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WW-82 (WING-79) — Federal apply-path reality

Spike research. Produced by fleet worker (grok kind, DESKTOP-D249KD4), 2026-07-24. Reviewed and committed by WT-2f62.

Hard product constraint (honored throughout)

WorkWingman never touches login.gov and never clicks Submit. Everything is checklist/prep + deep-link out + manual status.

Biggest surprises from primary sources

  1. Federal résumés are hard-capped at 2 pages on USAJOBS (Merit Hiring Plan). The upload/builder rejects longer files. WW-114's federal drafter mode must target dense 2-page output — the old "5–10 page federal résumé" advice is obsolete for USAJOBS.
  2. login.gov for USAJOBS = MFA, not identity proofing. Account creation requires a password plus two authentication methods. Full IAL (ID photo/selfie/SSN) is described for other partner sites, not as a USAJOBS apply gate.
  3. Apply is a two-system handoff: USAJOBS five-step package → "Continue to Agency Site" → agency questionnaire / more docs / the agency's own Submit.
  4. Member Copy 4 is not named on current USAJOBS veterans help pages (they say "DD-214 or acceptable documentation"). Many job announcements still specify Member-4 — checklist copy should read "use Member-4 if the announcement asks," not as a blanket requirement.
  5. SF-15 for 10-point preference is OPM-required; USAJOBS also allows a VA letter with dates of service, discharge status, and disability rating as a possible substitute.

Deliverable sections summary

Section Summary
1. E2E walkthrough login.gov → profile/military/hiring paths → read the job announcement → gather documents → 5 USAJOBS steps → agency system → verify applied → 4 agency-side status checkpoints
2. Document matrix DD-214 / Statement of Service, SF-15, VA letter, transcripts, SF-50, performance appraisal, OF-306, spouse/sole-survivor docs — mapped situation → which document is needed
3. Résumé fields + rejection drivers Required: contact info; per role employer/title/month-year dates/hours per week/duties; series-grade if currently federal. Optional: salary, supervisor may-contact. Common rejections: wrong hiring path, missing documents, missing hours/dates, duties not matching specialized experience, over 2 pages, incomplete package
4. Status tracking Job status: Accepting / Reviewing / Hiring complete / Canceled / Closed. Application status: Received → Reviewed → Referred/Not referred → Selected/Not selected (plus Incomplete, Interview, Tentative/Final offer)
5. WW-116 / WW-114 specs Checklist card sections (below) + deep-link table; federal résumé-template field schema; open questions

Appendix A — Five USAJOBS apply steps (exact)

From How to create an application:

  1. Select Resume
  2. Select Documents
  3. Review Package
  4. Include Personal Info
  5. Continue Application with Agency

Final USAJOBS gate: certify true, complete, good faith → Continue to Agency Site (this is not the final employment submission — that happens on the agency's own system).

Appendix B — Preference documentation (OPM one-liners)

  • Preference requires discharge/release under honorable conditions (honorable or general).
  • DD-214 or other official service documents are required as verification.
  • 10-point: complete SF-15.
  • Still serving: VOW certification with service dates + character of service; DD-214 may be required before appointment.

Appendix C — Research method

Primary sources fetched with browser-class HTTP clients from help.usajobs.gov, login.gov, opm.gov, archives.gov, va.gov on 2026-07-24. SF-15 PDF is encrypted; its purpose was taken from USAJOBS/OPM HTML descriptions and the OPM forms listing rather than the PDF body text.

Go / no-go for product claims

Claim Verdict
"We help veterans apply to federal jobs" OK if framed as prep + deep-link + tracking
"We apply to USAJOBS for you" No-go
"We handle login.gov" No-go
"Federal résumé template (2-page, hours/week, month/year)" Go — high value, well-sourced
"DD-214 / SF-15 checklist" Go — high value
"Live USAJOBS application status sync" No-go without an official applicant API (none identified) — manual only
"Preference increases your score in WW" No-go (WW-74 / Kerr rule)

Open questions

# Question Why it matters Suggested resolve
Q1 Does any USAJOBS integration ever require IAL identity proofing, or only MFA? Checklist accuracy; avoid scaring users into USPS ID proof Treat as MFA-only for apply unless USAJOBS/login.gov later document otherwise; re-verify annually
Q2 How consistently do job announcements require Member Copy 4 vs any DD-214? Checklist wording Sample ~20 veteran-path announcements; phrase "if announcement specifies Member-4"
Q3 Agency application systems (USA Staffing, Monster GTM, etc.) — common questionnaire patterns? Offline prep tips Follow-on spike; still no automation
Q4 2-page Merit Hiring Plan — effective date, exceptions (clinical/CV), longevity Template must stay legally accurate Monitor OPM/USAJOBS; keep max-length a configurable constant
Q5 Can WW store user-uploaded DD-214/SF-15 for checklist "have it" UX? Privacy / vault Prefer local attestation + user-owned file path; if stored at all, vault + encryption, never uploaded to an agency
Q6 Manual status: free-text vs enum + "paste Track link"? Tracker UX Start with enum + optional URL + last-checked date
Q7 Still-serving applicants (VOW certification) — first-class checklist branch? Transitioning service-member population Yes for the veteran vertical; link OPM Vet Guide VOW language

Sources cited

All pages fetched for this spike (2026-07-24).

USAJOBS Help Center

  1. How to create a login.gov account
  2. What is login.gov and why do I have to create an account?
  3. How to use login.gov if you have limited access to a phone or cell service
  4. How does the application process work?
  5. How to create an application
  6. How to see your application and job status
  7. How long does it take to get a federal job?
  8. How to view job applications
  9. Why was my application not qualified?
  10. What documents do I need to provide when I apply?
  11. How to understand the required documents for a job announcement
  12. How do I write a resume for a federal job?
  13. How to add a resume to your profile
  14. How to fill out your work experience
  15. How to determine if a position was federal experience
  16. How to answer questions about military service
  17. What are hiring paths and how can they help you
  18. Veterans (unique hiring paths)
  19. Rating and ranking
  20. How many years of experience do I need to qualify for a job?
  21. What does status candidate mean?
  22. FAQ index

login.gov / GSA

  1. What is Login.gov? (lists USAJOBS among secured sites)
  2. Create an account (MFA method tiers, password length, possible ID proof)
  3. Verify my identity — overview
  4. Login.gov help center
  5. User attributes (IAL / self-asserted vs proofed)
  6. OIDC authorization / AAL notes

OPM

  1. Vet Guide for HR Professionals (DD-214 proof, SF-15 for 10-point, honorable conditions, VOW, VRA/VEOA)
  2. General Schedule Qualification Policies (hours-per-week experience proration; salary not a substitute for specialized experience)
  3. SF-15 form (PDF)
  4. OPM Standard Forms list

National Archives / VA

  1. Request military service records (DD-214)
  2. DD Form 214 / separation documents overview (includes character of service among fields)
  3. VA: Request your military service records (including DD214)

Internal

  1. docs/technical/veteran-vertical-design.md — WW-76 P2 constraints (no Submit, no login.gov, checklist + federal template)
  2. docs/BOARD.md — WW-82 spike description

Next when P2 is greenlit: WW-116 (checklist card from §5), WW-114 (federal template mode from §5 — 2-page + hours/week + month/year required).

Jira WING-79 · Vikunja · BOARD.md