If you have served our country in a branch of the armed services, then you are uniquely qualified to work for a federal agency. Opportunities exist in all types of agencies. Whether you want to serve other veterans, contribute to scientific research or form meaningful policy and beyond, the federal government is a great place to use your skills. The government takes your veteran status into consideration if you apply to a federal position, giving you a preference in appointment over other applicants if you qualify for the position. You should use this to your advantage!
To be eligible for veterans’ preference you must have been discharged or released from active duty in the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions. Veterans’ preference eligibility is based on dates of active– duty service, receipt of a campaign badge or a Purple Heart, or a service-connected disability. a Purple Heart, or a service-connected disability.
To receive veterans’ preference when applying for a job, you must show proper documentation of your eligibility. The Member 4 copy of your DD214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty,” is preferable to use why applying. It is important to know that not all active–duty servicemay qualify for veterans’ preference.
Veterans’ Preference
Veterans’ preference gives you preferred status in appointment to a position over other applicants. This applies to all new appointments in the competitive service and many appointments in the excepted service However, it does not apply to internal agency actions such as promotions, transfers, reassignments and reinstatements. It is important to remember that veterans’ preference does not guarantee you a job, but it might give you an advantage in the federal hiring process.
When applying for a position in the competitive service, veterans’ preference is typically applied through a category rating system, where all applicants are placed into larger categories, such as “qualified” and “well-qualified.” Preference–eligible veterans are placed at the top of the category they are placed in, and veterans with service-connected disabilities must be considered by a hiring manager before nonpreference eligibles within their respective category.
Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
Agencies may simplify the traditional hiring process for veterans by taking advantage of certain hiring authorities. The Office of Personnel Management encourages veterans seeking positions to ask for consideration under as many hiring authorities as they qualify for. We have highlighted a few of these veteran-specific authorities below, although FedsHireVets provides additional information.
Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment
The veterans’ recruitment appointment allows agencies to directly hire veterans for a two-year term position up to a GS-11 or equivalent without considering other nonveteran applicants. competing with the public. After completing the first two years, the veteran may be converted to a career or career-conditional appointment. There is no limit to the number of times an eligible veteran can apply under the veterans recruitment appointment if they are eligible for the authority.
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act
The Veterans Employment Opportunity Act is used to fill permanent, competitive service positions. This authority allows veterans to apply to positions that are only open to “status” candidates or those who are currently competitive service employees.
Schedule A
While not specifically for veterans, individuals with severe physical, psychological or intellectual disabilities are eligible to apply for positions under Schedule A. Individuals with service-connected disabilities may qualify.
Accommodations
Applicants with disabilities are required by law to receive reasonable accommodations to ensure they have equal opportunity to compete for a job—unless doing so will result in undue hardship to the agency.
Accommodations include adjusting the interview process, the essential functions of the job, access to the workplace, and the benefits and privileges of employment.
To receive accommodations at work or in the application process, information about your disability must be disclosed and shared with the relevant individuals, such as the agency’s selective placement coordinator. Procedures to request an accommodation may be included on an agency’s job posting, website or onboarding materials. You can request an accommodation verbally or in writing; no specific language is needed.
Workforce Recruitment Program for Students
The Workforce Recruitment Program connects federal employers nationwide to eligible students and recent graduates with disabilities. connects federal employers nationwide to eligible students and recent graduates with disabilities.
Managed by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, this program provides numerous advantages to jobseekers with disabilities. Contact your school’s disability or career services coordinator early in the spring semester to ensure you complete the online application for phone interviews to be conducted in the fall. Your school’s Workforce Recruitment Program coordinator will answer your questions, as the program works directly with college coordinators and cannot respond to inquiries from individual students.