Human Resources Specialist (Recent Graduate)

Human Resources Specialist (Recent Graduate) at Offices, Boards and Divisions · Department of Justice. Grade: 7-9. Applications close 2026-10-30.

Summary

Interested in a career in Human Resources? Join the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, as a Human Resources Specialist (Recent Graduate). You do not need a degree in Human Resources to apply. If selected, you will receive formal training, mentoring, and on-the-job experience while building the knowledge and skills needed for a rewarding career in federal human resources.

Duties

• As a GS-0201-07, your typical work assignments may include the following: Supporting the delivery of human resources services to employees, supervisors, HR staff, and program offices. Researching HR questions, gathering information, and assisting with recommendations consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Preparing and updating HR documents related to personnel actions, organizational changes, policy updates, and workforce activities. Collecting, verifying, entering, and maintaining personnel information in automated HR systems. Running reports to support workforce planning, compliance, and operational decision-making. Responding to customer inquiries and coordinating HR actions with internal stakeholders. Using spreadsheets, collaboration tools, dashboards, automation tools, and approved AI-enabled tools, when authorized, to support research, drafting, reporting, data organization, and workflow improvements.
• As a GS-0201-09, your typical work assignment may include the following: Applying federal human resources principles and Merit System Principles to support employees, supervisors, and hiring managers. Collaborating with hiring managers and administrative staff to support recruitment and staffing activities. Preparing Requests for Personnel Action (SF-52s) and processing personnel actions. Assisting with recruitment, performance management, awards, and other HR programs. Participating in projects to improve HR processes and customer service. Preparing correspondence, memoranda, reports, and other HR documents. Maintaining personnel data using automated HR systems and spreadsheets. Responding to inquiries regarding HR policies, procedures, and personnel actions.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Human Resources Specialist (Recent Graduate), GS-0201-7/9you must meet both the eligibility requirements for the Pathways Recent Graduate Program and the minimum qualifications for the grade level(s) for which you apply.

Pathways Recent Graduate Eligibility. You must meet one of the following requirements:

• Have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctoral, vocational, or technical degree, certificate, or other qualifying postsecondary credential from an accredited educational institution.
• OR Be a preference-eligible veteran whose military service prevented you from applying during the standard eligibility period. In this case, eligibility may extend up to six years after completing the qualifying degree or certificate. You must submit a DD-214 documenting the qualifying period of military service.

You do not need a degree in Human Resources to qualify for this position. We welcome applicants from many backgrounds! We encourage applicants from a wide variety of academic disciplines to apply, provided they meet the qualification requirements. Successful Human Resources Specialists come from many educational backgrounds, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the profession.

Relevant experience may have been gained through:

• Coursework
• Internships
• Student employment
• Full-time or part-time work
• Military service
• Volunteer service
• Apprenticeships
• Research projects
• Leadership roles in student organizations
• Community involvement
• Other academic, professional, or life experiences that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed

If selected, you will receive formal training, structured on-the-job learning, mentoring from experienced HR professionals, and ongoing professional development to help you build a successful career in federal human resources.

Strong candidates typically demonstrate:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Sound judgment, integrity, and attention to detail
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills
• Ability to learn new systems, technology, policies, and procedures
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Initiative, adaptability, and a commitment to public service

Grade-specific requirements: Applicants must meet Minimum Qualifications for the grade level(s) for which they are applying.

Applicants may qualify at the GS-07 level based on one of the following:

• Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level that demonstrates experience performing administrative or human resources-related work, such as assisting with personnel actions, staffing activities, document preparation, records management, customer service, maintaining data, or performing similar support functions;
• OR Education: One full year of graduate education or Superior Academic Achievement: A bachelor's degree, AND meet one of the following: Grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for all undergraduate coursework or courses completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. Grade point average of 3.45 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. Class standing in the upper one-third of your graduating class, college, university, or major subdivision. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies;
• OR Combination: A combination of qualifying graduate education and specialized experience.

Applicants may qualify at the GS-09 level based on one of the following:

• Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level that demonstrates experience supporting recruitment, staffing, personnel administration, HR advisory services, organizational management, business operations, or related administrative work involving research, analysis, customer service, document preparation, or process improvement;
• OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's, LL.B., or J.D;
• OR Combination: A combination of qualifying graduate education and specialized experience.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/30/2026. Your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the qualification requirements and support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important information about resume requirements.

Education

To be eligible for an appointment, you must meet Education requirement A or B.

A. Completed all requirements for a diploma, associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical education program (including registered Apprenticeship Programs, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Job Corps, Climate Corps) within the previous two years.

OR

B. Was released or discharged from active duty within the previous two years, where the applicant is a veteran who, due to a military service obligation, was precluded from applying for a recent graduate position during any portion of the two-year eligibility period following completion of his/her degree or certificate requirements, provided that not more than six years have transpired since the applicant completed the requirements for a degree or certification.

You must submit an academic transcript from your academic institution showing the date that you most recently completed the academic requirements described above. *For Accredited Post-Secondary Institutions, click Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs *For Registered State Apprenticeship Programs Information, click State Apprenticeship Programs *For Other Apprenticeship Programs, click Apprenticeship Programs *For Industry-Endorsed Certificate Programs, click Career One Stop Certificate Finder

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59PM (EST) on 10/30/2026 to receive consideration.

The application process is as follows:

• Click the Apply Online button.
• Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
• Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
• If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
• Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
• Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
• Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.

For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments.

If you are qualified and received a score of 80 or higher, you will receive a scenario-based writing assessment by email on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST. Applicants who pass the second assessment will be referred to the hiring manager for selection. Please monitor your email and check your spam folder to ensure you do not miss the email.

NEED HELP? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc.

DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy