Your steps to apply
Boiler Plant Operator
Veterans Health Administration · Phoenix, Arizona · Closes in 80 days
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1 Check you can apply You are here
Who can apply: The public, Internal to an agency, Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).
Only U.S. citizens, nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. can apply. The job is open to the public, and the announcement uses Direct-Hire Authority, so traditional veterans' preference rules do not apply.
Experience: A specific number of years is not required, but you must show training or experience that fits the duties of this job. The announcement lists 5 to 6 years of boiler plant experience as preferred, and applicants are rated under OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards for grade WG-9.
Education: This job does not have an education requirement.
Experience can be paid or unpaid, volunteer work included: if it matches the duties, it counts. The full rules are in the announcement.
2 Resume and documents
Write a federal resume for this job. For each job you held, give the month and year you started and ended, your hours per week and what you did, using the words of the experience the announcement asks for. Many announcements accept resumes of up to 2 pages: check this one.
3 Apply on USAJOBS
Closes in 80 days (January 22, until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time).
This job will close when 50 applications are received, which may happen before the closing date. Because it is open continuously, qualified applicants are referred every week until positions are filled.
You sign in to USAJOBS with a Login.gov account, answer the questionnaire and upload your documents, then you submit. Answer the questionnaire honestly: your resume must show what you claim.
How they rate you: Applicants first pass a screen-out question on the online questionnaire, usually question 1, to meet minimum qualifications. Those who pass are rated on job elements such as working without more than normal supervision, equipment knowledge, tool use, dexterity and safety, and operating equipment. Applicants who do not submit required documents will be found ineligible.
4 After you apply
In USAJOBS, under Applications, you can see where your application stands: received, reviewed, referred to the hiring manager or not, then selected or not. It can take a few weeks.
For the interview, prepare three examples with the STAR method: the Situation, the Task, what you did (Action) and the Result.
If they choose you: a tentative offer, then a background check, then the final offer with your start date.
Tips for this job:
- Keep your resume to two pages and list boiler plant duties with dates and hours per week, since the VA will not assume experience.
- Describe hands-on tasks like water testing, chemical adjustment, and boiler control repairs in clear detail.
- The page says telework is not available, but the text says it may be authorized, so ask the contact at edgar.uriarte@va.gov.
Kandidatu is an independent website: only the official posting counts. Read it before you apply.