1. Implementing Career Section
  2. Candidate Information Import from USAJOBS

Candidate Information Import from USAJOBS

Candidates coming from USAJOBS (the official job site of the U.S. federal government) can automatically log into a Career Section and automatically import their USAJOBS profile into a job submission.

Below is the basic flow of activities taking place when applying through USAJOBS.

Posting a requisition on USAJOBS

Requisitions can be posted on the USAJOBS Web site through eQuest (requisitions are posted on other job board in the same manner).

Creating an account on USAJOBS

When creating an account on USAJOBS, candidates need to create their general profile by providing general information such as their name, telephone number, email address. They also need to create a resume by providing their work experience, education, references. Candidates can create multiple resumes but they can only use one of them when they apply for a job.

Applying on a job on USAJOBS

Candidates log into the USAJOBS Web site, search for the job for which they want to apply, select a resume they created on the USAJOBS Web site and click the "Apply online!" button. Candidates are then redirected to a Career Section to complete the application process.

Note: The Career Section to which candidates are redirected when they apply on the USAJOBS Web site must have the "Display the OpenID" option set to Yes (Configuration > [Career Section] Administration > Career Sections > click a career section > Sign In). Otherwise, an Access Denied error message will be displayed to candidates coming from USAJOBS.
The first time candidates access the Career Section, a sign-in page is displayed on which they are asked if they have an account. Three possible options are available:

  • Option 1: If candidates have an account because they applied on the Career Section before, they can log in with their career section credentials and choose to import their USAJOBS profile information. When the candidates log in, their USAJOBS ID is linked to their existing Career Section candidate ID.

  • Option 2: If candidates have an account because they applied on the Career Section before, they can log in with their career section credentials and choose not to import their USAJOBS profile information. When candidates log in, their USAJOBS ID is linked to their existing Career Section candidate ID.

  • Option 3: If candidates do not have an account because they never applied on the Career Section, they are asked to create one. When candidates do that, their USAJOBS profile is automatically imported and the new account is linked to their USAJOBS ID.

Note: If the email address in the USAJOBS account is identical to an email address stored in the Career Section, a message is displayed informing candidates that their email address is already linked to a candidate profile. Candidates are invited to enter the user name and password of the career section account (to link the two accounts together) and to apply using the existing candidate profile.
Creating a new career section account

If candidates select option 3, they have to specify a user name and a password to log into the career section. From there, the standard candidate creation process takes place.

Importing candidate information from USAJOBS

Candidates' information is imported from USAJOBS. As a result, some fields in the application flow are filled automatically with information coming from the candidate USAJOBS general profile and resume. Resume information entered manually on USAJOBS is imported, not information contained in a file attachment. Also, imported information that is not part of the application flow is saved in the candidate file but the candidate will be unable to see it.

This table shows career section fields whose content may be imported from USAJOBS.

The table shows career section fields whose content may be imported from USAJOBS.
Personal Information Work Experience References Education
Address (Line 1) Current Job Email Address City
Address (Line 2) End Date First Name Education Level (Achieved)
Cellular Number Other Employer Last Name GPA
City Other Function Middle Name GPA out of
Email Address Start Date Organization Graduation Date
Fax Number Phone Number Other Institution
First Name Title Other Program
Home Phone Number Type
Job Type
Last Name
Middle Name
Place of Residence
Preferred Location
Shift Availability Grid
Work Phone Number
Zip/Postal Code

Files attached to a candidate general profile in USAJOBS cannot be imported into a career section.

The Reference Name in a USAJOBS resume is imported into the Reference First Name field because USAJOBS does not use two separate fields as Oracle does.

Returning to USAJOBS

Once candidates have completed their job application, the Thank You page is displayed. Candidates can click a link on the page to return to the USAJOBS Web site. Customers might consider adding additional links back to the USAJOBS Web site on other career section pages (such as the My Submissions page). Candidates can monitor the status of their submissions by accessing the USAJOBS Application Status page. As candidates move through the various steps and statuses of the candidate selection workflow, status update notifications are sent to USAJOBS and the Application Status page displays up-to-date information.

By default (unless configured otherwise through the application status updates feature), the USAJOBS application status will be:

  • Application Received: Set if candidates click the "Return to USAJOBS" link.

  • Application Status not Available: Set if candidates do not click the "Return to USAJOBS" link.

Updating an existing application or applying on a new job on USAJOBS

Once a candidate has accessed a career section through USAJOBS either by creating a new career section account or using an existing one, the USAJOBS account and the career section account are linked together. As a result, when updating an existing application or applying on a new job through USAJOBS, the candidate is automatically logged into the career section and does not need to provide a user name or password.

If candidates modify their USAJOBS profile and resume, they can re-import them before accessing their candidate submission. Once they log into the career section, the application flow is filled automatically with information coming from the updated candidate USAJOBS general profile and resume.