FAQs
- What types of civil service jobs are available at the Department of State?
- Where can I go to find current Civil Service Job Openings?
- Will I have to undergo a background check?
- What Bureaus and Offices have opportunities for civil employees?
- Will I have to take a test to be eligible for Federal civil service employment?
- What is the Federal payment scale (GS)?
- Will the Federal government repay my college loans?
- What benefits are offered for civil service employees?
- Are there overseas employment opportunities for civil service employees?
- Are veterans given hiring preference?
- Are non-citizens eligible for Federal employment?
- What does it mean when a position is posted as "temporary" or "term"?
- How can I obtain proof of my prior Federal employment?
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What types of civil service jobs are available at the Department of State?
There are hundreds of career possibilities within the U.S. Department of State. No matter which one you choose, you'll be able to make a difference in the world while contributing to the mission of supporting the foreign policy of the United States of America. To help you decide, we have divided our many Civil Service positions into six broad areas: Operations; IT, Engineering, and Security; Professional and Analytical Careers; Office Support Professionals; Finance and Accounting; and Executives. Please click here for more information.
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Where can I go to find current Civil Service Job Openings?
For all open Civil Service positions, please visit USAJobs and click on the "Civil Service Opportunities" link.
You can also access the USAJobs vacancies by clicking on the "Visit USAJobs to view all current job vacancies" link on the right nav.
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Will I have to undergo a background check?
Almost all Civil Service positions in the U.S. Department of State require at least a secret security clearance. The clearance process considers such factors as registration for the Selective Service; failure to repay a U.S. government-guaranteed student loan; past problems with credit or bankruptcy; failure to meet tax obligations; unsatisfactory employment records; violations of the law, drug or alcohol abuse; or less-than-honorable discharge from the armed forces.
Investigations, which usually take two to four months, include current and previous neighbors, supervisors and coworkers. Depending on the nature of the job, you may begin work on a provisional basis, pending completion of the clearance process.
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What Bureaus and Offices have opportunities for civil employees?
There are 55 Bureaus and Offices that make up the domestic organizational components of the Department of State. For a complete list, click here.
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Will I have to take a test to be eligible for Federal civil service employment?
No. A written test is not required for civil service employment with the Department of State.
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What is the Federal payment scale (GS)?
GS stands for General Schedule. This is the pay system under which most Federal employees fall. There are also Wage Grade (WG) and Senior Executive Service (SES) pay schedules. For the current pay schedule, click here.
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Will the Federal government repay my college loans?
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has implemented a program for the repayment of student loans. By law, the maximum any federal agency can award is $10,000 a year, or $60,000 over a lifetime. In each of the first three years of our program, the Department approved payments of $4,700. In return, an employee must agree to remain with the paying agency for at least three years.
Articles in The Washington Post and Government Executive have reported on Federal agencies' use of incentives to repay student loans. The U.S. Department of State, with 407 employees receiving up to $4,700 each for a total of $2 million in FY-02 funds, was the number one agency in both reports. The FY-03 incentive amount is also $4,700.
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What benefits are offered for civil service employees?
There is an extensive list of benefits available for civil service employees including child care, health and life insurance and a matched retirement plan. For the complete list click here.
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Are there overseas employment opportunities for civil service employees?
There may be opportunities available for new hires overseas. These positions are usually filled by transferring career Federal employees from the United States. Only when Federal employees are not available for transfer overseas, and qualified United States citizens cannot be recruited locally, are these vacancies filled through the open examination process.
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Are veterans given hiring preference?
Veterans meeting the criteria for preference and who are found eligible (achieve a score of 70 or higher either by a written examination or an evaluation of their experience and education) have 5 or 10 points added to their numerical ratings depending on the nature of their preference.
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Are non-citizens eligible for Federal employment?
Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals may compete for competitive jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only when there are no qualified citizens available. A non-citizen may only be given an excepted appointment and may not be promoted or reassigned to another position in the competitive service, except in situations where a qualified citizen is not available. The non-citizen may be hired only if permitted by the appropriations act and immigration law.
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What does it mean when a position is posted as "temporary" or "term"?
Temporary and term appointments are used to fill positions when a continuing need for the job to be filled (e.g., special projects). Neither type of appointment is permanent, so they do not give the employee civil service status. An employee on a temporary appointment may earn leave, but is generally not eligible for other benefits. Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases, retirement and Thrift Savings Plan coverage.
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How can I obtain proof of my prior Federal employment?
You can obtain proof of your prior Federal employment by writing the Federal Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration, 111 Winnebago Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63118. Inquiries should include your full name under which you were formerly employed, social security number, date of birth and, to the extent known, names and addresses of former Federal agencies and dates of employment.
For a complete listing of the Civil Service Glossary of Terms, click here.
