Login to OARS!
GENERAL INFORMATION
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Online Automated Recruitment System (OARS) is a computerized employment application processing system, which electronically prescreens candidates and ranks them according to specified criteria. OARS lets you search for available jobs in the USGS; create, edit, and archive your electronic resume; and apply for specific jobs online! OARS also provides you with an opportunity to establish criteria to identify the type(s) of jobs you are interested in, and will then notify you with an email message when that kind of job is open for application. OARS is simple to use and is designed to meet your Survey job search and application needs well into the new millennium!
HOW TO APPLY
It's easy to create, edit, and store your OARS online resume to apply for jobs in the USGS. Just click on the "Login to OARS" button on the main page and follow the directions below:
Logging into OARS
New Users
After you login to the OARS system, select the “New Users” option,
and click on the “Next” button. Fill in all the “User Information” and
resume data fields. Next, fill in your e-mail notification preferences and
click on the “Next” button again. Continue filling out the online
resume by responding to the remaining questions. After answering the last
question, click “Continue." Your user information will be electronically
stored and the system will assign you an ID number. (Store this number in
a safe place! You may use either your ID number or your e-mail address
and password to login to the system in the future.) You can change your personal
or demographic information at any time by logging into OARS and selecting
the appropriate option. However, any changes you make will not be
reflected on any of your applications for vacancies that have already closed.
Registered Users
If you are already registered and your personal and resume information
is up-to-date, select the “Registered Users” section on the login
page and enter your OARS ID (or e-mail address) and your password, select “Go
to Jobs” and click on the “Next” button. If you need to change
your personal or demographic information simply select the appropriate option.
Remember that any changes you make will not be reflected on any of
your applications for vacancies that have already closed.
Searching for Vacancies
After you have logged into the system, select the link for “US Geological Survey,” hit "enter" and the system will display a list of job openings; or if you prefer, you can select the link for the “Search Wizard." Once you have found a job that you are interested in, click on the vacancy announcement number to view the full vacancy announcement.
Applying for Jobs
To apply for a particular vacancy, first carefully read and respond to the vacancy application questions. If you are unsure of which answer to select, make sure you select the one that best describes your education and/or experience. Do not select an answer unless you fully meet all the criteria described for that response. (Do not select an answer that only partially applies to you.) Click on “Finished” to submit your completed application along with a copy of your resume. Your application is not complete until you see a screen that says "Your application has been successfully transmitted!" You may log into the system and edit your responses to either the application questions or your resume at any time up until the closing date and time of the announcement."
OARS Notification Reliability
If you choose to receive email notifications of vacancies as they open in OARS, please be aware that this service is presented as a courtesy to our applicants. Although the email notification system is very reliable, it is possible that an email notification for a particular vacancy may not reach you due to technical problems related to sending email across the Internet that are beyond our control. To ensure that you are aware of all the job advertisements please periodically review the vacancy listing that appears directly on the OARS website.
Unsubscribing from OARS Notifications
Instructions for unsubscribing from the email notifications of vacancies through OARS are located here. In addition, if email from our system is undeliverable due to an invalid or inoperable email address the USGS reserves the right to discontinue any future email notifications to that address.
Logging out of OARS
The best way to "log out" of OARS is to simply close the window on your browser. This will prevent anyone else from using your OARS account without your knowledge.
PASSWORD HELP
Your password is case sensitive and must be a minimum of 5 characters long (you can use upper or lower case letters). For example, if you choose a password of EMPLOYEE, each time you enter your password you must type it using all capital letters.
Forgotten Passwords
Follow these instructions to reset your password:
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Go to the main login screen and select the “Password Help” link. | ||||
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Enter the following:
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Click on the “Next->” button. | ||||
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PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
Federal agencies rate applicants for Federal jobs under the authority of sections 1104, 1302, 3301, 3304, 3320, 3361, 3393, and 3394 of Title 5 of the United States Code. We need the information requested in the online resume and in the associated vacancy announcements to evaluate your qualifications. Other laws require us to ask about citizenship, military service, etc.
We request your Social Security Number (SSN) under the authority of Executive Order 9397 in order to keep your records separate from others who may have the same name or even the same birthdate. As allowed by law or Presidential directive, we use your SSN to seek information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who know you. Your SSN may also be used in studies and computer matching with other Government files such as files on unpaid student loans.
If you do not give us your SSN or any other information requested we cannot process your application. In addition, incomplete addresses and ZIP Codes will slow processing.
We may give information from your records to: training facilities; organizations deciding claims for retirement, insurance, unemployment or health benefits; officials in litigation or administrative proceedings where the Government is a party; law enforcement agencies; concerning violations of law or regulation; Federal agencies for statistical reports and studies; officials of labor organizations recognized by law in connection with representing employees; Federal agencies or other sources requesting information for Federal agencies in connection with hiring or retaining, security or suitability investigations, classifying jobs, contracting, or issuing licenses, grants, or other benefits; public and private organizations including news media that grant or publicize employee recognition and awards; and the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Office of Special Council, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the National Archives, the Federal Acquisition Institute, and congressional offices in connection with their official functions.
We may also give information from your records to: prospective nonfederal employers concerning tenure of employment, civil service status, length of service, and date and nature of action for separation as shown on personnel action forms of specifically identified individuals; requesting organizations or individuals concerning the home address and other relevant information on those who might have contracted an illness or been exposed to a health hazard; authorized Federal and nonfederal agencies for use in computer matching; spouses or dependent children asking whether the employee has changed from self-and-family to self-only health benefits enrollment; individuals working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement or other job for the Federal Government; non-agency members of an agency's performance or other panel; and agency-appointed representatives of employees concerning information issued to the employee about fitness-for-duty or agency-filed disability retirement procedures.
SECURITY
128-Bit Encryption
In order to use OARS you must use a Web browser that supports the Secure Socket Layers (SSL) protocol with 128-bit encryption. This prevents your personnel information from being read by others on the Internet while it is being transmitted between your web browser and OARS. The latest versions of all major web browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator/Communicator, Mozilla, Opera, Safari) automatically support the minimum encryption settings required to use OARS.
However, if your computer uses an older web browser that does not support 128-bit encryption you will have to upgrade to a newer version before you can login to OARS. This may be inconvenient, but it is the only way to ensure the safety and security of your personal information.
| Internet Explorer | Netscape | Mozilla | Other | |
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Microsoft Windows |
n/a |
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Macintosh OS 8.x-9.x |
n/a |
n/a |
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Macintosh OS X |
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Linux |
n/a |
n/a |
Turn Off Automatic Caching
Some web browsers typically save pages you've visitied to your hard disk. This can allow others to see your personal information if they have access to your machine. When you are operating in the SSL mode, this automatic saving or caching can be turned off. You should verify caching is turned off before using OARS.
Netscape Navigator/Communicator Users
If you are using Netscape 4.x (version 4.0 or above) your browser is already configured to never cache encrypted pages to a disk. However, if you use Netscape 3.x, choose menu option "Options -> Network Preferences". Make sure the checkbox for "Allow Persistent Caching of Pages Retrieved through SSL" is NOT checked.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x/6.x Users
Click the "Tools" menu item and select "Internet Options" Then select the tab labeled "Advanced" and scroll down to the "Security" section. Make sure the box labeled "Do not save encrypted pages to disk" is checked.