Before the job closes

Before contacting the hiring agency, read about the federal application process-it may answer your questions.

Contact the hiring agency with questions about:

• The job duties or details.
• The application process and what you need to provide or next steps.

Do not contact the hiring agency with questions about:

• Your qualifications for the job, before you apply to the job.
• Your application or documents-the agency doesn’t look at the applications until after the job closes.

After the job closes

Contact the hiring agency with questions about:

• Your application status. The agency has to review all applications before making a decision on whether or not your application will move onto the next step. The agency will try to answer your questions, but you can also check the status of your application in your profile.

  Timeframe: Up to two weeks or more.

• How long it will take to review all of the applications. Sometimes there are hundreds of applications to review for one job. The agency may be able to give you an estimate of the time it will take them to complete their review and a time to call back.

  Timeframe: Up to two weeks or more.

• Your documents. Once the job closes, all documents go through a virus scan before they are sent to the hiring agency. This may take several hours to complete. After this time, the hiring agency may be able to tell you if they’ve received your documents, but they won’t have much else to say until they complete reviewing all applications.

  Timeframe: After several hours (once the job closes).

What the hiring agency can't answer at any time

• If you will get an interview-the hiring agency will contact you directly if you’ve been selected for an interview.
• The contact information for the person reviewing your application. You will receive specific contact information if you’re selected for an interview.
• How many people applied or who was selected for the job-the agency can’t disclose this information.