Proofreader/Keyboarder Apprentice Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. 25-12663625-AP-DE-TL Department Government Publishing Office
Salary $29.03 to $29.03 Grade 2 to 2
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/7/2025 Close Date 3/21/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

GPO employees possess a diverse array of talent in many administrative fields and trades. We provide other agencies with innovative services for the printing, publishing, storage, and distribution of digital content. If you are an energetic, inventive individual looking for a challenging, yet rewarding career opportunity, GPO may be the place for you.

This position is part of the Government Integrated Print Services, Government Publishing Office in Washington, District of Columbia

Duties

  • Serves as an Apprentice Proofreader/Keyboarder performing the following duties:
  • Learns basic typography (Type face, fonts, leading, kerning, measurements, terminology, tracking, hierarchy, grammar, justification, hyphenation, footnotes, and tabular materials).
  • Becomes skilled in processing and proofreading the Congressional Record, Federal Register, Reports, Hearings, Bills, and other legislative or executive branch publications.
  • Trains on XML using an XML Editor including (but not limited to) XML Tree and Syntax, working with different document types, editing documents, and parsing.
  • Learns to proofread both straight and tabular matter to detect and mark all typographical, spelling, and style errors using standard proofreader marks and the Government Publishing Office (GPO) Style Manual.
  • Learns to manipulate files and extensions in the database to make corrections, author's alterations, and updates.
  • Attends training class to interpret Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), coding and trouble- shooting typeset files, identify, troubleshoot, and fix errors.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is Required.
  • Selectee must pass all preemployment requirements prior to appointment.
  • Selectee must undergo a background investigation for suitability.
  • Males born after 12/03/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • May be required to serve a one-year probationary period if not previously completed.
  • Selectees must pass a physical examination prior to appointment.
  • Drug test is required.
  • Physical Effort: The work is generally sedentary and involves a combination of sitting and standing.
  • Working Conditions: Incumbent may be exposed to production environment where there is exposure to noise, ink mist, odors/fumes, spray powder, and paper dust from machinery.
  • Working Conditions: Ear protection, eye protection, safety shoes, and specific safety training are provided as necessary.
  • Selectee may be required to serve a one year probationary period.

Qualifications

This position is a part of the apprenticeship program that currently spans three years, with the first year focused on comprehensive training. During years two and three, participants will engage in on-the-job training and actively contribute to the production of publications. By the end of the program, successful participants will transition into journeyman positions, establishing themselves in the professional publishing field. Please note that the duration and timeline of the program are subject to change.

Throughout the program, apprentices will develop fundamental typographical and proofreading skills, including identifying and correcting typographical, spelling, and style errors. They will also gain expertise in coding for data output using the xPub system, a critical tool in modern publishing workflows. This role provides the foundation for a rewarding career, combining technical skills with the opportunity to contribute to the accuracy and quality of essential Congressional and departmental materials.

To qualify for the Proofreader/Keyboarder Apprentice, applicants must meet the following screen-out elements to be considered for this position:

Element No. 1:

Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision which is:

  • The ability to read and write in the English language using correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling; apply basic mathematical skills to solve or perform calculations; proofread documents to identify content, grammatical, or style errors; and use computers for basic functions such as creating documents, internet browsing, and/or sending emails.
Typing Proficiency: Applicants must be able to type at least 40 words per minute (WPM) based on a 5-minute sample with 3 or fewer errors.

Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out elements, which usually appears as question 1 and 2 in the online questionnaire. If your knowledge and ability in the screen-out elements are not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

Additional information

Apprentice Program Salary Guidelines

  • First year Apprentice pay will be set to 60% of the Proofreader/Keyboarder Journeyperson rate.
  • At the beginning of the second year of the program, the Apprentice will be pay-adjusted to 73% of the Proofreader/Keyboarder Journeyperson rate. This adjustment is contingent upon Apprentices meeting all 90-day success criteria benchmarks including use of leave and Proofreader/Keyboarder program evaluation results.
  • At the beginning of the third year of the program, the Apprentice will be pay-adjusted to 85% of the Proofreader/Keyboarder Journeyperson rate. This adjustment is contingent upon Apprentices meeting all 90-day success criteria benchmarks including use of leave and Proofreader/Keyboarder program evaluation results.
  • After graduation at the end of the third program year, the Apprentice will be promoted to the higher-level Proofreader/Keyboarder Journeyperson position, KI-4403-00 @100%, at the beginning of the fourth year.
Employment of Relatives
Section 3110 of Title 5, U.S. Code, prohibits a Federal official from appointing, promoting, or advocating the appointment or promotion of a relative in the agency where the official is serving or exercises jurisdiction. In addition, Section 2302(b)(7) of Title 5, U.S. Code, makes it a "prohibited personnel practice" for a person in authority to "appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for the appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement of a relative." For further information visit: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/3110 and https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/2302

Work Life Balance:
The GPO offers Transit subsidy for commuters using public transportation (Metro Bus/Rail, MARC, VRE, etc.).

Background Investigation:
To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the GPO requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy; this position requires Suitability. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for Suitability. This review could include fingerprints and credit checks, as well as a full field FBI background investigation and tax and bar checks for attorney applicants. The background investigation covers a period of seven to ten years depending on the nature of the position; this process may take 6 weeks or longer. The Agency may rescind the tentative offer, if the candidate is unable to pass the background investigation.

Reasonable Accommodation:
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process you must contact the HC Specialist on the vacancy announcement at least seven business days before the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The selectee will work Shift 1.

Additional vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire and supporting documents. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be excluded from further consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Those who meet the minimum level of experience and training for the screen-out elements will then be evaluated in each of the following job elements:

  • Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
  • Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning
  • Computer Skills
  • Reading Comprehension

We DO NOT require a separate narrative statement responding to the competencies; however, your resume should CLEARLY show possession of these competencies.

If you meet the qualification requirements listed above, your application will be rated based on your online questionnaire and supporting documents. Your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. If your final rating places you among the top candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for further review.

Required Documents

In addition to your responses to the questionnaire and your resume, you must submit the following additional documents specific for this vacancy:

  • Content of Resume: Your resume, curriculum vitae, or other written form you choose to describe your job-related experiences are used to verify your qualifications. Therefore, it is important that your resume accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total number of hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified, and you will no longer be considered for this position. To assist you in sending in a complete resume, use our checklist at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
  • Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal positions, those eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) 0pt, on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section(s) provided. Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions are eligible for veterans' preference.
  • DD-214: If you are claiming Veterans' Preference, provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other equivalent documentation to prove your entitlement and to verify your type of discharge. Failure to provide this information may result in your application not receiving preference.
  • VA Letter and SF-15: If you are claiming Veterans' Preference based on a Compensable Disability, Widow or Spouse Entitlement, or as a Purple Heart recipient, you must submit your DD-214 or other proof of entitlement as described above; and SF-15, and the required proof of disability, i.e., Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later. Failure to provide this documentation may result in your application not receiving preference. (Please see veteran eligibility documentation for more information on veterans' preference in federal hiring)
  • Active-Duty Service Members: If you are veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency to receive Veterans Preference under the VOW (Veteran Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. Agencies are required to accept, process, and grant tentative veterans' preference to those active-duty service members who submit a certification (in lieu of a DD-214) along with their job application materials. Agencies must verify the individual meets the definition of 'preference eligible' under 5 U.S.C. 2108 prior to appointment. A '"certification" is any written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active-duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. NOTE: If you provide a certification at the time of application, your preference eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. More information may be found at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide/.
All application materials must be received by 03/21/2025 to be considered.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes 1) your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire, 2) your resume and 3) any other documents needed to verify your qualifications or eligibility (see the required documents section).

Please follow the instructions listed below for submitting your complete application package. Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all instructions before you begin.

Resume Requirements:

  • Resumes are limited to eight (8) pages
  • Resumes should focus on the knowledge, skills, abilities; accomplishments and results; and training and education relevant to this position.
  • Resumes must be in the following format (for each position held relevant to this position):
    • Short summary of position duties
    • Accomplishments while in the position
    • Results of those accomplishments

Copying and pasting position descriptions into a resume is not acceptable.

Illegible Information and/or Documents

  • If your supporting documents and resume are illegible or do not provide the necessary information for the Human Capital Specialist and/or Subject Matter Expert to make a qualification determination, you may lose consideration for this position.
Last Document Uploaded
  • If multiple copies of the same document are uploaded/faxed and submitted with your application, GPO will only consider the last copy of the document uploaded/faxed when determining your eligibility and qualifications. For example, if you upload/fax two or more resumes only the last resume uploaded/faxed and submitted will be considered.
Print a copy of the occupational questionnaire so that you can read and review the questions before submitting your online responses. Click here to view the Occupational Questionnaire:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12663625

The completed online Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/21/2025.

- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account http://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

Lowery Tiffany
Address
US Government Publishing Office
732 North Capitol St. NW
Washington, DC 20401
US

Next steps

After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system and if you have elected to receive email updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered email address. If you have not elected to receive email updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time. Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job. This will ensure we can contact you as quickly as possible.

In addition to changing your status online, we will send you email notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or ineligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected. If your final rating places you among the top candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for further review.

Position Reconsideration Process
Applicants who have applied for employment with the Government Publishing Office who were found to be ineligible for a position, may submit a request for reconsideration upon reasonable demonstration that a reconsideration review is necessary. Request for Reconsideration will not be accepted for failure to submit appropriate required documentation and/or failure to complete required Assessments or respond accurately to Assessment Questions.

Applicants seeking a Request for Reconsideration should reach out to the servicing Human Resources Specialist indicated in the Vacancy Announcement to see you meet the eligibility requirements for reconsideration. If you meet the eligibility requirements for reconsideration, the Human Capital Talent Acquisitions and Transactions Division will review the application based on the reconsideration request to determine if the rating was appropriate and render a final decision to the applicant.

A request to reconsider a rating determination must be received in the servicing Talent Acquisitions Office within 5 business days from the date indicated on the Touch Point Notification, Notice of Results received from USA Staffing, or it will be rejected as an untimely request for reconsideration.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


© 2006-2025, exclusive of U. S. government job opportunity announcements