Top Job Application Mistakes Page 1

Top Job Application Mistakes

1) Applying to jobs in which you do not meet area of consideration.

Situation: When applying to jobs on USAjobs.gov, 

it is important to be aware of different hiring paths, 

also known as areas of consideration. The Federal 

Government offers unique hiring paths based on 

eligibility such as being a military veteran or a recent 

graduate. For many positions, if you do not meet the 

particular eligibility, you will not be considered for the 

position.

Solution: Always check the hiring paths/areas of 

consideration on the job announcement page. They are 

highlighted on the right side of the page under the “This 

Job is Open to” tab. An explanation for each hiring path is 

provided as well as links to more in-depth overviews of the 

selected area of consideration.

2) Failing to read the entire job announcement.

Situation: Federal job announcements cover 

multiple topics such as duties, requirements, 

benefits, and application steps. The information 

provided in these announcements is crucial to a 

successful application. Failure to read the entire 

announcement can result in missing important 

information needed throughout the application 

process.

Solution: Read the announcement in its entirety. 

Hiring managers recommend printing the job 

announcement and highlighting the important 

information. Also be aware of the application 

deadlines. Application windows are followed strictly 

and are rarely extended. Once a hiring window 

closes, you will be unable to make any changes to 

your application.
Top Job Application Mistakes Page 2

Top Job Application Mistakes

3) Leaving out basic, but important information in your resume.

Situation: Most Government agencies require applicants to 

make sure that their resume states begin and end dates of 

employment and hours worked per week. Failure to provide 

this information is an automatic disqualification for most 

government agencies, including the Government Publishing 

Office. Other announcements may specify that the applicant 

is to use the online resume builder provided by USAjobs.

gov.

Solution: Read through the job announcement in its entirety.

The top reason applicants fail to qualify is for not 

including starting and ending dates (month/year), 

hours worked per week, and salary for each previous 

employment. It is strongly recommended to place this 

critical information into your resume and application. 

4) Failing to add required documents.

Situation: One of the most frustrating things 

for human capital specialists to deal with in the 

hiring process is to see a fantastic resume from a 

qualified candidate, only to see them disqualified 

due to the applicant failing to add a required document. Many job announcements 

require certain documents or forms, such as transcripts. Failure to add these 

documents can result in an automatic disqualification. The required documents on 

an application can change depending on your area of consideration. For example, if 

you are a current or former Federal employee, you will be required to attach an SF50, which is written documentation that proves Federal employment.

Solution: To find the required documents for any application, please review the job 

announcement in detail. You will find a list of the required documents as well as an 

in-depth description of what every document is. If you are a recent graduate or have 

no prior Federal service, you may be required to upload different documentation 

than if you are a current or former Federal employee. Be aware of your area of 

consideration and attach the appropriate documentation. Remember, once the 

application window closes, you will be unable to attach documents.
Top Job Application Mistakes Page 3

Top Job Application Mistakes

5) Failing to add appropriate references on your resume.

Situation: Most job announcements 

require references on an applicant’s 

resume. It is important to provide 

at least three references, including 

names, positions, email addresses, 

and relationships to the applicant.

Solution: Hiring managers recommend providing references that, if possible, are 

appropriate/relevant to the job announcement.

6) Not tailoring the resume to the job announcement.

Situation: Resumes for Federal job 

applications are often different than resumes 

in the private sector. In the private sector, 

we are taught to have short, concise 

resumes; however, the Federal Government 

prefers to have more in-depth resumes that 

clearly highlight the skills and experiences 

of the applicant as it pertains to the job 

announcement. Every government agency has 

different needs and expectations for a prospective employee; therefore, every job 

announcement is different. Many applicants make the mistake of creating one basic 

resume and using it for multiple job applications. Moreover, they often fail to provide 

enough information, or conversely, provide too much information.

Solution: It is recommended to review the job announcement to find the relevant 

skills and experiences desired in an applicant. These qualities in an applicant 

can be found under various sections within the job announcement (i.e. duties, 

responsibilities, qualifications, and education). A competitive resume will provide 

examples of the desired skills and experiences. Therefore, every resume should be 

tailored to the specific job announcement. Most hiring managers would encourage 

the applicant to not be too modest and to show their qualifications honestly. 

USAjobs.gov offers a free resume-building tool that can assist applicants in creating 

an effective resume. In general, an appropriate length for a resume is between 4–8 

pages.
Top Job Application Mistakes Page 4

Top Job Application Mistakes

7) Failing to match resume with self-assessment.

Situation: Many Government agencies require 

applicants to take a self-assessment throughout 

the application process. These assessments are 

created to determine job eligibility. When taking 

the assessment, applicants may be asked for 

responses that include “True/False,” “Yes/No,” 

and “Check All That Apply.” You may be required 

to rate yourself in terms of skills and experiences 

that are pertinent to the job announcement. 

Oftentimes, applicants fail to provide proof of 

these answers on their resume.

Solution: Hiring managers recommend providing 

evidence to self-assessment answers on 

resumes. For example, if you indicate in your selfassessment that you have experience creating 

and implementing budgets, that information should 

be clearly stated on your resume. As previously 

mentioned, job announcements highlight the skills 

and experiences covered in the self-assessment. 

Thoroughly read through the announcement and 

familiarize yourself with the pertinent information 

so you can most effectively apply to the position.

Take what you have learned 

and use it in your job search 

on USAJobs.gov.