How to Apply

It's easy to create, edit, and store your FIRES online application for seasonal wildland fire jobs within DOI.  After you apply for a position, you can check on the status of your application by logging on to My USAJOBS, entering your USAJOBS ID and password, and selecting “My Applications ” to see what you have successfully applied to. USAJOBS also provides you with an opportunity to establish criteria to identify the type(s) of job(s) you are interested in, and will then notify you with an email message when that kind of job is open and accepting applications.

If you have never registered and applied to a position on My USAJOBS follow the steps listed below for ‘New Users’.  If you have registered in the past, follow the instructions below for ‘Registered Users’.

LINKS:

*For IFPM Information Effective October 1, 2010 click here

*Important Hints on Applying click here

New Users

All the following steps must be completed successfully to apply to DOI FIRE Announcements.

Step 1     Go to:  www.usajobs.gov

Step 2    Click My USAJOBS (tab at top),

Step 3    Click on “Create Account” button.

Step 4    To create an account you are asked to fill out a short form with basic personal information and click “Submit” at the bottom when you are finished.  When you submit your form, you are automatically logged into your USAJOBS account.

Step 5    You must create a resume before applying for a job.  Click on “Create a Resume” follow the steps to create your online resume.  The last tab; “Finishing Up” click the “Save for Later” button. 

You have now completed the registration and resume information process, you will now need to select the vacancy you are interested in and APPLY!

Step 6    To apply to a vacancy click on “Search Jobs” (tab) and find the vacancy you want to apply to; after reviewing the announcement, click “Apply Online”, at the bottom of the page.

TIPS: 

If you know the announcement number of the vacancy you want to apply to, enter it in the “Keyword Search” box and click “Search for Jobs” at the bottom of the screen.

After you have the Job Search Results, you can select the "View Map" option at the bottom right corner of each job vacancy, it will pop-up a window with the location on the map.

Step 7    Then you are directed back to your profile, where you pick a resume.  Select your resume and click “Apply for this position now!”

Step 8    You will then be directed to DOI FIRES, select “Apply to this Vacancy”, click Continue throughout the online application process until you have answered all the questions and printed the appropriate fax cover sheets.  At the end you will click “Finished” and be redirected back to My USAJOBS.

You must complete the entire application process and be redirected back to USAJOBS to successfully apply to a vacancy announcement.  Your application status in USAJOBS will be "Resume Received", when we have received your application.

NOTE:  For additional information on Faxing, see Faxing/Uploading Information below.

Registered Users

Step 1    If you are already registered, login to My USAJOBS at www.usajobs.gov, enter your USAJOBS ID and Password

Step 2    To view and apply to open vacancies, follow Steps 6 to 8 above.

Note:  It is highly recommended that you ensure your resume and registration information is updated prior to searching for and applying to vacancy announcements

TIP:

At the USAJOBS website, click on “Help” (upper right corner), select “View All Tutorials and Guides” and select the specific Tutorial that you need help with.  This downloads in a separate screen, and runs like a video, giving examples of what to put in each block or section.

Return to Top

UPDATING YOUR INFORMATION:

       Vacancy Questions

• You have until the closing date of a job vacancy to edit your answers to the vacancy questions.  You MUST complete all steps below in order for your updated information to be received. 
• Find the job vacancy announcement once you have logged on to “My USAJOBS”
• Select “My Applications”
• Click on the “Announcement Title”; this will bring up the vacancy announcement.
• Click on “Apply Online” at the bottom of the screen; as if you are going to apply again.
• The system will display your responses and you may edit these responses, up until the closing date.
• Once you updated your answers to the vacancy questions and click through all screens, it will have a “Finished” button, select it and you will be redirected back to My USAJOBS; now your updates will be submitted.

       Resume/Personal Information

You may edit your personal information and resume at anytime during the open period of the announcement. After you edit your personal information or resume in My USAJOBS you must REAPPLY to the open vacancy announcement and complete the application process to overwrite the previously submitted information.

Return to Top

Resume Builder Information

• Follow the instructions provided on My USAJOBS Help Section for the Resume Builder.
• The resume builder is a fill in the blank form that walks you through four steps: Getting Started; Experience; Related Information; and Finishing Up.
• Resumes on USAJOBS are centrally stored and can be used to apply for DOI FIRES announcements as well as positions at other Federal agencies that are integrated with USAJOBS.
• Added benefits:
• You can create and store up to five resumes on USAJOBS.
• Any time during the resume building process, you can preview your resume.
• You may manually type in the resume builder, or you can cut and paste from an existing document.
• You may edit or delete Work Experience at any time.
• You can spell check your resume
• You can activate your resume which will allow recruiters to find your resume during resume searches 

Return to Top

Faxing/Uploading Information

Faxing/Uploading Instructions

1. Log into My USAJOBS, select “My Applications”, select “View All Applications” at the bottom right hand corner of My Applications drop down menu
2. Under the Application Status Column, select “More Information”
3. Select “My Account”
4. Select “Documents” in the menu bar at the left hand side of the screen
5. You have now arrived at Document Manager, Select either “Upload”, “USAJOBS” or “Fax”
   1. Upload allows you to upload a document you have saved on a disk or on your computer
      1. Select “Upload”, type in the description of the document, select “Browse” this is the location of documents file, then select “Upload Document”
   2. USAJOBS allows you to download a document you have uploaded in your USAJOBS account in the "My Portfolio" section.
      1. Select “USAJOBS”, then select the Document, and select “Download from USAJOBS”
   3. Fax allows you to fax in a document.
      1. Select “Fax”, then review the "Faxing Instructions" and select “Generate Fax Coversheet”, it will open in a new window on your screen, you will need to print and send in with your document.  NOTE: Fax number is on Coversheet.  You should receive an email confirming successful receipt of the fax, if you do not; contact the FIRES Help Desk (888-364-6432 or fa_fires@nifc.blm.gov).  You may be required to re-fax your documents.  The fax machine showing your documents were sent successfully does not mean they were received.
6. To View what you sent in, follow the instructions above to STEP 5, in the Document Manager screen you can click on the “Description” if you Uploaded or Downloaded it from USAJOBS and it will open in a new window.

Faxing/Uploading NOTES:

*When you use the instructions above you may or may NOT see your documents in "My Portfolio" in USAJOBS.

*Only send in your documents one way (either Upload, USAJOBS or Fax), due to they override.  Example, sending in transcripts by fax and then uploading, we will only see the Uploaded document.

*You do not need to submit the document if it does not apply to you.

Return to Top