You can check the status of your federal applications online anytime. If you have an account in USAJOBS "My Resume," you can go to the “my applications” page where you can track and follow-up with your federal applications. You can also check in the Office of Personnel Management’s Questionnaire site, www.applicationmanager.org.

When a federal agency uses USAJOBS to manage their resumes and applications, the human resources specialist will periodically update your resume account online. That way you can follow the activity in your applications.

You may see good and bad news. Here are the typical responses that you may find, and ideas about how to handle each response.

Here are www.usajobs.gov and www.applicationmanager.org  “my applications” human resources responses and meanings:

Application started: You began the application, but you didn’t complete it.

Application complete: You applied correctly, but no one looked at the resume yet. You’ll have to wait longer to see any activity on your application.

Announcement cancelled: The HR specialist cancelled the job announcement for various reasons. It probably will be reposted and you can apply again. You should apply again. They will not keep your resume on file. Watch for the announcement.

Application pending: The HR Specialist pulled the resumes, and they’re reviewing them now. You’ll have to wait for further action and the next note by the HR Specialist to see if you’re referred to a selecting official.

Your application was not referred: Based on your responses to the vacancy questions, you did not receive a score high enough to be referred to the selecting official. The minimum score for minimum qualifications would be 70. You may have scored more than 70, but not high enough to be referred to a selecting official. The highest is 100. But veterans can get a higher score than 100. They can add their five or 10 point preference and can achieve a score of 110.

You’re not minimally qualified or you do not meet minimum qualifications: The HR specialist reviewed your resume, questionnaire and profile and you’re not even minimally qualified. Here’s what could have occurred:

• Your resume did not show one-year specialized experience in the field of work (described in the duties section of the announcement).
  
• Your resume did not show you have the education required, if the job has a basic education requirement.
  
• Your resume did not show you possess the selective factor specified on the vacancy announcement.
  
• Your self-assessment questionnaire does not show you have the education or experience needed to qualify.

If, for some reason, you’re found not eligible Ligaya Fernandez, retired senior personnel policy analyst from the Merit Systems Protection Board addresses how to improve your application, so you can be deemed eligible.

Possible reasons for being found not eligible:

• You do not meet minimum qualification requirements.
  
• You applied for a job that was open to current federal employees only or to other applicants with special eligibility, such as veterans or former federal employees.
  
• Your original profile in USAJOBS has something checked off that takes you out of consideration.  For instance, you may have checked off that you will not accept any term position. You won’t be considered if the job is a permanent position.

What to Do:

Find the vacancy announcement if you still have it. TIP: save the vacancy announcements at HTML or Word files, so that you can monitor the results of your applications.

• You’ll need to review your resume against the announcements if you’re rejected many times.
  
• Review the Work Experience section of your resume (especially the last eight years or so).
  
• See if the Work Experience section demonstrates that you have the specialized experience for the position. If not, work on the resume some more and submit to USAJOBS Resume Builder.

If you’re qualified this is very good news. Your resume and questionnaire met the qualifications. What to do now? Wait to see what’s next. You could be in the running to get referred to the supervisor.

If you’re referred to a supervisor or referred for selection consideration, this means that your resume is on the supervisor’s desk and you’re a finalist for an interview (if they interview for the job), or for an offer (if your resume is incredible).What to do now? Wait to see if you get called for an interview.

You may also get an offer online. Believe it or not, the USAJOBS Application Tracking or the Army’s CPOL answer tracking page can actually offer you a job online, even without an interview. Sometimes supervisors do not interview people for federal positions, especially at the GS-9 level. Or, you could see the job offer here after the HR specialist calls and offers you the job. Most job offers will come by phone or e-mail by the human resources specialist recruiting this position.

What to do now? Don’t accept the offer on the phone the minute they call you. Thank them and sound very pleased and upbeat (and you will be, of course). Ask if you can call back the next day to think about it for one day. You need to review the position, salary, location and benefits to negotiate your job offer.

Possible federal job search campaign numbers: There are about 90,000 to 100,000 open positions posted on USAJOBS everyday. An average federal applicant can apply to 20 to 100 positions over a period of four to six months (or years). If you resume is targeted toward a particular federal job title and a correct grade or salary level, you can apply to 10 jobs and get referred. Some federal job applicants can apply to up to 200 jobs and not have any or few referrals to supervisors. The problems can be the resume focus, your selection of the announcements, your answers in the questionnaire or other application problems.

The goal for your USAJOBS federal resume is to get referred to a supervisor. Then get an interview, and get hired. Good luck with your USAJOBS Federal resume and Federal Job Search Campaign.