FAQs

How can I get a copy of the vacancy announcement?
How do I know if I’m eligible to apply?
Why do veterans get preference?
I’m disabled. What can you offer me?
Can I apply on-line?
How long should my resume be?
What are KSAs and why are they so important?
What forms do I need to submit?
Will I receive notification that BPA has received my application?
How do I know if I’m qualified for the job?
What are the steps in the screening process?
How long does the screening process take?
What happens after the selecting manager receives the applications?
Can I speak with a manager or the selecting official or someone who knows about the job?
Who can I call for status of my application?
Some of your vacancy announcements include “Trainee” in the title. Is a Trainee the same as an Apprentice?
Why aren’t your Apprentice vacancy announcements open to all U.S. citizens?

How can I get a copy of the vacancy announcement?
Announcements are available online at www.bpa.jobs.gov. You can request a mailed copy by calling
1-877-WRK-4BPA (1-877-975-4272) or emailing your request to jobs@bpa.gov.     To Top

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply?
Each announcement identifies which categories of applicants may apply. Please review the following applicant categories to determine which apply to you.

U.S. citizen
You are eligible to apply if you are a United States citizen.

VEOA (Veterans’ Employment Opportunities Act of 1998)
You are eligible to apply if you are a preference eligible* or a veteran separated after substantially completing 3 or more years of active service performed under honorable conditions. (“Active Service” under this law means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.

* Veterans’ Preference
You are eligible to apply and receive 5 points preference if you are a veteran who entered military service prior to October 14, 1976, or who served in a military action for which you received a Campaign Badge or Expeditionary Medal, or served on active duty during the Gulf War from August, 1990 through January 2, 1992 and served continuously for a minimum of 24 months or for the full period for which called or ordered to active duty.

You may be entitled to a 10-point veteran’s preference if you are a disabled veteran or Purple Heart recipient or you are the widow, widower, or mother of a deceased veteran. You must submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) and documented proof of your claim.
Insert veterans’ preference Info here

VRA (Veterans’ Readjustment Act)
You are eligible to apply if you have served in the Armed Forces on active duty (not active duty for training or inactive duty as a Reservist) for more than 180 days, any part of which occurred after August 4, 1964, (or February 28, 1961, for those who actually served in the Republic of Vietnam) and received other than a dishonorable discharge. You must also be appointed within 10 years of your last discharge from active duty. This time limit does not apply to a veteran with a 30 percent or more service-connected disability.

30 Percent or more Disabled Veteran
You are eligible to apply if you are a veteran who is either retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more; or is rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) within the preceding year as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more.

CTAP/ITCAP (Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program)
You are eligible to apply if you are a federal displaced or surplus employee and have applied under your agency’s instructions for consideration. For more information about the CTAP/ICTAP Program, you can visit the following website: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/html/egct.htm

Transfer Eligibles
You are eligible to apply if you are a current permanent Federal employee in a competitive service position. You will be required to provide a copy of your most recent Standard Form (SF)-50, (Notification of Personnel Action) to confirm your eligibility.

Reinstatement Eligibles
You are eligible to apply if you a former federal employee with reinstatement eligibility. You will be required to provide a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which you received at the time of your separation or retirement, to confirm your eligibility. For more information on reinstatement eligibility, you can access the following website: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI2.htm.      To Top

Why do veterans get preference?
Since the time of the Civil War, Veterans of the Armed Forces have been given some degree of preference in appointments to Federal jobs. Recognizing that those serving in the Armed Forces make sacrifices, Congress enacted laws to prevent veterans seeking Federal employment from being penalized because of the time spent in military service.      To Top

I’m disabled. What can you offer me?
We encourage people with disabilities who are seeking a career with a great future to explore opportunities with BPA. Some employees may need a “reasonable workplace accommodation” to make it easier to successfully perform the duties of their position. Examples of such accommodations include: interpreters/readers, personal assistance, modification of job duties, restructuring of worksite, flexible work schedules, and obtaining accessible technology or other workplace adaptive equipment. BPA assures that we will make every effort to ensure our disabled employees are safe and comfortable in their individual work environments.     To Top

Can I apply on-line?
BPA does not have the ability to accept online applications at this time. We do accept applications via mail, e-mail, and fax. (link to the mailing information under how to apply).     To Top

How long should my resume be?
There is no set number of pages. However we do require certain information be included and to assist applicants we’ve developed an Application Package Checklist that includes required information for resumes.     To Top

What are KSAs and why are they so important?
KSAs is the acronym for knowledges, skills, and abilities, which are listed in vacancy announcements and are a critical part of the application process. Your responses to the KSAs help us to assess your ability to perform the job for which you are applying. In addition, they are used to distinguish between best-qualified and basically qualified applicants. Responding to KSAs will provide you with more information and guidance on how to submit your KSA responses.      To Top

What forms do I need to submit?
Each job announcement includes the required forms for that position. You can also access Forms individually in various formats.     To Top

Will I receive notification that BPA has received my application?
Yes, you will receive a notice either by e-mail or hard copy that we have received your application. Your application will then go through several screenings, and you will be notified regarding the status of your application as it passes through the process.     To Top

How do I know if I’m qualified for the job?
Every BPA vacancy announcement clearly describes the minimum qualifications required for the position under the section titled, “Qualification Requirements”. The federal government’s Operating Manual for Qualification Standards provides minimum qualification requirements and information for all federal occupations. Our vacancy announcements for trade occupations such as lineman, electrician, etc., evaluate qualifications using supplemental questionnaires that are in included in the vacancy announcement.     To Top

What are the steps in the screening process?
Screening #1 is Basic Eligibility. We check to make sure that you meet the eligibility requirements to apply. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements listed in the vacancy announcement, i.e., you are not a U.S. citizen, you didn’t provide your Social Security number on your application, you do not have competitive status, etc., we will notify you, and you will not receive further consideration. If you do not receive this notification, it means that you have met the eligibility requirements and your application is being passed on to the next step in the process.

Screening #2 is Minimum Qualifications. This screening determines if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position for which you have applied. These qualifications may include a professional degree, certification, or possession of a certain type of experience, and are listed in the vacancy announcement. If the information in your application does not demonstrate that you meet these requirements, you will not receive further consideration, and we will notify you. If you have requested consideration for a grade level you do not qualify for, you will also receive notification at this point. If you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position, your application will move on to the next step.

Screening #3 is Rating and Ranking. This screening involves reviewing your experience against experience descriptions of the most successful candidate. The information presented in your application is scored using a rating plan based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) statements, which were listed in the vacancy announcement. In order to pass this screening, you must receive a score which ranks you high enough to be among the group of applicants considered as “best-qualified” and referred to the selecting manager. This score is determined solely on the information presented in your application. You will be notified whether you are referred to the selecting manager or not. If you were not referred, your application will not receive further consideration.     To Top

How long does the screening process take?
The timing can vary widely based on the number of applications received, as well as other factors, and may take up to 4 to 6 weeks.     To Top

What happens after the selecting manager receives the applications?
Managers have up to 90 days (from the time the list of applicants was referred to them) to make a selection. Managers are not required to interview all of the applicants that have been referred to them, and they may choose to interview only selected applicants. Applicants that are referred to the selecting official will be notified when the selection decision has been made.     To Top

Can I speak with a manager or the selecting official or someone who knows about the job?
Due to the volume of applications and BPA’s policy to treat all applicants fairly, we are unable to honor requests to speak directly to hiring managers. Our Human Resources staff is happy to answer your questions or refer them on to an appropriate source. You can email your question to jobs@bpa.gov or you can request a return phone call by leaving your name and phone number at 1-877-WRK-4BPA (1-877-975-4272).     To Top

Who can I call for status of my application?
You can call 1-877-WRK-4BPA (1-877-975-4272) to leave a message or you can email your request to jobs@bpa.gov. Please be sure to include your full name and the vacancy announcement’s number and position title.     To Top

Some of your vacancy announcements include “Trainee” in the title. Is a Trainee the same as an Apprentice?
No. BPA’s Trainee positions include Power System Control Craftsman Trainee and System Protection Control Craftsman Trainee. Unlike our apprentice positions that do not require any level of specialized experience, these “Trainee” positions do require applicants to possess progressively responsible experience and training sufficient to meet the qualification requirements provided in the vacancy announcement.     To Top

Why aren’t your Apprentice vacancy announcements open to all U.S. citizens?
BPA has earned a world-class reputation in the industry for our electrical apprenticeship program. Because of that reputation, we have been successful at attracting an overwhelming number of highly qualified and diverse applicants from the audience we advertise to.     To Top