Army nixes Resumix; Fort Bragg begins using USA Staffing

By Reginald Rogers/ParaglideFebruary 3, 2012

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - After 10 years of using a staffing service called Resumix, the Army has decided to part ways with its once faithful servant in favor of a new service called USA Staffing. Within the next year, the Army's online application, CPOL, which stands for civilian personnel online, will begin transferring to the now preferred USA Staffing software system. Fort Bragg will see the transition later this month.

According to officials, the new system will provide information concerning vacant job positions and it will assist in evaluating those seeking employment, to include their eligibility and qualifications.

In the past, the Resumix system was based on various keywords, or "buzz words" that were identified in the vacancy announcement and cross-referenced with the resume of potential employees. If the designated words were not included in the job seeker's resume, they were often considered not qualified for the position.

The USA Staffing is not an automated keyword-based system. Resumes are actually read by human resource specialists.

"USA Staffing is a single integrated software. It's a recruitment tool that's used to staff federal civilian employee positions and one of the main reason that we're switching over to USA Staffing is to align with all the other Department of Defense agencies and it meets the presidential hiring reform," said Tricia Tyson, a human resource specialist at the Fort Bragg Civilian Personnel Advisory Center. "It's also in line with the Office of Personnel Management hiring standards. Those are the three major reasons behind it."

Tyson said there were some drawbacks with Resumix, such as the use of what she called "buzz words" that employees felt were not fair.

"If they did not possess them in their resumes, sometimes they may have been overlooked," she said.

"Instead of the automated system rating the employees, the employees will actually rate themselves," she added.

February 26 is the date that is set for Fort Bragg applicants to begin using the USA Staffing program. However, the entire Army is expected to complete the implementation process in April.

According to Joanna Elliot, human resource specialist, the USA Staffing program is not new to a few units on Fort Bragg, as the program has been piloted for applicants to the Joint Special Operations Command and Special Operations Training facility for the past two years.

"It has received positive reviews," Elliot said. "Of course it takes a lot more work on the applicant's part, so we do hear some frustration as far as having to do more work up front."

Elliot explained that applicants are now required to have all of their supporting documents to upload into the system. They also have to answer questions instead of the old way of just self-nominating themselves for a position.

Tyson explained that ANSWER, a program that currently gives applicants access to their submitted applications and other information, will remain available for at least the next year.

"So if someone applied for a position maybe three months ago and they don't have a resolution as of yet, maybe the selecting official is still looking at resumes, they'll still have access to ANSWER to look up the status of those vacancy announcements that they have applied for," she said.

Tyson also pointed out that USA Jobs will now serve as the centralized location for the DoD's job announcements, instead of the actual Resumix system. She said the former, resume builder, which allowed applicants to build a resume on the website, can now be found on USA Jobs.

"USA Jobs actually holds up to five resumes, as opposed to Resumix, which holds only one. So you can tailor each of those five resumes to any type of experience you may have, such as HR, supply, budgeting or whatever it may be," she said.

"Spell check is also available in USA Jobs and most importantly, the supporting documents that are required can be uploaded and retained on the website," Taylor said.

Some examples of supporting documents include DD Form 214 Statement of Service; SF-50, college transcripts, spousal preference executive order 13473; Spouses orders, marriage license and identification cards.

The CPAC will hold two USA Staffing briefings on Feb. 13, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. for managers and from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for applicants. Both briefings will take place at the Main Post Theater.