How to Apply for a Federal Position
You may apply for Federal positions
by using OF-612,
Optional Application for Federal Employment;
SF-171, Application for Federal Employment
(no longer available but still accepted);
or a résumé. If you submit a résumé, it must include
the employment and personal history information outlined
in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) flyer titled "Applying
for a Federal Job" (OF-510).
What vacancies to look for:
Review the list of openings, decide which jobs you are interested in, and follow
the instructions given. Applicants who have never worked in the Federal Government
should look for vacancy announcements that are open for "Non-status" or
to "All Sources". For the most part, OPM no longer maintains registers
of eligible individuals for positions.
What to include:
We need certain information to evaluate your qualifications and determine if
you meet legal requirements for Federal employment. If your résumé or application
does not provide all the information requested in the job vacancy announcement
and in this flyer, you may lose consideration for a job. Help speed the selection
process by keeping your résumé or application brief and to the point and
by sending only the requested material. Type or print clearly in dark ink.
Include:
The
announcement number, and title and grade(s) of the job for
which you are applying. You must apply for a specific
announcement.
Personal Information
- Full
name, mailing address (with zip
code) and day and evening phone numbers with area code.
- Social security number
- Country
of citizenship (most Federal jobs
require United States citizenship).
- Veteran's
preference and supporting documentation
(if applicable)
- Reinstatement
eligibility documentation if applicable
(attach SF 50 proof of your career
or career-conditional status).
- Highest
Federal civilian grade held (give
job series and dates held).
- Name,
city and state of high school and
date of diploma or GED.
- Name,
city and state of colleges and
universities attended and list types and year of any
degree received. (If no degree, show total credits earned
and indicate whether semester or quarter hours.) Send
a copy of your college transcript(s) only if the job
vacancy announcement requests it.
Work Experience
Give the following information for your paid and nonpaid
work experience (do not send job descriptions): Job title
(include series and grade if Federal job), Duties and accomplishments,
Employer's name and address, Supervisor's name and phone
number, Starting and ending dates (month and year), Hours
per week, and Salary
- Indicate
if we may contact your current
supervisor.
- Job-related
training courses (title and year)
- Job-related
skills, for example, other languages,
computer software/hardware, tools,
typing speed.
Other Qualifications
- Job-related
certificates and licenses (current
only)
- Job-related
honors, awards, and special accomplishments,
for example, publications, memberships
in professional or honor societies, leadership activities,
public speaking, and performance awards. (Give dates
but do not send documents unless requested.)
- Address
the knowledge, skills, and abilities
listed in the vacancy announcement. Submit a separate narrative addressing each knowledge, skill and ability statement (one per page) as part of your application package.
Applicants can submit GPO Form 2566, "Report of Merit Promotion Action," if they wish to obtain a report on the status of their application.
Additional information:
If applying for a clerical position GS-4 or below, you must have taken and
passed the Civil Service Exam for Support Positions, provide documentation,
and must be able to type at least 40 wpm. Contact your local Office of Personnel
Management for information on testing procedures.
If you served on active duty in the United States Military
and were separated under honorable conditions, you may be
eligible for veterans' preference. To receive preference
if your service began after October 15, 1976, you must have
a Campaign Badge, Expeditionary Medal, or a service-connected
disability. For further details, call OPM at (912) 757-3000.
Select "Federal Employment Topics" and then "Veterans",
or dial OPM's electronic bulletin board at (912) 757-3100.
Veterans' preference is not a factor for Senior Executive
Service (SES) jobs or when competition is limited to status
candidates (current or former Federal career or career-conditional
employees).
To claim 5-point veterans' preference , attach
a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge
from Active Duty, or other proof of eligibility.
To claim 10-point veterans' preference , attach
an SF-15,
Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, plus the proof
required by that form.
Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a "Declaration
for Federal Employment" to determine your suitability
for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.
The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy
of all the information in your application.
If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December
31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service
System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal
job.
If you make a false statement in any part of your application,
you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work;
or you may be fined or jailed.
For more information, check out OPM's set of Frequently Asked Questions
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