LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Team Lackland will soon begin testing a new online federal service job application program designed to standardize and simplify the way civilians search and apply for government jobs.
The program, known as the Department of Defense Enterprise Staffing Solution, is being tested at 10 Air Force bases, including Lackland and Randolph over the next six months.
Applicants, both internal and external, interested in applying for a job at any of the installations participating in the pilot program need to respond through ESS.
Mary Smith, a human relations specialist with the Air Force ESS Implementation Team from the Air Force Personnel Center, explained that the system transforms the DoD's civilian hiring process and improves the quality of referred candidates by assessing their competencies versus their skill codes. "Applicants now have the ability to explain their experience and qualifications through an online fill in the blank resume," she said.
During the six-month test, applicants should build their profile through www.dodcivjobs.us. A resume should still be maintained in the current Air Force resume system for other Air Force jobs.
The new system allows an applicant to reach out to multiple job opportunities at more than one DoD facility in their local area while tailoring their resume for each vacancy.
Originally scheduled to begin June 15, the pilot has been delayed. The site is live, however, and applicants can create their profiles now so they are ready to apply for jobs when the pilot begins. AFPC will notify bases when the pilot is ready.
Ms. Smith said the delay will give people an opportunity to prepare. "This gives you a little more time to get everything together and build a profile," she said. She recommends that applicants print a copy of their career brief and gather relevant documentation such as DoD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and college transcripts before creating their profile.
Following the pilot deployment and evaluation, the program is expected to fully deploy DoD-wide over a 12 to 18-month transition period between FY 2010-2011.
The ESS program delivers features requested by customers, applicants, managers and HR professionals. Features include:
Accessibility
- Customers can use one account and profile for all DoD vacancies.
- The program is integrated with USAJOBS.gov and more than 1,400 other recruitment job boards so applicants need only search one site to learn about DoD vacancies and apply for them.
- The program is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Ease of use
- Helpful video tutorials with voice-overs are available throughout the application process.
- Documents such as SF-50s and DD-214s can be attached to an application.
- Applications can be tailored for each job, highlighting specific competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities.
- The system includes a built-in spell check feature.
Trackability
- An e-mail reminder is sent 72 hours prior to job announcement closure if application process has been started but not complete.
- E-mail notifications are sent throughout the application process so customers will know where their application is every step of the way.
- Applicants can define interests so they are automatically e-mailed when job announcements are posted that match their profile.
- Applicants can track their status for jobs applied for.