2020 PHAP (CDC's Public Health Associate Program)

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Hi all! Hope everyone is staying safe :)

Has anyone checked their PHAP Portal? I happened to check it today and my application status went from "Under Review" to "Interview", but I haven't received an official interview invite yet. Is anyone else on the same boat?

I'm going to give it a couple days and keep an eye out for an email!

Thanks!!

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Hi all! Hope everyone is staying safe :)

Has anyone checked their PHAP Portal? I happened to check it today and my application status went from "Under Review" to "Interview", but I haven't received an official interview invite yet. Is anyone else on the same boat?

I'm going to give it a couple days and keep an eye out for an email!

Thanks!!

I just checked and my status is “interview” but I believe we should be getting the official invitation starting next month which is Friday, according to the timeline.


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I just checked and my status is “interview” but I believe we should be getting the official invitation starting next month which is Friday, according to the timeline.


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You're so right thanks! And congrats!!
 
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Hi all! Hope everyone is staying safe :)

Has anyone checked their PHAP Portal? I happened to check it today and my application status went from "Under Review" to "Interview", but I haven't received an official interview invite yet. Is anyone else on the same boat?

I'm going to give it a couple days and keep an eye out for an email!

Thanks!!
Hi! Mine went from under review to interview too! Congrats @CherieA and @mandibelle !
 
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Hello everyone! I hope you are well. I noticed it also now says interview. Good luck to everyone and stay safe
 
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Hi everyone! I hope everyone are staying safe. Did anyone receive an email regarding the interview yet?
 
Hello! I just checked my profile and it says interview! I have not received an email regarding the specifics of the interview just yet! Good luck!
 
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Congrats to all!! I have not received an email either. Checking my spam like crazy!

While we're waiting for the official invitation.. does anyone have any tips or advice on how to best prepare? I read from other columns that it's mostly behavioral questions and some sort of scenario question at the end. :)
 
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I checked my status again and it changed from interview to stage unspecified. Did anyone else's change?
 
That’s weird. I just checked and mine is still the same.
Yeah it is weird because mine went back to interview. I clicked on it and now it says to choose a time but I never received an email yet about it. When I clicked on the interview button, it says I have 4 days left to choose and submit it.
 
Yeah it is weird because mine went back to interview. I clicked on it and now it says to choose a time but I never received an email yet about it. When I clicked on the interview button, it says I have 4 days left to choose and submit it.
Mine also says I have 4 days left too. Hopefully, they’ll send us the email tomorrow.
 
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I see the interview time selection option is accessible on the PHAP application portal. Once in there, the only options from the drop-down are options 1-4 and the second drop-down, options 1-10. It just says"option" as if the parameters were never completed for the form itself. So no explanation of what "option" refers to. And it says I have 3 days to complete it. Hahahaha. Maybe this is done after the email is sent with instructions.

JD
 
I see the interview time selection option is accessible on the PHAP application portal. Once in there, the only options from the drop-down are options 1-4 and the second drop-down, options 1-10. It just says"option" as if the parameters were never completed for the form itself. So no explanation of what "option" refers to. And it says I have 3 days to complete it. Hahahaha. Maybe this is done after the email is sent with instructions.

JD

That’s what I figured, maybe there’s a glitch, that’s why we haven’t received any emails.


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I am still waiting on an email confirming my status for an interview and submission of personal statement or no referral. I emailed HR multiple times and received the email like everyone else where I was not referred with the corrected referral by the hiring manager email that followed.

I'm not sure what this means. Very ambiguous phrasing from the HR response:
"The first email is a self-assessment which states the applicant is eligible based on their assessment.
The second, is where the HR Specialist did not refer them.
The third is letting the applicants know that letter was sent in error.
The fourth email is what they will see that they have not been referred to the Hiring Manager but at some point the HR Staffing Specialist will be sending out the correct notification advising applicants if they were referred or not."
 
I just checked the portal and this was posted “Deadlines:
  • We are working on the issue regarding interview time selection. An email will be sent once fixed.
  • Interviews for invited candidates will be May 7-15, 2020.”
So it seems like they are working on things and we should hear back soon!
 
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I just checked the portal and this was posted “Deadlines:
  • We are working on the issue regarding interview time selection. An email will be sent once fixed.
  • Interviews for invited candidates will be May 7-15, 2020.”
So it seems like they are working on things and we should hear back soon!
Thank you for the update! Hope everyone is able to keep their spirits up through this application process! :)
 
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Thank you everyone for the update! Hopefully emails go out soon if the deadline for an interview selection is May 5th I'm guessing. Although I was selected for an interview my USA Jobs still says "Not Referred" does anyone else have that?
 
Thank you everyone for the update! Hopefully emails go out soon if the deadline for an interview selection is May 5th I'm guessing. Although I was selected for an interview my USA Jobs still says "Not Referred" does anyone else have that?

Same here but Someone had contact HR about that and said not to go by what USAjobs says.


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Congrats to all!! I have not received an email either. Checking my spam like crazy!

While we're waiting for the official invitation.. does anyone have any tips or advice on how to best prepare? I read from other columns that it's mostly behavioral questions and some sort of scenario question at the end. :)


I would say that the best way to prepare is to take some time to print out your resume and a list of experiences you've had so far that are public health related or even academic related and figure out how those could be used to answer interview questions. I answered all of my interview questions with examples of things I had done that fit whatever they were asking about and my interviewer seemed really impressed. I'm one of the 2019 PHAPs so I figure that was a good way to go! Threads on here from past years have examples of the types of questions they ask. Some of them aren't necessarily straightforward, but if you've done volunteer work, studied abroad, have work experience, have done anything extra-curricular at all, you can absolutely use those things to give good interview answers. Also, make sure to have a question or two you want to ask your interviewer. I finished answering the questions I was asked fairly quickly and had about 10-15 minutes at the end of my interview time slot that I filled with questions for my interviewer and his responses.

My last bit of advice is to have already made up your mind about whether or not you would take a PHAP position before they start calling people with job offers. Turn around time on your decision once they call you is very quick and it'll make your life easier if you have a yes or no answer to give immediately when they call you. Job offers will contain very little information. They only tell you how much you'll be paid, what city you'll be working in, and a vague category of what type of work you'll be doing.

Good luck!
 
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I would say that the best way to prepare is to take some time to print out your resume and a list of experiences you've had so far that are public health related or even academic related and figure out how those could be used to answer interview questions. I answered all of my interview questions with examples of things I had done that fit whatever they were asking about and my interviewer seemed really impressed. I'm one of the 2019 PHAPs so I figure that was a good way to go! Threads on here from past years have examples of the types of questions they ask. Some of them aren't necessarily straightforward, but if you've done volunteer work, studied abroad, have work experience, have done anything extra-curricular at all, you can absolutely use those things to give good interview answers. Also, make sure to have a question or two you want to ask your interviewer. I finished answering the questions I was asked fairly quickly and had about 10-15 minutes at the end of my interview time slot that I filled with questions for my interviewer and his responses.

My last bit of advice is to have already made up your mind about whether or not you would take a PHAP position before they start calling people with job offers. Turn around time on your decision once they call you is very quick and it'll make your life easier if you have a yes or no answer to give immediately when they call you. Job offers will contain very little information. They only tell you how much you'll be paid, what city you'll be working in, and a vague category of what type of work you'll be doing.

Good luck!
Hi! Thank you for providing tips on how to prepare for the interview. It is very helpful. If so, can you provide details on your experience working with the program?
 
I am still waiting on an email confirming my status for an interview and submission of personal statement or no referral. I emailed HR multiple times and received the email like everyone else where I was not referred with the corrected referral by the hiring manager email that followed.

I'm not sure what this means. Very ambiguous phrasing from the HR response:
"The first email is a self-assessment which states the applicant is eligible based on their assessment.
The second, is where the HR Specialist did not refer them.
The third is letting the applicants know that letter was sent in error.
The fourth email is what they will see that they have not been referred to the Hiring Manager but at some point the HR Staffing Specialist will be sending out the correct notification advising applicants if they were referred or not."
i also got an email from HR (past Monday) saying our applications are still under review and to not go by the non-referral status in USAJOBS. fingers crossed!
 
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Anyone hear anything? I still have “Add New Item” list when i click to select Interview Time. Hopefully it gets fixed before there’s a deadline to submit?

As of right now (1400 PST) the site states:

"PHAP is working on the issue regarding the interview time selection. Please do not create a record until an email has been sent to select an interview time. Thanks."

EDIT: If you have started the template (interview time selection), and clicked out without canceling, leaving any of the fields selected, or any input data in them go double check that it did not save the file. This could lead it to be YOUR saved file looking as though you have no other options. There is an option to delete it. You must open the file though.
Then wait until the email arrives and create a new file. I say this because even though I did not "save" the empty template, I had named it, and clicked the back button. I checked later and it was auto-saved as my form.

So they are very much aware of the issue. It is pretty much down to waiting for the email. If you go back through the past PHAP forums, it seems as though there are always issues. Several of the posts address several of the issues and questions posted here. These would include things like conflicting emails regarding acceptance or rejection, manual reviews of previously rejected applications, delayed dates, extended dates, accepted for interviews but issues with their skype information, last-minute interviews, last-minute down to the wire placements, etc.

So heads up folks, double-check the times you are choosing, write them down on paper before hitting submit, be watchful of pacific, east, central standard times. And make sure, if there is a place for your Skype info, to put it in. Many folks stated that they never receive confirmation emails about times and dates for interviews and expected one, forgetting what times and dates they had selected (probably nerves). This is what I have learned from past forums on this subject.



JD
 
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I got a call back today from PHAP offices, and they said the official email should be sent out by the end of the working day today, or tomorrow.
 
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Update, it looks like the interviews will be done via the Zoom application.

"Interviews will be conducted using Zoom. You will receive a Zoom meeting invitation from the interviewer by the day of the interview and the information will be displayed in eFMS"

If you have yet to use this, perhaps google Zoom and familiarize yourself.

JD
 
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Check those inboxes folks
Check those junk mailboxes
Mine arrived just now (2129 pacific)

JD
 
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Hi all! I received my invitation 9:19pm (PST). Wishing the best of luck to everyone! We've all came such a long way, remember to be yourself, be confident, and show your passion for Public Health! :)
 
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I received my interview email as well @12:19 (EST)
 
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Good luck to you all! I received my email as well
 
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Good luck everyone! I received my email last night 12:19am EST.
 
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Any one else schedule their interview yet? I just did and I'm wondering if there is a confirmation email we will receive?

ALSO Does any one else's USAJOBS portal still read "Not Referred' despite having gotten the interview offer?
 
Hi! I don’t believe you receive an email confirmation when it’s submitted thats why its important to screenshot or write down the time you chose and keep in mind of any time differences :) And if you’re unsure of your time after submitting you can still click “Open” next to Interview Time on the portal.

Mine still says “not referred” as well but someone said not to pay attention to USAJobs and to go by the PHAP emails.

Hope this helped and good luck on your interview!

Any one else schedule their interview yet? I just did and I'm wondering if there is a confirmation email we will receive?

ALSO Does any one else's USAJOBS portal still read "Not Referred' despite having gotten the interview offer?
 
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Hi! So I assume things are all over the place now bc I just got my personal statement notification last night. I can’t find any notes on guidelines in terms of length/format. Does anyone know where I can find this or if it’s posted at all?


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Hi! So I assume things are all over the place now bc I just got my personal statement notification last night. I can’t find any notes on guidelines in terms of length/format. Does anyone know where I can find this or if it’s posted at all?


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That’s strange that you’re just getting that notification but congratulations! Your email should have provided a link to sign up for their eportal account. This opens up a new application. There will be a whole section on the application dedicated to the personal statement. There are designated questions and word limits as well. Good luck!


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Any one else schedule their interview yet? I just did and I'm wondering if there is a confirmation email we will receive?

ALSO Does any one else's USAJOBS portal still read "Not Referred' despite having gotten the interview offer?

Hey, I scheduled my interview. There was no confirmation. However, once your interviewer schedules the zoom meeting, you will receive a confirmation. It shows the time of the interview as well. Also, my job status on USAJOBS still reads “not referred”. I wouldn’t read much into that right now. Especially since you have scheduled your interview. Oh, and good luck
 
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After scheduling your interview slot, make sure you write down the time, remember it is in Eastern time. This is what is posted on the efms:

"You should receive your Zoom meeting invite no later than by 5pm the day before your scheduled interview, and displayed in eFMS."

I say write down the information because you never know what may happen, as we have seen thus far. Also, make sure you visit your efms profile daily in case any changes or reschedules are announced, as there already have been. The site does state your interview date and time if you have already scheduled it. Click the "open" button by the " interview time selection" section.

I would just visit the site mid-morning and once in the evening daily to check on any potential rescheduling notifications. In other words, do not rely on the system to notify you of anything, look to your profile.

JD
 
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Hi all just a heads up! I submitted my interview time for this upcoming week on Wednesday and when I went to check my portal today the “Submit” button was green again and it said “there was 8 hours to submit this” so I just re-submitted.

Not sure if it’s just a glitch. But i recommend checking to ensure it’s submitted.

Thanks!
 
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Hi everyone! First-time poster here. I scheduled my interview for this coming Tuesday. Super nervous but excited too :) good luck to everyone!
 
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Good morning my fellow PHAP hopefuls!

I just wanted to say good luck on your interviews!! My interview is scheduled for today. I am super nervous!
 
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Greetings everyone!
I moved on to the interview stage. My interview is tomorrow 11am eastern time. Super excited!
 
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I just finished up my interview and it was an incredibly positive experience (despite how early we had it scheduled). Best of luck to everyone interviewing in the next few days!! Be confident, breathe, and remember you've made it this far which is no small thing!
 
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I just finished up my interview and it was an incredibly positive experience (despite how early we had it scheduled). Best of luck to everyone interviewing in the next few days!! Be confident, breathe, and remember you've made it this far which is no small thing!

Hi!

I am glad that you had a positive experience during your interview. My interview was a great experience as well. Good luck to everyone who have not had their interview yet! I hope you have the same experience as well.
 
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