IT Specialist (APPSW) (Recent Graduate)

Summary

The SSA Recent Graduates Program provides Recent Graduates with entry-level developmental experience and is designed to lead to a career in the Federal government. Program participant(s) are placed in excepted service appointments, not-to-exceed 1 year. Note: This position is being filled on a full-time basis. This is a 1-year developmental program. After successful completion of the program, you may be non-competitively converted to a term (not to exceed 1-4 years) or permanent appointment.

Duties

• Evaluates, develops the technician design codes, and implements software using programming languages and command language. Creates new programs and/or modifies existing programs using programming and structured query languages.
• Translates systems requirements into application prototypes. Writes, debugs, and maintains code and implements programs or directs others in this phase of work.
• Defines user needs, determines and designs new computer applications and automated processes.
• Performs computer programming in any of several languages. Selects the most effective language for the purpose based upon a thorough analysis of objectives, costs, compatibility of languages and long-term viability of programs.
• Reviews proposals for major projects, special studies or special computer programming requests. Determines the feasibility and cost effectiveness of...
• [cont'd] such projects and recommends approval or denial to their line management. Provides users with alternatives to their proposals, based upon analysis of user needs and technology available.
• Directs the maintenance of all regional software programs used locally, regionally, and nationally. Conducts local analyses of systems resources utilization and performs or coordinates system software support as needed.
• Serves as a technical expert of locally developed software processes. Provides technical guidance and recommendations to RO, PSC, TSC, FO and CO components.
• This is an entry level/trainee PD leading to the full performance PD GS-2210-12

Qualifications

To be considered for selection, you must be eligible for the Recent Graduate Program AND meet the qualifications specified for the posted position(s). Recent Graduate Program Eligibility To qualify for appointment to the Recent Graduates Program, you must have completed all requirements of an academic course of study leading to an associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or qualifying certificate program from an accredited educational institution. Your graduation (degree conferred) date must be within the 2 years preceding your application to this announcement. Note: See Required Documents section to ensure you provide the correct documentation to prove your Recent Graduates Program eligibility. Preference-eligible veterans who, due to military service obligations, were precluded from applying to the Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period are entitled to a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which the preference eligible veteran completed the requirements of an academic course of study, when a qualifying degree or certificate was conferred. Note: See Required Documents section to ensure you provide the correct documentation to prove your Recent Graduates Program and preference eligibility. Qualifications You must also meet the below qualifications for the posted position(s) by the closing date of this announcement, 08/28/2026. Applicants must qualify for the series and grade of the posted position. Experience must be IT-related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate. Your resume must provide sufficient experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your experience, education, knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies as they relate to this position. Your resume and supporting documents must specifically address the evaluation criteria for the position. Describe duties you perform (not just knowledge, skills and abilities) as they relate to the specialized experience required for this position. Be clear, accurate and specific when describing your experience; e.g., list all positions separately, include full start and stop dates for each position, your work schedule (number of hours per week), your grade (if your position is federal), and a comprehensive description of the relevant duties you performed in each position. This information is instrumental in determining the highest quality candidates to be referred to the Selecting Official. Please submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position. If your application materials do not demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and/or education needed for this position, your application will be ineligible for consideration. Minimum Qualifications: Grade 7 Applicants must demonstrate experience that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled, which has equipped them with the foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such IT-related experience may include: Supported product lifecycle activities, including ideation, development, and post-launch evaluation, under supervision. Participated in gathering and documenting stakeholder requirements for IT projects. Assisted in preparing presentation materials and reports for team meetings and stakeholders. Demonstrated effective communication skills in providing updates and information to team members. Working as part of a team to implement IT solutions or improvements. Minimum Qualifications: Grade 9 Applicants must demonstrate experience that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled, which has equipped them with the foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such IT-related experience may include: Used programming languages and structured query languages to modify and maintain software applications with guidance. Supported product lifecycle activities, including ideation, development, and post-launch evaluation, under supervision Participated in gathering and documenting stakeholder requirements for IT projects Assisted in preparing presentation materials and reports for team meetings and stakeholders Demonstrated effective communication skills in providing updates and information to team members. In addition, to qualify for the GS-2210-09 IT Specialist series, applicants must demonstrate the following IT-related competencies: Attention to Detail (Level, 3, Intermediate) - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail Customer Service (Level, 3, Intermediate) - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. Interpersonal Skills (Level, 3, Intermediate) - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations Reasoning (Level, 2, Basic)- Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions. Teamwork (Level, 3, Intermediate) - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals. For more information on OPM's Competency-Based Qualification Standards, visit: Competency-Based Qualification Standard for the Information Technology Management Series, 2210

Education

Providing Proof of Education or Substituting Education Proof of education or education substitutions must be submitted with your application package and received by the closing date of the announcement. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. Note: See Required Documents section to ensure you provide the correct documentation. Applicants selected for the position must provide an official transcript(s) including the date the degree or certificate was conferred prior to being appointed. Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. NOTE: It is your responsibility to acquire U.S. Certification and provide it at the time of application. For a list of Credential Evaluation Services, log on to: Credential Evaluation Services.

Evaluations

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. These competencies include: Knowledge of systems analysis and programming principles, methods, and tools to analyze and develop software test and evaluation procedures. Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks. Ability to communicate orally Ability to communicate in writing. Ability to analyze data and make recommendations. Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13027441 Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method, based on your responses to the Assessment Questions. If you meet the basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories: 1 - Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements. 2 - Well Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. 3 - Best Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Your Resume Transcript(s) and other educational documentation The Occupational Questionnaire Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section) The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 08/28/2026. To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Careers at SSA at [email protected]. Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process. To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.

What to expect next

Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive a least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position. Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.

Required documents

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information. You must submit all supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement (08/28/2026) to support your eligibility for the Recent Graduates Program, meet specified qualifications for the posted position(s), and claim certain types of preference. Note: Failure to provide required documents will result in non-consideration for the posted position(s). RESUME: You must meet the basic qualification requirements for the position being filled, including any positive education requirements and/or selective placement factors. All applicants must submit a resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed. Your resume must provide specific details as to how your experience meets the qualifications for the posted position(s). When describing your experience in your resume, please be specific; we will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Ensure that your resume includes the grade (if you are a current or previous federal employee) and month, day, and year that you began and ended each position held. Without this information, the experience gained while in that position may not be credited toward meeting the qualifications requirements. The resume should indicate if the work is full-time or part-time. Part-time work is prorated (e.g., if you work 20 hours per week for a 12-month period, you will be credited with 6 months of experience). Experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. You resume must provide context and sufficient detail of your experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating. Your resume must also support your responses to the online questionnaire. Failure to provide support may result in a lower rating and/or you may be excluded from consideration. TRANSCRIPTS: Unofficial transcripts from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are acceptable to verify that you meet Recent Graduate Program eligibility and specified qualifications requirements. You must submit a legible copy of transcripts or list of college courses with your name, school name, credit or semester hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Copies of degrees, certificates, and diplomas are not considered acceptable documents to determine Recent Graduate Program eligibility. Note: Your transcripts must show the date the degree was conferred. If you have recently graduated or will soon graduate and the date the degree is conferred is not yet on your transcript, your transcript must be accompanied by a letter from your educational institution (e.g., a letter from the Registrar, Student Counselor, Dean of College, etc.) verifying your degree completion and the date of completion in order to be acceptable. Failure to provide transcripts with proper accompanying documentation will result in non-consideration for this position. Applicants selected for the position must provide an official transcript(s) including the date the degree or certificate was conferred prior to the effective date of their appointment. VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received. Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters. For more information visit the Vet Guide.

Other information

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement. This is a non-bargaining unit position. Locality Pay: GS-7 Woodlawn, MD: $58,193 - $75,653 based on OPM's 999C Special Rate Table GS-9 Woodlawn, MD: $70,623 - $91,815 Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born 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. See www.sss.gov. 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 Americans with Disabilities Act 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. 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. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. To determine if you need a 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