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
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.
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.