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Position Title
IRS Pathways Recent Graduate Program (Human Resources Specialist)
Agency
Internal Revenue Service
Announcement Number
20STR-HCX10797922-0201-5T9 Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, April 24, 2020 to Thursday, May 7, 2020
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans' Preference? (limit characters)
2. The IRS Pathways Recent Graduates Program offers developmental opportunities in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals, who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs within the previous two (2) years, or who intend to successfully complete their educational requirements within nine (9) months of their application date. Education must be completed prior to appointment/Enter on Duty date.

If selected, you will be placed in a position as indicated in the vacancy announcement. In order to successfully complete the IRS Pathways Recent Graduates Program, you must complete a one (1) year training program, a minimum of at least 40 hours of interactive training, and demonstrate successful job performance. All conversion requirements will be identified in the Participant Agreement.

Following the completion of program requirements, you may be considered for non-competitive conversion to a career-conditional or term appointment.

To be eligible for the IRS Pathways Recent Graduates Program, you must have, within the previous two (2) years, completed all educational requirements for qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying institution;

OR

Are a veteran, who, due to a military service obligation was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during a portion of the two (2) year eligibility period;

OR

Expect to graduate within nine (9) months of the date of your application.

Please indicate which of the following best describes your eligibility for the Pathways Recent Graduate Program? (limit characters)
. ?Expand this Pathways Transcript Requirement Edit Multiple Choice - Single Select . ?Collapse this section Pathways Recent Grad Program Eligibility Edit Multiple Choice - Single Select The IRS Pathways Recent Graduates Program offers developmental opportunities in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals, who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs within the previous two (2) years, or who intend to successfully complete their educational requirements within nine (9) months of their application date. Education must be completed prior to appointment/Enter on Duty date. If selected, you will be placed in a position as indicated in the vacancy announcement. In order to successfully complete the IRS Pathways Recent Graduates Program, you must complete a one (1) year training program, a minimum of at least 40 hours of interactive training, and demonstrate successful job performance. All conversion requirements will be identified in the Participant Agreement. Following the completion of program requirements, you may be considered for non-competitive conversion to a career-conditional or term appointment. To be eligible for the IRS Pathways Recent Graduates Program, you must have, within the previous two (2) years, completed all educational requirements for qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying institution; OR Are a veteran, who, due to a military service obligation was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during a portion of the two (2) year eligibility period; OR Expect to graduate within nine (9) months of the date of your application. (limit 0 characters)
3. Pathways Recent Graduates - Are you a recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, technical, vocational degree or certificate OR expect to graduate within nine (9) months of date of application? (Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation have up to six years after degree completion to apply.)

If eligible, submit a copy of your transcripts to support your recent graduate eligibility. If you are a veteran, please submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.

For more information, review USAJOBS Student and Recent Graduate resources. (limit characters)
4.

Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?

 (limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the locations you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. You may only select up to 5 location(s). (limit characters)
2. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
3. If you are a male at least 18 years of age, born after December 31, 1959, have you registered with the Selective Service System (select "Not applicable" if this question does not apply to you)? (limit characters)
4. If you are a current Federal employee, by what agency and organization are you employed? (limit characters)
5. If you selected "Other", please enter the agency and organization. (limit characters)
6. If you are a current Federal employee, what is your duty station? [City, State] (limit characters)
7. If you are a Federal employee, under what type of appointment are you currently serving? (limit characters)
8. Are you a current or former Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility? (limit characters)
9. If you are, or ever were a Federal civilian employee, indicate the pay plan of the highest graded position you have ever held. (limit characters)
10. If you are, or ever were a Federal civilian employee, indicate the grade level or pay band of the highest graded position you have ever held. (limit characters)
11. May we contact your current supervisor for a reference? (limit characters)
12. Are you a retiree receiving a Federal annuity, either military or civilian?

Note: If you are an annuitant, your salary or annuity may be reduced upon employment. (limit characters)
13. Have you accepted a buyout from a Federal agency within the past 5 years?
 (limit characters)
14. Regarding the effectiveness of our recruitment strategies; how did you first hear about this job? (limit characters)
15. If you answered "Posting on a job board or search agent other than USAJOBS (Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed, LinkUp, etc." please indicate the name of the job board or search agent other than USAJOBS you saw the advertisement.

If you answered "Social Media posting (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, on-line job fairs, etc.)" please indicate the name of the Social Media platform you saw the advertisement.

If you answered "Attended a recruitment event (Job/Career Fair, Open House, Meet & Greet, Meetup, etc.)" please indicate the name and state of the recruiting event.

If you answered "School/University announcement/career counselor" please indicate the name of the school/university of the announcement where you saw the advertisement.

If you answered "Third party referral, such as diversity or community organization, or employment office (Federal, state or local)" please indicate the name of the third party referral and the state you saw the advertisement.

If you answered "Newspaper (print/online)" please indicate the name of the newspaper and the state you saw the advertisement.

If you answered "Radio" please indicate the name of the radio station and state you heard the advertisement.

If you answered "Transit/Bus Advertisement" please indicate the city and state you saw the advertisement.

If you answered "Banner Advertisement - Major News Websites" please indicate the website.

If you answered "Banner Advertisement - Movie Theater Websites" please indicate the website.

If you answered "Classified Advertisement Website (Craigslist, Angie's List, etc.)" please indicate the name of the website, city and state.

If you answered "Other" please specify. (limit characters)
Employees of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) must demonstrate the highest level of ethics and integrity, and must be in compliance with all Federal Tax requirements. Applicants being considered for employment with the IRS will be subject to a tax check. Current and former employees will be subject to a screening of their prior performance and conduct with the Service, and all other applicants may be subject to reference checks of prior employment. Your responses to the following questions will be verified; Applicants providing false information may be made ineligible and will be subject to debarment for future employment opportunities with the IRS.

 (limit characters)
16. Please select the response that best describes your current or prior employment with the IRS. If you never worked for the Internal Revenue Service, you must select the last response "Not applicable." (limit characters)
17. Please select the response that best describes your compliance with all Federal Tax requirements. You will be subject to a tax check that will verify your response to this question. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
This section will be used to determine if you possess the basic requirements needed to qualify for a Human Resources Specialist, GS-0201-05/7/9. Failure to respond to this question will result in an ineligible rating. (Applicants expected to meet education requirements within nine (9) months of application will be considered for Pathways Recent Graduate Program vacancies. Education must be completed prior to appointment/Enter on Duty date.) (limit characters)
To be eligible for this position at the grade 5 level, you must meet the requirements below:

Three (3) years of general experience, one (1) year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4 in the Federal government. To be qualifying your experience must demonstrate the ability to:
  • Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions;
  • Plan and organize work; and communicate effectively verbally and in writing;

OR

Four (4) year course of study leading to a Bachelor's Degree at an accredited college or university in any field of study;

OR

At least 1 year of combined education and experience as defined above. (limit characters)
1. Please indicate which of the following best describes your education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of the Human Resources Specialist GS-0201-05. (limit characters)
To be eligible for this position at the grade 7 level, you must meet the requirements below:

One (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes experience:
  • that demonstrates basic knowledge of human resources management principles and practices to perform highly structured, entry level work designed to communicate procedural and factual information to business customers;
  • using basic knowledge of and skill in basic analytical methods and diagnostic techniques to gather basic information for use by others;
  • using knowledge of written communication techniques to assist with reviewing project papers, briefings status/staff reports, and correspondence for grammar and syntax;
OR

One (1) full academic year of graduate education in a related field of study such as human resources, public administration, organizational psychology, or other administrative and management fields;

OR 

Superior Academic Achievement may be met by having a Bachelor's degree, with one of the following:
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses or those completed in the last 2 years of study, OR
  • A GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all courses in the major field of study or those courses in the major completed in the last 2 years of study, OR
  • Rank in the upper one third of the class in the college, university, or major subdivision, or membership in a national honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies;

OR 

A combination of experience and education. (limit characters)
2. Please indicate which of the following best describes the education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of the Human Resources Specialist GS-0201-07. (limit characters)
To be eligible for this position at the grade 9 level you must meet the requirements below:

One (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes experience:
  • using knowledge of personnel management and pay administration regulations, guides, and issues;
  • applying expert knowledge of the principles, practices, techniques, and regulations governing at least two personnel management programs;
  • that demonstrates skill in applying research and fact-finding techniques and in evaluating the results of those efforts;
  • analyzing and integrating a variety of information from client functions, and other sources, especially in the area of environmental scanning, trend analysis, and projection;
  • dealing effectively with others and in persuading and convincing management to change or effect major programs, policies, procedures, and/or organizations;
  • communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, and in presenting recommendations to management, functional clients and skill in effectively accomplishing assigned objectives within appropriate time restraints;
  • that demonstrates the ability to serve as a project leader, and provide expert advice and technical assistance to others; 
OR

Two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree in a related field of study such as human resources, public administration, organizational psychology, or other administrative and management fields;

OR

Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field of study such as human resources, public administration, organizational psychology, or other administrative and management fields;

OR

LL.B or J.D., if related;

OR 

A combination of experience and education. (limit characters)
3. Please indicate which of the following best describes the education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of the Human Resources Specialist GS-0201-09. (limit characters)
For each task in the following group, choose the statement(s) from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. (limit characters)
4. Select the statement(s) that best describes your experience communicating in writing. (Please select all that apply)
 (limit characters)
5. Select the statement(s) that best describes your experience communicating technical information in writing. (Please select all that apply) (limit characters)
6. From the following responses, please select the statement that most accurately reflects your highest level of experience: (limit characters)
7. From the following responses, please select the statement that most accurately reflects your highest level of experience: . (limit characters)
8. From the following responses, please select the statement that best describes your highest level of experience: (limit characters)
9. From the following responses, please select the statement that best describes your highest level of Human Resources experience: (limit characters)
10. With which of the following do you have experience meeting customer requests? (Please select all that apply) (limit characters)
11. With which of the following do you have experience responding to customer service issues on a regular basis? (Please select all that apply) (limit characters)
12. Select the statement(s) that best describes your reasoning (analytical thinking) experience. (Please select all that apply) (limit characters)
13. Select the statement(s) that best describe(s) your reasoning experience. (Please select all that apply) (limit characters)
14. Select the statement(s) that best describes your experience communicating information orally to others in class, a part- or full-time job, and/or internship. (Please select all that apply) (limit characters)
15. From the following responses, please select the statement that most accurately reflects your experience: (limit characters)
16. Please identify the statement(s) which best describe your experience using spreadsheet programs. (Please select all that apply) (limit characters)
17. Please identify the statement(s) which best describe your experience performing the following technology related tasks. (Please select all that apply) (limit characters)
18. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand any information I give may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position.

Failure to agree or respond to the statement below will disqualify you from further consideration for the position. Select the most appropriate response below.
  (limit characters)
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