Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens/Nationals who have completed a degree or certificate from a qualifying education institution within the previous 2 years or are within 9 months of graduating. Veterans unable to apply within 2 years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have a full 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. The eligibility period for veterans must be within 6 years of degree completion.

In this position you will receive on-the-job and formal training designed to increase your proficiency in preparation for the target position.

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level.

• Performs routine assignments under close supervision such as inspecting materials to be used in construction, reviewing checklists for compliance, inspects construction and renovation projects and resolves discrepancies where possible

• Under close supervision compares work in progress and reviews materials and equipment for adherence to specifications.

• Provides information, compiles data and prepares reports and drafts correspondence.

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• May need to complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must have valid state driver's license.

Eligibility Requirements for the Pathways Recent Graduate program.

The following individuals are eligible to apply:

1. Individuals who completed a qualifying associate's, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years, or have completed “qualifying career or technical education programs” (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps);

OR

2. Veterans, who due to military service were unable to apply within two (2) years of completing a qualifying associate's, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, have a full two (2) years upon release or discharge from active duty to apply. However, a veteran's eligibility period may not extend beyond six (6) years from the date on which the veteran completed the academic requirements described above;

OR

3. Individuals are eligible to apply to the Smithsonian Institution Recent Graduates Program up to nine (9) months prior to completing their academic requirements.

Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must first meet Pathways Recent Graduate Program eligibility as stated above.

AND

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:
You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes activities such as performing routine assignments such as inspecting construction for compliance with plans and specifications, applying skills in selecting efficient methods and procedures to plan and accomplish construction projects. 

The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis.
To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Successful applicants are placed in a developmental program at the GS-8 level (promotion potential to GS-11).  At the successful conclusion of the program, you may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional or term position. Conversion to the competitive service is not implied or guaranteed. All conversion requirements will be identified in the Participant Agreement. Program requirements include but are not limited to:

• Successful completion of at least one (1) year of continuous service and all program requirements
• Completion of at least 40 hours of interactive training;
• Mentorship;
• Demonstration of successful job performance; and
• Meet the qualification position standards.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

• Knowledge of construction documentation and standard construction methods.
• Ability to review specifications.
• Ability to communicate in a professional or customer service environment.

Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.

Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.

Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position. 

Important Note: The review of your resume will determine your final rating and should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.