Delegated Examining Unit (DEU) Certification Practice Exam

True or False: Recruitment for a vacancy can start only when the job is opened on the USAJOBS website.

1. True

2. False

3. Depends on the agency

4. Only after clearance

The correct answer is: False

Recruitment for a vacancy does not have to wait until the job is publicly posted on the USAJOBS website. While the official announcement on USAJOBS is a critical step in the recruitment process that many agencies use to attract applicants, preliminary activities can and often do take place beforehand. These activities can include identifying the need for the position, developing the job announcement, and preparing the recruitment strategy. Agencies may conduct outreach or interest surveys prior to a formal posting to gauge candidate interest or inform potential applicants about the upcoming opportunity. Additionally, some positions may also utilize alternative recruitment methods that do not rely solely on USAJOBS postings. Therefore, the assertion that recruitment can only commence after the job listing appears on the USAJOBS website is incorrect, which supports the answer that recruitment can start before the official job opening announcement.