In this issue:

Front Page ...

Editor's Intro

Next Community Technology Review Due for March 24: VISTAs in the Bylines -Melissa Daigle

Page Two...

Perkins Loan Forgiveness -Brenda Jackson

VISTA Non-Competitive Eligibility: Explained -Brian Harvey, Alumni Coordinator

Page Three...

The Future of the CTC VISTA Project -Dan Schackman

Advisory Board Updates

Page Four...

Updates from Harold in VA &
Mary Grybeck in Seattle

Brenda Jackson Reports:

To Ed Award or Not to Ed Award? Hurry and Decide.

1. Current VISTAs who are considering opting for the Ed award may not want to wait until their 10th month to decide as CNS is already putting names on a list. Get your forms in now!
2. VISTAs considering extending their stay for a month or two at their CTC may want to contact Liz as funds are tight and may not be available (see page 21 in the Handbook.)

3. If a VISTA is not accepting an Ed award, they may be eligible to have part of their Perkins loans cancelled. CNS could give me limited information on this and suggested that VISTAs with a serious interest in this option contact their loan provider for more information (see Chapter 6 in the VISTA Handbook).

VISTA Perk: Non-Competitive Eligibility for Fed Jobs

Brian Harvey, Alumni Coordinator

Upon successful completion of service, VISTA alumni are entitled to non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs.

• If you meet all minimum requirements, you can be hired without competing against the general public.
• This does not guarantee you will receive a position or that your resume will have some sort of preference over others. You also must be fully qualified and current with any skills, tests, or other requirements.

How This Works

If there is a position open at a federal agency they can request application from only those who are non-competitive. They do not have to post the job to the general public and it narrows down the field of potential applicants, and cuts the time in reviewing resumes and conducting interviews. An agency can also post a job to the general public and after receiving the application, but PRIOR to application review, they can choose to only review non-competitive applicants.

A Year for a Year

According to the law that grants VISTA members non-competitive eligibility, you have it for one year from the day you successfully complete at least one full year of service. Beginning in March 2003, every VISTA member will receive a certification of service approximately four to six weeks after they complete service. Alumni should make COPIES of this letter and send them with application, saving the original for future use. A sample of this letter is in Appendix A of the VISTA member handbook distributed at PSO. VISTA members CANNOT receive the letter prior to the end of service, because eligibility is contingent on completing service.

Extending Non-Competitive Eligibility

What most people do not know, including most federal agencies' the Human Resources Departments, is that it can be extended for up to three years if, and only IF, you can make a compelling case for the extension. This is only done at the time of applying for a non-competitive position and proof is the sole responsibility of the applicant (the VISTA alumnus/a).

When I started in the recruitment office, I was working as a short-term, federal employee while the recruitment unit was being restructured (they were considering eliminating the position). About six months later, they decided to keep the position but with modifications to it. This meant that it was a new job and one that I was not originally hired to do. My supervisor made the case with our HR department that I could have my non-competitive eligibility extended because I had been doing work that was directly related to the position—because I was, in fact doing the job at the time. I still had to submit an updated resume and prove I was qualified for the position, but I was able to be hired into the position without having to compete against the general public.

Other example: if you went to school for your Masters in Business Administration and are applying for a job as an animal handler at the National Zoo, there is no direct correlation between the two and the Smithsonian would not have to extend your eligibility. BUT, if you are applying for a marketing job at the National Zoo, your MBA might be considered to have a correlation.

Other reasons include:

• You were unemployed or can prove you were in temporary employment during that year
• You are attending school for a related field of work or working in a related field which gives you experience relevant to the position
• You are temporarily incapacitated.
  

Finding the Jobs

There is no secret website or hidden message board where jobs are posted. The Office of Management and Budget requires that all federal jobs be posted to the general public whether or not they are seeking application from the general public. Go to www.usajob.opm.gov.

It is important that you provide the state office with an address where you will be able to receive mail after you complete service or update your information in the AmeriCorps eCommunity.

If you have any questions or if you need clarification on any of this, you can call me at 202-606-5000 extension 492 or email me at bharvey@cns.gov.

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Brian Harvey
Alumni Coordinator
Your World, Your Chance to Make It Better