Applying to Federal Government Jobs
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JOBS
Hundreds of thousands of job seekers pursue federal employment for multiple reasons: making a difference in the lives of Americans; receiving competitive benefits and compensation packages; advancing quickly; job security; or the ability to move around geographically and between agencies. Whatever the reason, the federal government provides great opportunities for job seekers. U.S. citizenship is required for most federal jobs.
PATHWAYS PROGRAMS
One of the best ways to start your career with a federal agency is to apply for one of the following Pathways programs:
Internship Program: Available in agencies across the federal government, the Internship Program offers paid work opportunities for current students in positions related to their field of study.
Recent Graduates Program: The Recent Graduates Program provides one-year full-time jobs in a variety of fields with opportunities for training and mentoring. Candidates are eligible to participate in this program for up to two years after the completion of their degree.
Presidential Management Fellows (PMF): As the federal government's most prestigious leadership development initiative, PMF offers recent graduates of advanced degree programs two-year fellowships with opportunities for management, training, and mentoring. Candidates are eligible to participate in this program for up to two years after the completion of their graduate degree.
More information about Pathways can be found on USAJobs and on specific agency websites.
JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
USAJobs is the starting point for most job searches in the federal government. This website allows you to search for openings by occupation, location, pay grade, government agency, keyword, and other criteria. You can even sign up for an email alert that informs you of new job openings.
APPLICATION ADVICE
Applying for federal jobs is not the same as applying for private sector jobs.
Most federal jobs will require you to complete a questionnaire as part of your application. These questionnaires range widely in length and ask questions related to the core set of qualifications that the agency seeks in a candidate. When possible, the Career Center suggests reviewing these questions and drafting answers in advance to allow adequate time to thoroughly consider your responses.
Your resume and questionnaire will be reviewed and a numerical score will be tabulated based on the information you provide in your application. Points are given for related education, experience, special skills, and awards. The maximum score for most candidates is 100.
Only the top two or three candidates are generally invited to interview. Your application will have an even greater impact on your chances for an interview with a federal agency than it would in the private sector.
The federal government can be slower than private employers to respond to candidates. You can try to check the status of your application on your USAJobs profile or contact the hiring manager three weeks after the closing date for an update.
RESUME ADVICE
The format includes the same content as a resume, as well as information required for Federal applications, such as your social security number, country of citizenship, position details, high school credentials, salary history, and references. Your employment history, education, and related training and skills should be listed in reverse chronological order and your content should emphasize specific results. To create one uniform resume that includes all of the information required by government agencies, use the USAJOBS Resume Builder. Note: you must first log in to or create an account with USAJOBS to access the resume builder.