[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44699-44700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15366]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request for the Elimination of 
OPM Optional Form 510, Applying for a Federal Job; the Revision of OPM 
Optional Form 612, Optional Application for Federal Employment; the 
Resume Builder in the USAJOBS Web Site; and the USAJOBS Web Site

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of 
Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) a request for the elimination of the optional form 
(OF) called Applying for a Federal Job (OF 510), the revision of the 
optional form called Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF 
612), the specifications of the improved resume builder in the USAJOBS 
Web site (http://www.USAJOBS.gov), and screen shots of the web pages 
within the USAJOBS Web site.
    OPM proposes eliminating the OF 510. The OF 510 is a brochure that 
has been used to provide guidance to the general public on how to apply 
for Federal jobs and how to construct a Federal resume (i.e., what 
necessary work, education, and other information applicants should 
include in their resumes or other applications). However, the same 
instructions contained in the OF 510 have been incorporated into the 
revised OF 612 and the USAJOBS resume builder. The instructions are 
also available through numerous other sources, including the USAJOBS 
Web site, that were not available at the time this brochure was 
originally created. This proposed action will eliminate the need to 
print, maintain, and distribute an instructional guide in hard copy 
format now that the information can be readily updated and delivered by 
leveraging current web and other automated technology.
    The OF 612 is a form used to collect applicant qualifications 
information associated with vacancy announcements. The form provides 
necessary guidance to applicants so that they can be considered for 
employment when applying for Federal jobs. Presently the OF 612 is 
downloadable from OPM's electronic forms page on the USAJOBS Web site 
(http://www.opm.gov/forms) in fillable pdf format. The data collected 
are necessary for Federal agencies to evaluate applicants for Federal 
jobs under the authority of sections 1104, 1302, 3301, 3304, 3320, 
3361, 3393, and 3394 of title 5, United States Code.
    OPM has reconstructed the resume builder in the USAJOBS Web site to 
be in line with the data elements collected in the revised OF 612. The 
resume builder contains the critical elements applied across the 
Federal government to assess an applicant's qualifications as required 
under the aforementioned sections of 5 United States Code.
    The OF 612 and the resume builder in the USAJOBS Web site contain 
questions regarding the applicant's education history, including dates 
of attendance, name, type and place of institution, and degrees earned. 
Due to the increasing number of claimed degrees earned from non-
accredited or bogus institutions, commonly referred to as ``diploma 
mills,'' the revised OF 612 and the USAJOBS resume ask applicants to 
list only degrees from schools that were accredited by accrediting 
institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or other 
education that meets the provisions of OPM's Operating Manual at 
www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e4.htm. The revised OF 612 and 
resume builder also advise applicants not to list education from 
degrees based solely on life experiences, or obtained from schools with 
little or no academic standards.
    The USAJOBS Web site is the Federal Government's official one-stop 
source for Federal jobs and employment information. USAJOBS is operated 
by OPM and provides job vacancy information, employment fact sheets, 
job applications/forms, and on-line resume development. Job seekers may 
create a ``My USAJOBS'' account where they can create up to five 
resumes. These resumes are stored in one

[[Page 44700]]

location where they can be updated, saved, or sent at any time.
    The public reporting burden for the collection of the data will 
vary from 20 to 240 minutes, with an average of 90 minutes for both, 
the OF 612 and the online resume builder. This time estimate includes 
time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering data, and completing and reviewing the information.
    OF 612--burden hours calculation:
    Estimated number of respondents: 245,000.
    Average time to complete the OF 612: 90 min. (1.5 hours). 245,000 x 
1.5 = 367,500 burden hours.
    Federal Resume--burden hours calculation:
    Estimated number of respondents: 3,510,600.
    Average time to complete the on-line resume builder: 90 min. (1.5 
hours). 3,510,600 x 1.5 = 5,265,900 burden hours.
    The dramatic upsurge in responses is due to expansion and 
acceptance of resumes in the Federal application process and the 
advancement of technology to provide for online application, as well as 
increased interest by job seekers in Federal employment as evidenced by 
an eightfold growth in visits to the USAJOBS Federal employment 
information system in FY 2004 over FY 2003. The increase in time is 
based on new requirements that job applicants provide accreditation 
information for institutions of higher education from which they have 
received a degree. As job applicants will need to verify their 
education against this new requirement, the OF-612 or Federal resume 
will take longer to complete than it has in the past.
    As a result of the 60-day notice, OPM received one comment 
expressing concern about the additional burden for applicants. The 
reason for this extra burden was the requirement that applicants 
provide accreditation information for institutions of higher education 
from which they have received degrees. OPM has determined that this was 
a valid concern. Therefore, the OF 612 and the resume builder will 
contain specific instructions to the applicant to list only degrees 
from facilities that have been duly accredited by the U.S. Department 
of Education or other education that meets the provisions of OPM's 
Operating Manual at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e4.htm, 
and not from non-accredited or bogus institutions.
    For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey by 
phone at (202) 606-8358, by FAX at (202) 418-3251, or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. Please include a mailing address with 
your request.

DATES: Comments on this proposal should be received within 30 calendar 
days from the date of this publication.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to--

U.S. Office of Personnel Management, USAJOBS, ATTN: Mariana Pardo, U.S. 
Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW, Room 2469, 
Washington, DC 20415
    and
Brenda Aguilar, OPM Desk Officer, Office of Information & Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office 
Building, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Linda M. Springer,
Director.
[FR Doc. 05-15366 Filed 8-2-05; 8:45 am]
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