U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Office of Survey Methods Research
Do you enjoy conducting survey methodological research? Do you like mixing qualitative and quantitative research to solve problems related to surveys of households, individuals, and establishments? Do you like addressing issues related to user experience, measurement error, and/or nonresponse error? Does a federal job that emphasizes work-life balance and is committed to your professional development sound right for you?
If the answers to those questions is yes, then consider applying to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Office of Survey Methods Research! We will be hiring one GS-12 or GS-13 Research Statistician to join the Behavioral Science Research Center (BSRC).
In the coming days, two vacancy announcements will be posted on USAJobs.gov: one for members of the public, and one for federal employees. U.S. citizenship is required. Candidates may apply at the GS-12 or GS-13 level, with promotion potential up to a GS-14. (More information about government pay scales can be found here, here, and here.) Location is negotiable, and telework is available.
Interested applicants are encouraged to set up accounts in USAJobs and start preparing their application materials in advance of the announcement, as it may close quickly. USAJobs also allows users to save their searches and set up notifications for future vacancy announcements.
When submitting applications, review the required documentation (including resumes and unofficial transcripts) to ensure your application is complete. Here are some tips for a successful application process:
- Provide transcripts that document the degree requirements listed in the Qualifications section of the announcement. If you think the transcripts are not self-explanatory, you can add a section for “relevant coursework” to the education section of your resume or CV highlighting the courses and credits that should count toward the requirement. Provide all relevant transcripts, not just your most recent one.
- Tailor your resume or CV to the vacancy announcement. Document your relevant work experience through bullet points in your resume or CV. Reflect the language used in the announcement where applicable (see Duties and Specialized Experience under Qualifications). For example, identify your methodological research, convey that it contributed to new or improved methods, and include how you disseminated your research findings. Resumes are first reviewed by non-technical human resources staff that determine whether you are minimally qualified by ensuring your resume corresponds to the requirements listed in the announcement.
- Your work experience bullet points should be tied to positions for which you list start and stop dates, using “MM/YYYY” format, for employment as well as hour-per-week. This is how human resources staff determine whether your cumulative experience meets the work threshold (see Specialized Experience under Qualifications).
- You do not have to limit your resume or CV to one or two pages. You can take as much room as you need (within reason) to convey your qualifications but be sure to proofread it before you submit your application.
- For more information on writing an effective Federal resume, read:Tips for Writing a Federal Resume | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Kristen Nathe at the Department of Labor Office of Human Resources (312-353-2364 or Nathe.Kristen.A@dol.gov).