Technology company creates Web portal for federal job listings

People interested in working for the federal government can find job listings at a new Web portal created by Avue Technologies, a public sector workforce management company.

Avue's Web site will allow federal employees and other people interested in government employment to view job listings and apply for jobs. They'll also be able to establish preferences to receive announcements of future job listings.

"They can go in and develop a profile of their employment history and their education, and create an online resume that can be used to apply for multiple positions," said Linda Rix, co-CEO of Avue. "We also have a resume-builder for agencies that do not accept online processing, and the applicant can send hard copy information to the agency."

The site also allows agencies to automate their job posting processes. The Forest Service, which has used Avue's personnel services for more than a year, is testing the new system in one of its regions to determine whether to implement it agency-wide.

Steve Nelson, the Forest Service's director of human resources, said his agency is pleased with how easy the system is to use. The system allows managers to create a job posting in less than 20 minutes.

"You can say 'I'd like a secretary for grade 7,' and it will give you the position description for that," he says. "If you make modifications, it will let you know if you are making changes to the grade or not, and when it finishes the classification, you then have the performance standards, appraisal package and your interview questions and plan," Nelson said. "It generates an announcement and from there you can post the announcement on [the Office of Personnel Management's] USAJOBS [Web site] or whatever."

The Avue site allows applicants to compare their job qualifications to the minimum qualifications required by OPM for specific jobs and uses questionnaires to ascertain the knowledge, skills and abilities of applicants, rather than requiring written statements. Applicants who don't want to apply online can get a paper form and send it to the agency, which will then scan the form into the system.

Once the closing date for a position arrives, managers can download a list of applicants who fit the pre-screened criteria and start checking references and setting up interviews.

Avue plans to add information to the site on federal pay and benefits, the application process and other subjects.

"We're trying very hard to make sure that everyone who is interested in federal employment can get good, quality information from one site," Rix said.