How to Get a Federal Government Job The U.S. Government is seeking American citizens to join the ranks of Federal public servants. As the Navy recruitment slogan used to say: "It's not just a job...it's an adventure." Indeed, this slogan is befitting the work performed by Federal employees today. As you read this, Federal employees are serving their fellow citizens by protecting the environment, ensuring the soundness of our national defense, working on cutting-edge research to find cures for disease, and keeping our skies safe for us to travel, and keeping our homeland safe, among many other things. Being a civil servant is a demanding, yet rewarding, job. For the Federal Government to be efficient and effective, it needs the best and the brightest employees who want to serve their fellow countrymen and who are willing to share their knowledge, their skills, and their energy for the betterment of our nation. The contributions Federal employees make today, tomorrow, and in the future guarantee that America will remain the world leader and can successfully respond to the foreign and domestic challenges of the 21st century. Want proof that you will make a difference? Just ask the men and women who are scientists, engineers, cartographers, and IT specialists who serve their country every day. They will tell you that their career in public service is stimulating and professionally satisfying. They enjoy competitive salaries and know that in return for a career in public service, a generous package of retirement and health benefits awaits. And that doesn't even touch on the "family-friendly" benefits that are available to Federal employees. One of the most significant advantages of a career working for the Federal Government is that career training and development are part of the professional culture within the Federal workforce and there are real opportunities for advancement. And then there's the satisfaction that comes from knowing that you are making a difference. The career opportunities available to you as a Federal employee are endless. Once on board, the track you take and how far you want to go depends entirely upon you. HOW FEDERAL JOBS ARE FILLED Many Federal agencies fill their jobs like private industry by allowing applicants to contact the agency directly for job information and application processing. Most Federal agencies are responsible for their own hiring actions. Resumes are preferred when applying; however, the Optional Application for Federal Employment, OF 612, is also accepted. Also, most positions do not require a written test. While the process is similar to that in private industry, there are differences due to the laws, executive orders, and regulations that govern Federal employment. COMPETITIVE AND EXCEPTED SERVICE There are two classes of jobs in the Federal Government: those in the competitive civil service, and those in the excepted service. Competitive service jobs are subject to the civil service laws passed by Congress to ensure that applicants and employees receive fair and equal treatment in the hiring process. A basic principle of Federal employment is that all candidates must meet the qualification requirements before they hired into the position. Excepted service agencies set their own qualification requirements and are not subject to the same Congressional laws; however, they are subject to Veterans' preference. Some Federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have only excepted service positions. Other agencies may have both types of positions. ANNOUNCING POSITIONS Agencies are required to post their competitive service positions on OPM's USAJOBS system whenever they are seeking applicants from the general public and outside of their own agency. Although agencies are not required to post their excepted service positions on USAJOBS, many do so they can get additional applicants. Remember, an agency is under no obligation to make a selection. In some instances, an agency may cancel the posting and choose to re-announce the vacancy at a later time. USAJOBS is the Federal Government's official Employment Information System. On USAJOBS, you can explore over 15,000 jobs on any given day; build and store up to five resumes for applying to Federal jobs; and access a wide-range of information about Federal agencies and different Federal employment issues. USAJOBS is also accessible by telephone at (703) 724-1850 or TDD (978) 461-8404. The USAJOBS phone system affords job seekers the same access to job and employment information as the website. APPLYING FOR POSITIONS Most Federal agencies do their own recruiting and hiring. Agencies post their announcements on USAJOBS with all of the instructions and procedures for applying to that particular position. Because agencies do their own hiring and have different requirements, procedures and information required are often varied between agencies. All agencies require the basic resume information but it varies on how much additional information is needed in order for the agency to process your application. Examples include transcripts, forms, narrative descriptions of competencies, questionnaires, etc. It's recommended that you follow the instructions very carefully. Information not submitted can result in your application not being evaluated. Many announcements allow applicants to apply online directly to the agency. Using the online method, you decide which resume to submit for that particular job. Contact information at the agency is also given in the announcement. If you have questions, call or email the contact person. For additional information or if you have questions about Federal employment issues, please visit the USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.opm.gov.

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