Application Review

Each application is reviewed for qualifications and rated based upon the applicant’s responses to the statements.  A numerical score for each applicant is derived from this process.  Qualified applicants are listed based upon their numerical score and referred to the requesting agency.  The whole process takes approximately 10 working days from the date the announcement closes until the list is referred to the requesting agency.

Agency Personnel Office’s Role

The Agency’s Personnel Office uses the list of qualified candidates it received from OPM to refer the names and applications of the best qualified candidates to the selecting official.  This is normally done the same day the list is received in the Personnel Office.

Selecting Official’s Role

The selecting official reviews the applications he/she has received from the Personnel Office.  The selecting official determines if interviews will be conducted.  Interviews are arranged by the selecting official.  After the interview process is completed and references are checked, the selecting official makes his/her selection.  The selection is sent forward through the normal supervisory chain for approval.  The Agency’s Personnel Office normally allows the selecting official 30 days to make the selection with extensions in 30-day increments up to a maximum of 90 days.  Sometimes the agency must request an extension to complete the process.

Agency Personnel Office’s Role

Once the selection is received in the Personnel Office, the selectee is notified by the Personnel Office of his/her selection and given a packet of information and forms to complete.  Once the packet is returned with the forms properly completed by the selectee, an entrance on duty date is arranged.  The timeframe for this portion of the application process depends on how quickly the package is returned to the Personnel Office by the selectee.  Applicants who were not selected are notified once the selection is finalized.