Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When exactly do jobs close?
A: All positions close at midnight Eastern Time (the current time effective in Alexandria, VA) on the closing date of the announcement. After midnight, jobs that have closed will not be available for review or application. Please pay special attention to the closing time depending on whether or not daylight savings time is in effect in Virginia on the closing date of the announcement.
Q: I am not a citizen of the United States. Can I apply?
A: Unfortunately, we are not permitted to hire non-U.S. citizens, except in very rare circumstances. If you are a non-citizen, you are not eligible to apply for positions in FNS, and FNS JobNet will not refer your application.
For more information about citizenship requirements in United States Federal positions, you may access the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services website. U.S. citizens living in other countries, naturalized U.S. citizens and any individuals who can prove dual U.S. citizenship may apply for and be considered for FNS and USDA positions.
Q: What if I need help applying?
A: For assistance applying for FNS JobNet vacancies, please contact the Personnel Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement that interests you. He/she will help you submit your application online. If applying online poses a hardship to you, you must call the Personnel Specialist by the closing date of the announcement for assistance.
Q: Is the selecting official obligated to interview all best-qualified applicants?
A: No. A hiring manager is free to decide who should or should not be interviewed. However, if a manager chooses not to interview, the reason must be justifiable upon review.
Q:
What's the difference between Merit Promotion and DEU Announcements?
A: The Personnel Office may advertise vacancies using one or both of the recruitment methods outlined below.
Merit Promotion
- Open only to current Federal employees with career or
career-conditional status; former Federal employees who are eligible
for reinstatement; and persons eligible for Federal employment through
special appointing authorities.
- Time-in-grade requirements apply.
- Applicants receive a numerical rating based on their responses to
the job related task statements.
- Veterans' preference does not apply.
- No probationary period is required if one has already been
completed.
- Any candidate referred on the best qualified list may be selected.
Delegated Examining
- Open to all U.S. citizens.
- Time-in-grade requirements do not apply.
- Applicants receive a numerical rating based on their responses to
the job related task statements.
- Veterans claiming preference receive 5 or 10 additional points
depending on their preference type (determined by active duty service
and/or a service-connected disability).
- For scientific and professional positions grade GS-9 or higher,
names of all eligible candidates are listed in order of ratings,
augmented by veterans' preference, if any.
- For all other positions, the names of 10-point preference
eligibles who have a compensable, service-connected disability of
10% or more are placed ahead of the names of all other eligibles
regardless of their rating. The names of all other candidates are
listed in order of their numerical ratings augmented by veterans'
preference, if any.
- Generally requires completion of a 1-year probationary period.
- Selection must be made from among the top 3 available candidates on
the certificate of eligibles and management cannot pass over a
veterans' preference eligible to reach a non-veteran. (Current
and former Federal employees with status who apply under delegated
examining are subject to this same rule.)
Q: I'm uncomfortable using my Social Security Number. Is there any way I can fill out an application without it?
A: Your Social Security Number is one of the few reliable means government agencies have of distinguishing one applicant from another. Many applicants have the same name, may have changed their mailing address, and may even have the same birth date. Your Social Security Number is the identifier suggested for use by the Office of Personnel Management for Federal job applications, and is the only way we can definitively differentiate between applicants.
Q: Can you automatically notify me of vacancies as soon as they open?
A: There are two separate ways to receive automatic notification of the vacancies announced through FNS
JobNet:
FNS JobNet Notification Login to FNS JobNet and select "Edit Personal Information." At the bottom of the screen are "Notification Preferences."
FNS Email Vacancy Notifier Visit the FNS EMAIL NOTIFIER, enter your email address, and select the types of jobs you are interested in.
- This system only sends (at most) one email per day.
- You can limit the jobs you see by grade, series, and geographic location.
Q: What cities and states do you hire in?
A: We have employees in most states and territories. However, the majority of positions are located in: Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, the New Orleans, Louisiana area, and Lakewood, Colorado.
Q: What information should I put in my résumé?
A: When preparing your resume, be sure you provide all of the information requested
on our How to Apply page.
Q: I would like to send you my application via email. Please put it into the job I'm interested in.
A: We cannot accept résumés via email for vacancie
announcements listed in FNS JobNet. In order to apply for jobs you must use FNS JobNet's "Search for Vacancies" option to find what you are interested in, and apply online. You can also search for vacancies using the USA Jobs site where you can Search by agency, location, series or other search criteria.
Q: Is there any way I can see which positions I have applied for? Can I find out the status of these vacancies?
A: If you elect to receive an email confirmation of your application when you apply for jobs in FNS JobNet, you will have a record of each vacancy entered. Keep this as a record of your application and save it. You should also print out a copy of the vacancy announcement itself, or at a minimum note the name, telephone number, and email address of the Personnel Specialist listed as the contact person. If you have any questions about your application or the status of the vacancy, please direct your question to the Specialist in charge of your vacancy. Make sure you tell the Specialist the job
vacancy number AND the job title.
Q: Do I have to submit an OF 306 Declaration of Federal Employment?
A: Yes, all applicants must submit a signed and completed OF 306, Declaration of Federal Employment.
Q: Who must submit a SF-50?
A: If you are or have been a Federal employee, please submit a copy of your last Notification of Personnel Action, Form SF-50 (other than an award). If you do not or have never worked in the federal government, you do not need to submit an SF-50.
Q: Who must submit a DD-214?
A: Any veteran wanting to claim veterans’ preference must submit their DD-214. If you are not in, or have never been in the military, you do not need to submit a DD-214.
Q: What supporting documents must prior or current Federal employees submit?
A: A copy of your last Notification of Personnel Action, Form SF-50 (other than an award) and your most recent or last performance appraisal.
Q: What supporting documents must veterans submit?
A: If claiming 5 point veterans' preference, a DD-214 must be submitted. If claiming 10 point veterans' preference, you must submit a DD-214 and either:
- A SF-15 with a VA letter dated within the last 12 months certifying your disability. OR
- An official document issued by the armed forces documenting the award of a Purple Heart.
Q: Do I need to submit my transcripts?
A: If you are using education to qualify you for this position or if certain coursework is required by the vacancy, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. You can submit an unofficial copy of your transcript, however, if selected, you may be required to submit an official transcript at time of appointment.
Q: What supporting documents must CTAP/ICTAP eligibles submit?
A: Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605 (a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.
Q: What supporting documents must individuals with Special Hiring Authority eligibility submit?
A: Individuals applying for an appointment under a special hiring authority such as Thirty Percent or More Disabled Veteran Appointment, Veterans' Readjustment Appointment (VRA), Severely Physically Handicapped Schedule A Appointment, Former Peace Corps Appointment, or others, must submit required proof of eligibility.
Q: What will NOT be accepted as supporting documents?
A: 5 USC 3303, Hatch Act Amendments of 1993, bars Executive Branch Agencies from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations for Federal jobs. Any such recommendations received will be returned to the sender. Federal employees who request such a recommendation may be subject to disciplinary action.
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