Summary
Interested in a career in Human Resources? Join the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, as a Human Resources Specialist (Recent Graduate). You do not need a degree in Human Resources to apply. If selected, you will receive formal training, mentoring, and on-the-job experience while building the knowledge and skills needed for a rewarding career in federal human resources.
Learn more about this agency
Summary
Interested in a career in Human Resources? Join the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, as a Human Resources Specialist (Recent Graduate). You do not need a degree in Human Resources to apply. If selected, you will receive formal training, mentoring, and on-the-job experience while building the knowledge and skills needed for a rewarding career in federal human resources.
Learn more about this agency
Overview
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Accepting applications
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible Yes-as determined by the agency policy. Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $57,736 - $91,815 per year Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Promotion potential 13
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule Full-time Travel Required Not required
Appointment type Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a union No
Drug test Yes Security clearance Not Required Position sensitivity and risk Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number RG-13092877-27-JS Control number 890067200
This job is open to
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Recent graduates
Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.
Clarification from the agency
This announcement is open to individuals who have graduated from a qualifying educational institution or certificate program within the past two years, or within six years for eligible veterans. Current students who will complete all educational requirements by the end of December 2026 are also encouraged to apply.
Duties
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As a GS-0201-07, your typical work assignments may include the following:
As a GS-0201-09, your typical work assignment may include the following:
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
Qualifications
To qualify for the position of Human Resources Specialist (Recent Graduate), GS-0201-7/9you must meet both the eligibility requirements for the Pathways Recent Graduate Program and the minimum qualifications for the grade level(s) for which you apply.
Pathways Recent Graduate Eligibility. You must meet one of the following requirements:
OR
You do not need a degree in Human Resources to qualify for this position. We welcome applicants from many backgrounds! We encourage applicants from a wide variety of academic disciplines to apply, provided they meet the qualification requirements. Successful Human Resources Specialists come from many educational backgrounds, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the profession. Relevant experience may have been gained through:
If selected, you will receive formal training, structured on-the-job learning, mentoring from experienced HR professionals, and ongoing professional development to help you build a successful career in federal human resources. Strong candidates typically demonstrate:
Grade-specific requirements: Applicants must meet Minimum Qualifications for the grade level(s) for which they are applying.
Applicants may qualify at the GS-07 level based on one of the following:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level that demonstrates experience performing administrative or human resources-related work, such as assisting with personnel actions, staffing activities, document preparation, records management, customer service, maintaining data, or performing similar support functions; OR
Education: One full year of graduate education or Superior Academic Achievement: A bachelors degree, AND meet one of the following:
Grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for all undergraduate coursework or courses completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
Grade point average of 3.45 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
Class standing in the upper one-third of your graduating class, college, university, or major subdivision.
Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies; OR
Combination: A combination of qualifying graduate education and specialized experience.
Applicants may qualify at the GS-09 level based on one of the following:
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/30/2026. Your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the qualification requirements and support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important information about resume requirements.
Education
To be eligible for an appointment, you must meet Education requirement A or B.
A. Completed all requirements for a diploma, associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical education program (including registered Apprenticeship Programs, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Job Corps, Climate Corps) within the previous two years.
OR
B. Was released or discharged from active duty within the previous two years, where the applicant is a veteran who, due to a military service obligation, was precluded from applying for a recent graduate position during any portion of the two-year eligibility period following completion of his/her degree or certificate requirements, provided that not more than six years have transpired since the applicant completed the requirements for a degree or certification.
You must submit an academic transcript from your academic institution showing the date that you most recently completed the academic requirements described above.
Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
Additional information
Additional selections may be made from this announcement.
Probationary or Trial Period (as applicable): As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:1) your performance and conduct;2) the needs and interests of the agency;3) whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and4) whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
USA Hire Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request an RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. To determine if you need an RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire.
Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation to complete the writing assessment must notify HR by email before the scheduled assessment time and before HR transmits the writing prompt. Applicants should contact HR as early as possible to allow sufficient time to coordinate the accommodation.
EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.
Selective Service:If you were born male, on or after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at:www.sss.gov.
Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: The Fair Chance Act prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicants criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOJ employee or Federal contractor acting on its behalf has violated your rights under this Act, you may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to Jenna Solorzano at Jenna.Solorzano@usdoj.gov. Note: In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201(b) certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance Act.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the job opportunity announcement closes (at 11:59 pm ET on 10/30/2026, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted, the information will be compared against your responses to the application questionnaire to determine your eligibility for Federal employment, and then whether you are qualified for this particular position.
Applicants will be required to complete a USA Hire Assessment. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and other characteristics):
Scenario Based Writing Assessment: This vacancy utilizes a multi-hurdle approach. The first assessment includes a passing score of 80 based on the minimum level of required proficiency across critical competencies. You must meet or exceed the passing score to move on to the next hurdle.
Applicants who score 80 or better on the first assessment, will be contacted via email by Human Resources (HR) one week after the vacancy announcement closes (Friday, November 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST), to complete a scenario-based writing assessment.
At the scheduled assessment time, HR will email the applicant a Microsoft Word document containing the writing prompt. Applicants must use the provided Word document to prepare their response and return the completed document to HR by replying to the same email. Applicants will have 30 minutes from the time HR transmits the document to complete and return their response. If the assessment is not received within the allotted 30 minutes, you will be rated as ineligible.
The assessment will be scored on a 100-point scale. Scoring will be based on grammer, spelling and puntuation. Applicants must receive a score of at least 80 out of 100 to pass.
Applicants must complete the assessment independently, using only their own knowledge, judgment, and writing skills. They may not receive assistance from another person or use outside resources or tools to prepare, develop, edit, or revise any part of their response. Prohibited assistance includes, but is not limited to, assistance from friends, family members, colleagues, or other individuals; internet searches; reference materials; writing or editing services; and artificial intelligence (AI) or similar tools (SI). Use of prohibited assistance will result in disqualification.
Suspected use of prohibited assistance will be reviewed and handled on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification.
If you would like to preview the application questionnaire, please see: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13092877.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required documents
Required Documents
Help
It is your responsibility to carefully review the list of required documents below and submit the necessary documentation based on your eligibility.
Resume
Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history:
If you leave out important information, we may not be able to credit your experience, and you may be rated ineligible.
Transcripts - All Applicants: You must submit a copy of your transcripts showing proof of degree completion within the last two years (or six years for veterans whos active-duty service prevented them from applying). If you are currently enrolled, and will be graduating by December 2026, please submit a copy of your current transcript showing the total amount of credits you have earned and your cumulative GPA. Please avoid submitting protected PDF files as these may contain security features that prevent DOJ from viewing the document.
The following documents are ACCEPTED for this vacancy:
These are documents that may be required for some applicants, based on what eligibility you are applying for or if you are using education to qualify. The list below provides additional information describing common documents that are accepted and provides a link to learn more about the specific details of that type of documentation.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Help
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59PM (EST) on 10/30/2026 to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:
If you are qualified and received a score of 80 or higher, you will receive a scenario-based writing assessment by email on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST. Applicants who pass the second assessment will be referred to the hiring manager for selection. Please monitor your email and check your spam folder to ensure you do not miss the email.
NEED HELP?
If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc.
DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy
Agency contact information
Jenna Solorzano
Phone (202) 616-2931 Email jenna.solorzano@usdoj.gov
Next steps
You will receive e-mail notifications as your application status is updated. However, you can also see your application status any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account and looking on the "Applications" page. Click the position title to expand the display for each application in the list. Click here to learn more about checking your application status,or see what each application status means.
We strive to extend a final offer of employment within 90 days from the close of this announcement. Additional selections may be made from this announcement within 90 days.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period
Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service Signature and false statements
Social security number request
Required Documents
Help
It is your responsibility to carefully review the list of required documents below and submit the necessary documentation based on your eligibility.
Resume
Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history:
If you leave out important information, we may not be able to credit your experience, and you may be rated ineligible.
Transcripts - All Applicants: You must submit a copy of your transcripts showing proof of degree completion within the last two years (or six years for veterans whos active-duty service prevented them from applying). If you are currently enrolled, and will be graduating by December 2026, please submit a copy of your current transcript showing the total amount of credits you have earned and your cumulative GPA. Please avoid submitting protected PDF files as these may contain security features that prevent DOJ from viewing the document.
The following documents are ACCEPTED for this vacancy:
These are documents that may be required for some applicants, based on what eligibility you are applying for or if you are using education to qualify. The list below provides additional information describing common documents that are accepted and provides a link to learn more about the specific details of that type of documentation.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Help
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59PM (EST) on 10/30/2026 to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:
If you are qualified and received a score of 80 or higher, you will receive a scenario-based writing assessment by email on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST. Applicants who pass the second assessment will be referred to the hiring manager for selection. Please monitor your email and check your spam folder to ensure you do not miss the email.
NEED HELP?
If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc.
DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy
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Agency contact information
Jenna Solorzano
Phone (202) 616-2931 Email jenna.solorzano@usdoj.gov
Next steps
You will receive e-mail notifications as your application status is updated. However, you can also see your application status any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account and looking on the "Applications" page. Click the position title to expand the display for each application in the list. Click here to learn more about checking your application status,or see what each application status means.
We strive to extend a final offer of employment within 90 days from the close of this announcement. Additional selections may be made from this announcement within 90 days.
Expand Hide next steps
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period
Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service Signature and false statements
Social security number request
| Location | Washington, DC |
| Salary | $57,736–$91,815 Per Year |
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