NVAPPS FAQ
- Frequently Asked Questions
(Last Updated: 09/10/2009)
DOP home page: dop.nv.gov
Welcome to the NVAPPS
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. Hopefully you will find answers to any
questions you may have about how to utilize the system and the online
application process. There is a lot of information here, so be sure to scroll
through the entire page when looking for a specific question and answer. The
questions are grouped together at the top; by clicking on the question, it will
take you to the question & answer below.
Where can I find information
on certain screens? Is there a help system available?
When are job announcements
posted?
What do I need to pay
attention to on the job announcement?
What are the benefits of
state employment?
Do I have to check the
website everyday?
I’m a Veteran. What do I need
to do in terms of my DD-214?
I see a side menu titled
“Browse Recruitments by Occupational Group” What is an occupational group?
What if I don’t have an email
address?
How do I know if I am
eligible to apply for a specific recruitment?
I am not receiving any email
notification/updates from the system.
How do I add an attachment?
When do I need to add one?
My question is not listed
here in the FAQ’s. Who do I contact for help?
If I am a state employee and
want to apply for jobs at home, do I need to create a new account?
Where can I find the online
application?
I don’t have a computer. How
do I apply?
Isn’t the Applicant Profile
and an application the same thing? What’s the difference?
What are the pre-screening
questions? Can I edit my answers after I successfully pass?
What is the deadline for
applications to be received?
How do I find out the status
of my application?
The status of my application
is Draft. When will I hear if my application is being considered?
My application has been
reviewed and is at a status of Verified. What is the next step?
How long will it take before
my application gets evaluated?
Do I need to attach a resume
and cover letter?
How do I know my application
has been submitted?
Can I edit my application
once I submit it?
How often should I update my
profile?
Will changes I make to the
profile affect my prior applications?
Can I delete an old
application?
An onscreen message said I
“am not eligible to apply for this recruitment.” What does this mean?
What should I list in my
Employment History? How far back should I go?
What should I list in the
Education/Training tab?
Can I print a hard copy of my
application or my profile?
Why do the job duties have to
add up to 100%?
The “From” and “To” dates on
the Employment Item page give me problems. How do I correct these?
Where can I
find information on certain screens? Is there a help system available?
Yes, there is an online help
system in NVAPPS. In the upper right hand corner of the screen, a Page Help
link is available. If you click on that link, a window will open with content
that should provide you with information regarding the screen you are currently
viewing.
When are job
announcements posted?
Job announcements are posted
on a daily basis.
What do I
need to pay attention to on the job announcement?
Please read the entire job
announcement prior to submitting an application. There are important bits of
information, such as whom the recruitment is open to, where the position is
located, what department/division it works in, as well as a description of the
minimum qualifications and testing requirements. If, after reading the
announcement, you have further questions, please contact the recruiter at the
email address or phone number listed.
What are the
benefits of state employment?
For some information on the
benefits of state employment, visit this page: http://dop.nv.gov/fsbenes.html
Do I have to
check the website everyday?
To see the most recent job
postings and to ensure that you do not miss an opportunity, we recommend you
visit the web site often as positions are posted on a daily basis. There is
also functionality that allows a user to save a job search and select to
receive notifications via email when there are new postings that match the
search criteria. This feature can save time and effort when looking for
openings.
I’m a
Veteran. What do I need to do in terms of my DD-214?
If you are a veteran,
disabled veteran, or the widow of a veteran, be sure to check the appropriate
boxes on the “Other Information” tab in the applicant profile. Also, be sure to
attach the DD-214 (or other documentation) to the Attachments tab so that your
status can be verified and bonus points awarded if applicable. If you do not
have electronic copies of these documents, please mail them to the address
listed on the job announcement or present them at the time of the examination.
I see a side
menu titled “Browse Recruitments by Occupational Group” What is an occupational
group?
An occupational group is a
high level categorization that separates large groups of positions that have
similar or related job functions. The occupational groups are defined in NRS 284.171.
What if I
don’t have an email address?
To register an account, an
email address is required. If you do not have an email address, we encourage
you to get one from one of the numerous free email providers (Hotmail, Yahoo!, Google,
etc.). Having a valid email address will allow you to receive timely updates
regarding the status of your application and allow you to take advantage of the
Saved Job Search feature.
How do I
know if I am eligible to apply for a specific recruitment?
The job announcement will
state who is allowed to apply for a specific recruitment. This is typically on
the left hand side of the job announcement.
Users can also ascertain whom an announcement is open to on the job
search results page. The “Open To” column displays the recruitment type (which
are defined below). To explain this further, there are two basic types of
categories. Open Competitive and Promotional recruitment(s). Promotional
recruitments are only open to current classified state employees with 6 months
of service time, whereas Open Competitive means the general public is allowed
to apply. (Sometimes recruitments can be a combination of both.) Here is a
breakdown of the various types:
Divisional
Promotional – Open only to persons
who currently work in the specified Division.
Departmental
Promotional – Open only to persons who currently work in
the specified Department.
Statewide
Promotional – Open only to persons who currently work in
the classified service of any Department in the executive branch.
Divisional/Department
Promotional – Open only to persons
who currently work in the specified Division & Department. If the list is
ranked, successful applicants in the specified Division are given priority,
followed by Departmental applicants.
Divisional/Department/Statewide
Promotional – Open only to persons
who currently work in the classified service of any Department, however the
list will be certified in the priority order with Divisional candidates first;
followed by Departmental then Statewide ones.
Open
Competitive – Open to all persons.
If the list is ranked, names are certified in rank order according to exam
scores.
Divisional/Department/Statewide/Open
Competitive – Open to all persons,
however the names are certified in the order or priority from divisional
candidates first to open competitive applicants at the end.
I am not
receiving any email notification/updates from the system.
Please check to verify that
the email address you provided on the Contact Information tab is typed correctly.
If it is, ensure that the email service you utilize isn’t identifying the email
as Junk or Spam. Add NEATS_Applicant@dop.nv.gov
to your allowed senders list if necessary.
How do I add
an attachment? When do I need to add one?
You can add attachments at
two points depending on the purpose. In the Applicant Profile, there is a tab
titled Attachments where there are tools to browse for, then select a file to
attach to the profile. (You can also delete an attachment.) The appropriate
items to attach here are things you want to submit with every application (such
as transcripts, copies of DD-214’s, professional licenses, etc.) Users can also
attach items when they go to apply for a specific job. After the pre-screening
questions, there are a series of tabs (including the signature tab), one of
which is titled Attachments. Here is where you can attach items you just want
to place with this specific job application. This would be the spot to place a
resume and cover letter for certain university system positions, or unique
items requested/pertinent to that particular job.
The system was designed with
in-page controls & buttons that are to be used to for navigation purposes.
Using the browser buttons (like Forward or Back) can cause problems, so it is
recommended you utilize the in-page buttons to navigate back and forth.
My question
is not listed here in the FAQ’s. Who do I contact for help?
If your question is not
answered here, please use the available online Help system, which can be found
by clicking on the “Page Help” link in the upper right hand corner of the
screen. (Please note this is not the same as any help button on your web
browser.) If you cannot locate helpful information there, you can direct your
inquiries to one of two avenues. You can contact the recruiter listed on the job
announcement for procedural/process questions; or the ITS Help Desk at
775-687-9099 or 1-866-NVNEATS for technical problems.
If I am a
state employee and want to apply for jobs at home, do I need to create a new
account?
No. Please login using your
regular NEATS ID and password. All state employees already have an account that
was established through the NEATS Timekeeping or Training modules. Creating
another account may result in not being properly considered for promotional
recruitments.
If you are interested in a
transfer, the most effective avenue is to contact the hiring agency directly
(the Department and Division will be listed on the job announcement) and
express your interest. You can also submit an application for the open
position.
First, you must register
with the system and create an account. Next, complete your Applicant Profile
and then search through the posted jobs. To begin the application process,
click the Apply button at the bottom of the job announcement. For more
information & instructions, please visit this link http://dop.nv.gov/InstructionsPage.pdf
or this one at http://dop.nv.gov/Application1_SearchAndApply_ForWeb.pdf
Where can I
find the online application?
The online application
consists of the information stored in your applicant profile. The information
becomes the official “application”, once you view a job announcement, click
Apply and then click the Submit button on the Signature tab.
I don’t have
a computer. How do I apply?
If you do not have a
computer at home, you could try to utilize a computer with an Internet
connection at a local library or community center. The Department of Personnel
has computers available in our reception area as well. If none of these are
available to you, please call the front desk at 775-684-0150 or 702-486-2900 to
request a hard-copy application.
Isn’t the
Applicant Profile and an application the same thing? What’s the difference?
No. The Applicant Profile is
where you can store information about your education, experience, training and
other data. This placeholder allows you to enter all of your information once,
and not have to “re-invent the wheel” each time you want to apply. (Of course
the profile will need updated when you gain more experience, if your contact
information changes, etc.) The information then becomes an application for a
recruiter to review when you have clicked “Apply” for a particular job
announcement and then click the Submit button on the signature tab.
What are the
pre-screening questions? Can I edit my answers after I successfully pass?
The pre-screening questions
are a tool to gauge whether or not an applicant possesses the necessary
requirements for a position. If the person does have the requirements, they are
allowed to proceed forward and a recruiter will verify the possessions of the
requirements. Users cannot edit the
answers to prescreening questions after they have successfully passed.
What is the
deadline for applications to be received?
The job announcement will
specify the duration of the filing period. Some may have a definite closing
date (two weeks or 14 days, etc.) whereas others may be open until recruitment
needs are satisfied (URS). URS recruitments can close at any time without prior
notice. When a URS recruitment is set to close, a date will typically be
posted. In either case, an application must be submitted before 5:00 PM on the
closing date to receive consideration.
How do I find
out the status of my application?
The Applicant Home page will
list all of the applications you have begun or have already submitted. The grid
that is displayed has a column titled “Status” which displays the status of
your application. When a user places
the mouse over the status, some text will appear and provide a definition. Some
of the statuses and their meaning include:
Also, when the status of the
application is updated, the system automatically generates an email indicating
the status has changed and may include comments from the recruiter. Please
check the Applicant Home page for status updates and watch for these emails.
The status of
my application is Draft. When will I hear if my application is being
considered?
If the status of the
application is “Draft”, it means the application is incomplete and has not been
submitted; and thus will not be reviewed. To submit it, click on the
application and go to the Signature Tab. Once there, click the Submit button
and ensure the status of the Application is now “Pending Verification” on the
Applicant Home Page.
My application
has been reviewed and is at a status of Verified. What is the next step?
Once an application has been
verified, (which means a recruiter has examined it and determined it meets all
of the posted qualification requirements) the applicant is then scheduled for
testing, then the tests are scored and notifications are sent. At that point,
if the applicant successfully passes all phases of the exam, the status of the
application will be set at “Eligible” meaning the person is placed on an
eligible list, which is sent to the hiring agency. (If there is no formal exam,
the status of the application will become “Eligible” at the appropriate time.)
How long
will it take before my application gets evaluated?
The time it takes to
evaluate an application can vary and depends on several factors including, but
not limited to: application volume, recruitment type, recruiter workload, etc.
We make every attempt to evaluate applications in a timely manner.
Do I need to
attach a resume and cover letter?
No - for the most part. For
most state positions, a resume and cover letter is not necessary during the
application process with State Personnel. Hiring agencies may ask for these
materials at the time of interview. However, some university positions require
resumes and cover letters at the time of the initial application. Please pay
attention to the job announcement for these instructions.
How do I
know my application has been submitted?
When the application has
been submitted, the user will receive an email (if a valid address was
provided) stating the application has been received. Another indicator that the
application was received is that the status changes to “Pending Verification”
on the Applicant Home Page.
Can I edit
my application once I submit it?
No. Before you submit an
application, please ensure all of the information in your profile is updated,
thorough and complete. If you withdraw the application or the recruiter sets it
at certain statuses, you can then update the information in the profile. If you
resubmit the application (which must be before the closing date), it will
contain the updated/revised information.
How often
should I update my profile?
Your profile should be
updated when you have gained additional experience, training, education, or
when your contact information changes. It is a good idea to check your profile
for accuracy before submitting an application.
Will changes
I make to the profile affect my prior applications?
No. The information that
appears in the application is a snapshot of what was in the profile at the time
of submission. (The only exception to this is when the Contact Information
changes. Any updates to his data will be indicated on the application.)
Can I delete
an old application?
At the present time, a user
can only delete an application in a status of “Draft”.
Yes. It is in your best
interest to apply for all those jobs you are interested in and feel you may
qualify for.
An onscreen
message said I “am not eligible to apply for this recruitment.” What does this
mean?
If you have received this
message, you have probably attempted to apply for a recruitment that is open
only to current state employees (possibly within only a certain division or
department.) If you are a current employee of the state (with the requisite 6
months service time) check the job announcement to verify whom the recruitment
is open to and what the listed Department and Division is. If you are eligible
to apply, ensure your profile (on the Contact Information tab) indicates you
are a current state employee and that the Department and Division fields are
correct. Once you have done so, please try to apply again.
The error messages are usually
displayed in the color Red and typically indicate what the problem is & how
to correct it. Often times, the most common reasons why this message would
occur is if the information on the Availability tab of the Applicant Profile
does not match up with the specifications on the job announcement. These
include your checked preferences for geographic location (specific cities),
work type (full-time, part-time or intermittent), and/or travel preferences.
What should
I list in my Employment History? How far back should I go?
Applicants should list their
entire relevant work history and go back as far as practical. Listing your
entire background gives recruiters and agency staff a complete picture of your
education and experience.
On the Applicant Home page,
there is heading titled “Applications” which lists all applications you have
submitted. One of the columns in this table is titled “Action”. The actions
available in this column are Withdraw or Delete. The Delete option is available
when the incomplete application is in Draft status and should be used if you
wish to delete it. The Withdraw option is available to use after you have officially
submitted an application and should be used if you no longer are interested in
the position.
What should
I list in the Education/Training tab?
On the Education portion
list any college degrees you possess. In the portion labeled Training, list
relevant college courses or other formal training classes you’ve had that
relate to the qualification requirements.
Can I print
a hard copy of my application or my profile?
Yes. When you are viewing
the application or the profile, use the button titled “Print” at the bottom of
the screen to view an Adobe .pdf version of the application. (Adobe Reader
software must be installed on your PC to view the files.)
Why do the
job duties have to add up to 100%?
Job duties need to add up to
100% so the recruiter can accurately estimate and give credit for all, or a
certain percentage, of the actual duties for a specific job.
No. This indicator is
present to let you know that dates overlaps in case it may be a data entry
error. We recognize that some people work multiple jobs in which the dates of
employment will overlap. If you do get this message, please review the dates of
employment (and hours worked per week) to ensure they are correct.
The “From”
and “To” dates on the Employment Item page give me problems. How do I correct
these?
The most likely problem is
the format. Dates must be entered in using the mm/yyyy format, not
mm-yyyy. Also, be sure to select the
radio button titled “Yes” if you are currently employed at the position and
leave the “To:” date blank.