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Jobs Online at the U.S. Geological Survey
By Robert Hosenfeld
Would you like
to work for the U.S. Geological Survey? It’s easy for you to
apply and it’s easy for managers to hire because the information
and tools are on the "Survey
City" website.
A Government
First -- Instant Determination of Eligibility
The most innovative
tool within Survey City is OARS (Online
Automated Recruitment System). OARS is a first-in-government
system that allows you to apply online by just answering a number
of questions. Your responses to these questions allow the system
to automatically determine eligibility and qualifications and notify
you immediately by e-mail that your application was received. And,
it tells you if you are qualified for the position.
No Paper
for Managers
Within minutes
of the midnight closing of a vacancy announcement, OARS automatically
rates and ranks applicants and issues an electronic certificate
directly to the desktop of the selecting official. Managers can
review the applications and resumes of the certified candidates
online. They can then e-mail the applicants to set up interviews.
When the manager makes a selection, the system automatically notifies
all applicants by e-mail. In addition, OARS generates numerous reports
that allow human resources staff to analyze trends in employment
and extract data to meet various needs. And it’s all in a totally
paperless recordkeeping environment. OARS is revolutionary!
Other Features
Are Coming
USGC human
resources staff plan to add other features to Survey City, and many
components are in various stages of development. For example, the
training management system will, when completed, take an employee’s
request for training through the approval process and the financial
obligation process and send it directly to the vendor. The future
system will process the evaluations, create an all-employee skills
bank, and provide numerous, easily-generated training reports–all
online.
We believe
that tools like OARS leverage current technology in ways that both
improve our capabilities and enhance our relationships with all
our customers–applicants, employees and managers alike.
About the
Author
Robert Hosenfeld
in a Personnel Officer at the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston,
Virginia. You may reach him at rwhosenfeld@usgs.gov.
March 2000
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