This directory maps common U.S. job-application claims to the records that can actually support them. External guidance can explain a process or define a general term; it cannot prove an individual applicant’s work history, credential, or result. Start with a record you are authorized to use, then check the current job announcement or issuing organization where relevant.
A source-to-claim map
| Claim you are checking | Best first evidence | What an external source can and cannot establish |
|---|---|---|
| Employer, position, duties, required qualifications or deadline | The employer’s current job announcement or authorized application record | USAJOBS is the primary posting source for federal vacancies. A job board or an AI summary may be stale or incomplete; the announcement controls. |
| Your title, dates, hours, duties or contribution | Employment records, approved work samples, project records or a person authorized to confirm the detail | A résumé guide can suggest clear wording. It cannot verify your personal history or prove that you caused a team result. |
| Degree, major, coursework or graduation date | Your transcript, award record or confirmation from the institution’s registrar | USAJOBS explains when transcripts may be required for a federal application. An institution’s accreditation status does not prove that a particular person earned a degree. |
| Skill or proficiency level | Recent work samples, training records, project notes or an assessment relevant to the role | O*NET describes occupations and skills in general. It is useful vocabulary, not proof of your own proficiency. |
| Credential or certification status | The issuing organization’s current record, including issue, renewal, expiration or suspension information | A course-completion page or AI-generated résumé phrase does not by itself establish an active professional credential. |
| Percentage, dollar amount or other result | The original before-and-after records, units, dates, denominator and a traceable calculation | A formula can reproduce arithmetic from supplied inputs; it cannot prove the inputs are accurate or attribute a result to one person. |
| Reference name, title and contact details | The reference’s confirmation and permission to be listed | A public profile may be outdated and does not establish consent. Confirm the exact details directly before submitting. |
Official starting points
- USAJOBS: what to include in a federal résumé — read the current announcement and its required documents; federal rules may differ from private-sector applications.
- USAJOBS: when transcripts may be required — use the announcement and the requested transcript or other official education record for your specific application.
- CareerOneStop: Resume Writing Guide — general writing and structure guidance; it does not authenticate a candidate’s claims.
- O*NET OnLine — occupational descriptions and skill terminology for context, not a personal skills test.
- CareerOneStop: references — general reference-list guidance; confirm permission and contact details with each person.
How to use this directory: open the source that matches the claim, record its title and date checked, and compare the exact statement—not just a similar topic. If the source is missing, private, conflicting or outside your authority to use, pause and ask the responsible record holder. Do not upload confidential records to an AI service unless you are authorized and have checked that service’s current terms.
Sources checked October 31, 2026. Guidance and job requirements can change; confirm the current source before applying. See our editorial approach, five-minute claim audit and corrections contact.