs have approved with language matching the JOA?
• Will your HR specialist be available and ready to process applicants any day that the announcement may close?
• Do you have a recruitment strategy? (Are the SMEs and HMs ready to do recruitment when you send them the link?)

Content checklist before JOA posting

• Do you have language calling out the page limit for resume review in the JOA
• Do you explain that each round of assessment is pass/fail?
• Have you included language allowing candidates to be considered for other hiring actions? (template language below)
• When the agency completes their selections, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with additional federal agencies. You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration and you can continue to explore job opportunity announcements.
• Do you have a link to the questionnaire in your JOA?
• Have you included the opt-in questionnaire item on being considered for employment at other agencies? (template language below)
• When the agency completes their selections, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with additional federal agencies. Please opt-in here if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration and you can continue to explore job opportunity announcements.
• Opt in: Please share my name, application material, and assessment results with hiring managers from other agencies.
• Opt out: I only want to be considered within the agency I am applying for.
• Did you consider including language telling applicants the announcement will remain open for either 240 days or 365 days to maximize selections off the certificate throughout the year?
• Do you have a recruitment plan? Have you confirmed it with your HR specialist? Are the SMEs and HMs ready to do their recruitment work when the job is posted?
• Have you fully analyzed potential availability and days off for your coordinator and HR specialist so that the entire hiring process can proceed without unnecessary delays?
• Did you consider planning a conference call or calls to inform possible applicants about the application process, and putting the dial in information in the JOA?
• Is your announcement clear about the locations of each posting (per position, if different) and if you can hire people remotely? (candidates may assume positions are remote-friendly)
• Do you have the elements on your announcement so that you can make successful offers? For example:
• Relocation incentives
• Recruitment incentives/superior quals statements (these are not the same)
• Promotion potential
• Position sensitivity/clearance information
• Drug test requirements
• Telework eligibility
• Eligibility for 100% remote work, or work at satellite office locations
• Travel requirement
• Categories being used

Configuring USA Staffing for the SME-QA Process

Set up USA Staffing to facilitate and support the SME-QA process.

If you're a Monster customer, contact us at dl.eop.smeqa@omb.eop.gov and we can share more information on how to make this process work within Monster for SME resume reviews.

Creating a SME-QA job announcement

When the content of your well-written job announcement is complete, create a draft announcement on USAJOBS.

Recruiting For Your Roles

To attract highly qualified applicants who don't typically search USAJOBS, plan to advertise your announcement before posting using common private sector recruitment methods.

Plain Language Guidelines for Writing Your Job Announcement

The job announcement should be an accurate representation of the position and not come verbatim from the Position Descripion.