Each vacancy announcement, regardless of format, includes a section with application directions. Since application procedures may vary, it is important you follow the directions provided within each vacancy announcement.

You may need to provide additional documentation such as college transcripts or verification of veterans' preference by mail or fax for your application to be considered complete.

If interested in applying for a government job, or need assistance with a current application, contact Ruby Webster at (651) 290-3030 ext. 241

Students
In order for a personnel action to be processed, the following information must be provided to the Servicing Personal Office prior to appointment:

• Application
• Transcripts (originals are not necessary)
• Verification from school regarding academic standing and academic course load

The personnel action will have a not-to-exceed date coinciding with the information on student verification. Therefore, an appointment will not be extended until further information is received that the student remains in good standing and is registered for at least .25 time credit.

A student graduates is no longer eligible to continue in a STEP appointment unless continuing onto another degree seeking program and documentation is submitted.

SCEP Additional Requirements

• Student Career Experience Program
• Working Agreement
• Major course of study Anticipated graduation date

Veterans
There are three ways veterans can be appointed to jobs in the competitive civil service: by competitive appointment, through an OPM list of eligibles, by noncompetitive appointment under special authorities that provide for conversion to the competitive service, or by Merit Promotion selection under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA).

1. A competitive appointment is one in which the veteran competes with others on an OPM list of eligibles. This is the normal entry route into the civil service for all citizens. Veterans' preference applies in this situation, and those veterans who qualify as preference eligibles -- i.e., who are entitled to veterans’ preferences. Before a job is filled by competitive appointment, the examining office must report it to OPM for announcing to the public; OPM also notifies State employment service offices. The examining office then determines the candidates' qualifications and rates and ranks them according to job-related criteria. This list of eligibles, or certificate, is then given to the selecting official.
   
   
2. A noncompetitive appointment under special authority is one such as the Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) authority and the special authority for 30 percent or more disabled veterans. Eligibility under these special authorities gives veterans a very significant advantage over others seeking to enter the Federal service in that they do not compete with them. An agency that wants to hire under one of these authorities can simply appoint the eligible veteran to any position for which the veteran is qualified. There is no red tape or special appointment procedures. However, use of these special authorities is discretionary with the agency. Veterans' preference applies when making appointments under these special authorities if there are two or more candidates and one or more is a preference eligible. These authorities provide for noncompetitive conversion to the competitive service after a suitable period of satisfactory service.
   
   
3. A Merit Promotion selection under the VEOA is one in which the veteran competes with current federal employees under an agency's merit promotion procedures. The VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply under an agency merit promotion announcement open to candidates outside the agency. However, agencies do not apply veterans' preference when considering individuals under merit promotion procedures or under the VEOA. Use of this special authority, as with other authorities, is discretionary with the agency. A VEOA eligible who competes under merit promotion procedures and is selected will be given a career or career conditional appointment.

In order to maximize their opportunities, veterans who are eligible for both preference and noncompetitive appointment should, where possible, make sure they are being considered both competitively through an OPM examination or equivalent and noncompetitively under special authority such as the VRA.

Resources

Official Jobsite of the United States Federal Government
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Official Student Jobsite of the United States Federal Government
Veterans Employment Information
Federal Employment of People with Disabilities