| General Information | Passwords, ID's, and Logging In | Finding Jobs |

| Resume Instructions | Applying for Jobs | Faxing/Uploading | Qualifications |

General Information   1.  What if I don't have a computer? 2.  What if I don't have an email account? 3.  When exactly do jobs close? 4.  I am not a citizen of the United States; can I apply for jobs in the DOI? 5.  Do you have hard copy applications? 6.  What if I need help applying?

1.  What if I don't have a computer? A.  Most college placement offices, job search agencies, unemployment offices, public libraries and some civic centers have computers and Internet access available to use for free. 2.  What if I don't have an email account? A. There are several Internet Service Providers that offer free email accounts. Hotmail, Google and Yahoo are just a few of these. Through these or other companies, you can obtain a free email address that you can use with DOI FIRES. 3.  When exactly do jobs close? A.  FIRES positions close at midnight Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of the announcement.  4.  I am not a citizen of the United States. Can I apply for jobs in the Department of Interior? A.  If you are a non-citizen you are not eligible to apply to positions within DOI FIRES. 5.  Do you have hard copy applications? A.  If you are unable to apply online.  Contact the point of contact on the vacancy PRIOR to the closing date for information and to request an employment packet. 6.  What if I need help applying? A.  Call the point of contact listed on the vacancy announcement for assistance in applying. Return to Top

Passwords, ID's, and Logging In   1.  Is it possible to have multiple accounts in USAJOBS? 2.  I tried to login using my email address and it doesn't work. 3.  I forgot my password.

1. Is it possible to have multiple accounts in USAJOBS? A.  No. You are identified in My Account on USAJOBS by your e-mail, Social Security Number, your USAJOBS user ID and your password which you entered in the registration.  USAJOBS will not allow you to create more than one account using the same email address or Social Security Number. 2. I tried to login using my email address and it doesn't work. A.  Have you updated your e-mail address recently; it may be an older e-mail address that you used in the past.  Select Forgot your Username and/or Password, then follow the steps to received your account login information. 3.  I forgot my password. A. Select Forgot your Username and/or Password, then follow the steps to received your account login information. Return to Top

Finding Jobs   1.  Can I be automatically notified of vacancies as soon as they open? 2.  How do I unsubscribe from the email notifications or cancel a Saved Searches? 3.  I elected to receive email notifications or setup a Saved Searches and I'm not receiving.

1. Can I be automatically notified of vacancies as soon as they open? A.  Yes  Login to My Account, select Saved Searches, then select Create New Saved Search, select the search criteria you are interested in and Save Search.  You now will receive e-mails matching your specific criteria.  You can create up to 10 Saved Searches. 2.   How do I unsubscribe from the email notifications or cancel a Saved Searches? A. Login to My Account, select Saved Searches, from the list provided locate the Search you desire to cancel and select Delete. 3. I elected to receive email notifications or setup a Saved Searches and I'm not receiving them. A.  Reason 1:  Your e-mail is incorrect.   Login to My Account, select Edit Profile, verify your e-mail is correct, change it if needed and then confirm your password at the bottom and click Submit.  It may take a few hours after you change your e-mail to take affect. Reason 2:  You selected to receive notification e-mails or Saved Searches, but it did not get saved.  Login to My Account,, select Saved Searches to view your job searches. (note: you will only get new job posting meeting YOUR specified criteria). It may take a few hours after you change your preferences to take affect.   Reason 3:  The e-mail went into your Junk Mail Inbox.  Check your Junk Mail Inbox to see if it is in your Junk Mail.  Return to Top

Resume Instructions   1.  What information should I put in my resume? 2.  What if I want to change my personal information or update my resume? 3.  Can I upload my resume as an attachment instead of copying and pasting it into the text block?

1.What information should I put in my resume? A.You will be guided through the Resume Builder (online process) on what to put in your resume.  For step by step instructions on how to apply click here and select Resume Builder Information for more information.   2. What if I want to change my personal information or update my resume? A. You may edit your personal information and resume at anytime during the open period of the announcement.  After you edit /update either your personal information or your resume in My Account you then must reapply to the open vacancy announcement and complete the application process to over write the previously submitted information. 3. Can I upload my resume as an attachment instead of copying and pasting it into the text block? A. We do not accept uploaded resumes. Return to Top

Applying for Jobs   1.  I am interested in applying for a position, where do I send my application/resume electronically? 2.  How do I send my supporting documentation listed in the vacancy announcement? 3.  Are college transcripts required? 4.  Do I have to answer questions for every job I apply for? Some of them have the same questions but different job numbers. 5.  What if I don't answer the vacancy-specific questions? 6.  Is there any way I can see which positions I have applied for and the status? 7.  How do I find out how I answered the vacancy questions? 8.  How many locaitons can I apply to?

1.  I am interested in applying for a position, where do I send my application/resume electronically? A.  In order to apply for seasonal Wildland Firefighter position, login and register on the USAJOBS website. 2. How do I send my supporting documentation listed in the vacancy announcement? A.You can Fax or Upload your supporting documentation; refer to Faxing/Uploading Instructions for further information. 3. Are college transcripts required? A.If you are qualifying using your education, you must fax in either Official or Unofficial transcripts; refer to Faxing/Uploading Instructions. 4. Do I have to answer questions for every job I apply for? Some of them have the same questions, but different job numbers. A.You must answer Personal information questions and Vacancy specific questions. Information Questions:  These questions cover your basic information and include your name, resume, and demographic information. You only have to answer these questions one time, although you can change your answers at any time.   Vacancy-Specific Questions: These are the questions that are in the vacancy announcement itself, and are used to establish your qualifications for a particular announcement. You must answer these questions for every vacancy you are applying for. 5. What if I don't answer the vacancy-specific questions? A.  If the announcement closes and you have not provided answers to the vacancy specific questions, you will have not completed the application for the announcement. 6. Is there any way I can see which positions I have applied for and the status? A.  Yes, You can verify you have applied to a vacancy and check the status of your application by logging in to My Account on USAJobs and selecting Application Status, this shows the status of your application.  If your status is “Resume Received” select “More Information” to view detailed status of your applications. 7.How do I find out how I answered the vacancy questions? A. During the application process you are provided with an opportunity to have a copy of your application e-mailed to you.  You can also view your answers later by logging in to My Account  on USAJobs and selecting the Application Status, it will show the status of your application.  Then select More Information under Resume Received, then to far right column, click on the envelop to have your answers e-mailed to you. 8.How many locations can I apply to? A.You can apply to 7 locations per announcement. Return to Top

Faxing/Uploading   1.  What is Auto Request Fax? 2.  How do I obtain a fax coversheet? 3.  Is 571-258-4052 the correct fax number? 4.  Do I need to send a separate fax transmission for each document? 5.  I faxed/uploaded documents last year, do I need to fax/upload them every year? 6.  Can I uploaded Required Documents?

1. What is Auto Request Fax? A.  Auto Request Fax is a feature that allows applicants to print fax coversheets for supporting documents such as college transcripts. Applicants use the fax coversheets to submit the documents. The fax is transmitted into the system, not to a fax machine. The fax code at the top left corner of the fax cover sheet directs the document to the appropriate location within the system. 2.How do I obtain a fax coversheet? A. For fax coversheets associated with announcement, you will be automatically prompted to print the fax coversheets when you apply for a specific job online. For fax coversheets associated with your profile, follow the Faxing Instructions. Once the documentation is received, a snapshot of the documentation will be taken on the closing date, or the early consideration date published in the announcement, and it becomes a part of your application. 3. Is 571-258-4052 the correct fax number? A.Yes, all Auto Request Fax documents use the same fax number. This number is not tied to a fax machine. The number directs the fax into the automated system and the cover sheet fax code (upper left corner) will direct the fax to the proper location within the system. 4. Do I need to send a separate fax transmission for each document? A.Yes, send a separate fax transmission using the coversheet for each “type” of document. For example, you can send all college transcripts together in one transmission and then send in your DD-214 in a separate transmission. 5.I faxed/uploaded documents last year, do I need to fax/upload them every year? A.  Maybe, if you faxed/uploaded the documents in last year when you were prompt at the end of your registration they should still be associated with your application (examples are college transcripts, DD-214, VA Letters).  You will need to refax/reupload the documents if you need to submit updated information.    (Example: if you faxed in college transcripts last year that had only two (2) years of education you completed, and you now have completed three (3) years of education, you will need to fax in all three (3) years of your transcripts.)   If you faxed/uploaded documents when you were prompt at the end of a specific vacancy (examples are Drivers License, Incident Qualifications Command System (IQCS) qualifications) then you will need to fax/upload again.  These documents are set up to associate only with a specific announcement.  This ensures that the most current information is available during the qualification review process. 6.Can I uploaded Required Documents? A. Yes, Follow the Faxing/Uploading Instructions for uploading Required Documents requested in the Vacancy Announcement.   Return to Top   Qualifications   1.  How will I be qualified? 2.  How do I know if I am qualified for a position I am interested in? 3.  How do I know what grade level Wildland Firefighter I would qualify for? 4.  What is a selective factor? 5.  How does the system qualify my resume? 6.  Will I receive my qualifications via email? 7.  What is considered wildland fire experience?

1.How will I be qualified? A.Your qualifications are based on your responses to the specific questions in the vacancy announcement and the information in your resume.  More information regarding qualifications for federal jobs can be found at the Office of Personnel Management website at:  http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/ 2. How do I know if I am qualified for a position I am interested in? A. The announcement provides specific information regarding what is needed to qualify for the position announced for each grade level.   3.How do I know what grade level Wildland Firefighter I would qualify for? A. A combination of things is used to determine the grade you would qualify for.   The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) establishes the minimum standards   for each grade and occupation.  For Wildland Firefighters the standard for “Technical and Medical Support Positions” is used and can be viewed at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-IV/A/GS-TECH.HTM.   The minimum or basic qualification information in addition to any applicable selective placement factors is defined in the vacancy announcement for each grade being recruited. 4. What is a selective factor? A.  Selective factors are basic skills and abilities that are required for the position in addition to the basic qualifications requirements 5.  How does the system qualify my resume? A.  The system qualifies you based on the responses to the vacancy-specific questions. Your resume and any text responses to the questions will be used to verify your answers to the vacancy-specific questions, as well as providing additional information. 6. How will I know if I qualify? A.  Login to My Account and select Application Status, then find the vacancy you applied to, select More Information under Resume Received, this will take you to another screen that we post comments as to if you qualify or not for each grade level.  Once you go out on a referral list, you will receive an e-mail. 7.  What is considered wildland fire experience? A. Wildland fire experience is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Wildland firefighting experience is gained through work on the fire line in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal or equivalent private sector fire position. Periods of wildland firefighting experience gained through militia and rural fire departments can also be credited. Return to Top