| OUR FEDERAL JOBS EXPERTS ANSWER YOUR FED JOBS OPPORTUNITIES QUESTIONS |
ANY QUESTIONS, STILL?
GEE, WE MAY HAVE ALREADY HAVE YOU COVERED!
GEE, WE MAY HAVE ALREADY HAVE YOU COVERED!
Some Typical, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
By Federal JOB SEEKERS
What is the best way ('best,' in terms at least of comfortability, simplicity and
convenience) of starting a job hunting process for a Federal job?
Where can I find information about Federal jobs?
How does USAJOBS work?
What is a vacancy announcement?
What is a closing date?
What does “area of consideration” mean?
How do I apply for a Federal position?
Is there still a civil service "test" or "examination"?
What does it mean when the vacancy announcement's Who May Apply section says "all sources" or
"status applicants" and/or "reinstatement eligibles”?
What are the special appointing authorities some agencies include in their vacancy announcements?
For which positions may I apply?
Do I have to be a US citizen to apply?
How can I find out for which positions I am qualified?
Can OPM review my resume/application to determine for which positions I am qualified?
What are qualification standards?
If I am found to be qualified, will I get an interview?
How long will it take before I hear my results?
How does the Federal pay system work?
What will my salary be?
What does GS, WS, WG, YA, VN etc. mean in a position’s title?
By Federal JOB SEEKERS
What is the best way ('best,' in terms at least of comfortability, simplicity and
convenience) of starting a job hunting process for a Federal job?
Where can I find information about Federal jobs?
How does USAJOBS work?
What is a vacancy announcement?
What is a closing date?
What does “area of consideration” mean?
How do I apply for a Federal position?
Is there still a civil service "test" or "examination"?
What does it mean when the vacancy announcement's Who May Apply section says "all sources" or
"status applicants" and/or "reinstatement eligibles”?
What are the special appointing authorities some agencies include in their vacancy announcements?
For which positions may I apply?
Do I have to be a US citizen to apply?
How can I find out for which positions I am qualified?
Can OPM review my resume/application to determine for which positions I am qualified?
What are qualification standards?
If I am found to be qualified, will I get an interview?
How long will it take before I hear my results?
How does the Federal pay system work?
What will my salary be?
What does GS, WS, WG, YA, VN etc. mean in a position’s title?
Q1: What is the best way ('best,' in terms at least of comfortability, simplicity and
convenience) of starting a job hunting process for a Federal job?
A. Getting minimally educated and informed, FIRST, about the whole process of Federal
job hunting and application-making and what it all involves, should be the BEST way to
go. The remedy for that is real simple. Just get a hold of the title called, The Federal
Jobs Handbook: How to Job Search for, Apply for and Get Federal Job, authored by
Benji O. Anosike, Ph.D. Considered to THE BIBLE in the Federal job-hunting affairs, this
Handbook will put together for you in one single place, and provide you, the whole basic
run down you need to get started. (You can obtain a copy of this Handbook from this
website, www.GetFederalJobNow.Com).
Q2: Where can I find information about Federal jobs?
A. Actually, that's all fully outlined in detail, step-by-step, in The Federal Jobs Handbook.
(See especially Chapters 5 and 12 of the manual). But, basically, one principal place you
can go for such information (among a few others), is the USAJOBS website. This site
(http://www.usajobs.gov/) is the official job site of the United States Federal
Government. It is the centralized site for most Federal agencies to post vacancy
announcements. At any given time, there are approximately 20,000 to 30 federal
positions posted on the site. Further, also as more fully detailed in the Federal Jobs
Handbook, additionally there are many individual Federal agencies which also post their
job vacancies on their own individual websites, as well as advertise in newspapers of
general circulation, participate in job fairs, and recruit on school campuses.
Q3: How does USAJOBS work?
A. Federal agencies are responsible for posting job vacancy announcements on the
USAJOBS Website. Job Vacancy Announcements for agency positions are posted for a
specific period of time and indicate a closing date. Application procedures and application
time periods for each particular Federal agency differ based on agency practices. Hence,
it is important that an interested job applicant promptly reviews the application
information included in the vacancy announcement put out for each position in which you
are interested
Q4: What is a VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT or JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT?
A. Federal Vacancy Announcements are the means by which an agency officially and
formally advertises its job vacancies. Job vacancy announcements basically outline
information about the vacant job or position involved - the title, the salary, duties,
qualification requirements, the closing date for the application, and the application
procedures for applying, etc. There is no universal format for vacancy announcements:
each agency creates and manages announcements independently, so you should
carefully review each section. If posted on the USAJOBS website, the Announcement is
usually removed from the site on the closing date; therefore, you are encouraged to
maintain for future reference a copy of announcements to which you apply.
Q5: What is a closing date?
A. The closing date is the last day you can apply for the job, the last day by which, if your
application is submitted or received, it will be accepted. The Vacancy Announcement for a
job will specify the acceptance period for electronic submissions or, if a hard copy is
required, it will all specify whether or not your application should be either received or
postmarked by the closing date.
Q6: What does “area of consideration” mean?
A. The area of consideration describes the individuals from whom the agency will accept
applications to compete for the position. It may be a broad or a limited group of
individuals. The area of consideration may also be referred to as “Who May Apply” within
the vacancy announcement. If you do not fall within the area of consideration limits and
you are not eligible for a non-competitive or special hiring authority, the agency will not
consider your application.
Q7: How do I apply for a Federal position?
A. Each vacancy announcement on USAJOBS, regardless of format, includes a section
with directions on how to make an application, called "How to Apply.” Since application
procedures vary across agencies, it is important that you, the job applicant, follow closely
the directions provided within each vacancy announcement. You may, for example, be
specifically directed to use an on-line application program. In such instances, you may
need (if so directed) to provide additional documentation such as your college transcripts
or verification of veterans' preference by mail or fax for your application to be considered
complete. Some agencies require that all application materials be mailed or faxed. In
these circumstances, you will be given the option to submit either a resume or an
application. The OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment) form is the Federal
Government job application to use in such a case.
Q8: Is there still a civil service "test" or "examination" for federal jobs?
A. There is no single civil service "test" covering all civil service positions. Under current
procedures in use, to apply for many Federal jobs you do not have to take a traditional
paper and pencil test. The vacancy announcements on the USAJOBS website will indicate
if a specific written test is necessary. Otherwise, you should refer to the vacancy
announcement to obtain information regarding how qualifications and abilities are
evaluated.
Q9: What do the following phrases that one may find in a Vacancy Announcement's
WHO MAY APPLY section, mean - "all sources" or "status applicants" and/or
"reinstatement eligibles”?
A. These refer to groups of individuals the agency may identify as groups from which it
will accept applications to compete for its vacancy.
When a vacancy is open to “all sources,” it means anyone may apply. While there are no
restrictions on the groups of candidates who may apply to these types of
announcements, in most cases, U.S. citizenship is required. In rare cases, agencies may
hire certain non-citizens when there are no qualified U.S. citizens available, unless the
appointment is prohibited by statute. In addition, Congress frequently restricts agencies’
ability to hire non-citizens into the excepted service as well, through appropriations
provisions.
“Status applicants” refers to those individuals who are current or former Federal civilian
employees who hold or held non-temporary appointments in the competitive service, not
the excepted service.
NOTE: Certain veterans eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act
(VEOA) may also apply and be considered under vacancy announcements limited to
status candidates. For information on VEOA eligibility, please visit: http://www.opm.
gov/veterans/html/vetguide.
asp#Veterans_Employment_Opprtunities_Act_of_1998.
Finally, the term "Reinstatement eligibility" refers to the ability for those individuals
who previously held a career or career-conditional appointment to apply for jobs in the
competitive Federal service open to status applicants. There is no time limit on
reinstatement eligibility for those who either have veterans' preference, or acquired
career tenure by completing 3 years of substantially continuous creditable service. For
more information on reinstatement, please visit: www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei2.asp.
Q10: What are the special appointing authorities some agencies include in their
vacancy announcements?
A. Special appointment authorities may be used by agencies to appoint specific groups of
individuals who meet the respective eligibility requirements to positions in the Federal
Government.
The following are a few examples where special appointment authorities may be
used.
1. Federal hiring officials are authorized to use a special appointment authority when
considering certain PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (e.g., those with mental retardation,
severe physical, or psychiatric disability). Use of this authority is at the discretion of each
agency. Individuals may contact agency Special Placement Program Coordinators (SPPC)
to inquire about opportunities under this authority. SPPC contact information can be
found by visiting: http://apps.opm.gov/sppc_directory/.
For more information on Federal employment for people with disabilities, please visit:
http://www.opm.gov/disability/appempl.asp
2. VETERANS RECRUITMENT APPOINTMENT (formerly known as the Veterans
Readjustment Appointment or VRA): the VRA is an excepted appointment, made without
competition, to positions otherwise in the competitive service. Use of the authority is
entirely discretionary, and no one is entitled to a VRA. This special authority allows
agencies to non-competitively appoint a qualified covered veteran to any position for
which he or she is qualified up to a GS-11 or equivalent. Upon completion of two years of
satisfactory service, the covered veteran is converted to the competitive service. For
more information on the VRA, including eligibility requirements, please visit: http://www.
usajobs.opm.gov/EI4.asp.
3. 30% DISABLED VETERANS: Federal agencies have the authority, by law, to give a
non-competitive temporary or term appointment of not less than 60 days to any veteran
who has a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more and who meets the
qualification requirements of the position. Like the VRA, this authority is discretionary
with the agency. To be eligible, the individual must be a disabled veteran who has a
compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more officially documented by the
Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information on
this hiring authority, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetsinfo.asp.
Q11: For which positions may I apply?
A. If you have no prior Federal civilian service and are not eligible for any special
appointing authority, you may only be considered for announcements which are open to
the public or all sources or U.S. citizens. If you meet the criteria for a special appointing
authority, you may apply under that authority as well; however, you may have to submit
separate applications if you wish to be considered under more than one appointment
authority. Each Vacancy Announcement will include qualification criteria for the job
involved, outlining the minimum education or experience requirements that an applicant
for the position must possess to be considered qualified.
(TIP: Closely follow the instructions provided in the “How to Apply” section of each
vacancy announcement). You will be competing against other applicants based on the
information provided in your application and job-specific question responses; therefore,
you must ensure you provide a complete and accurate explanation of your experience
and qualifications.
Q12: Do I have to be a US citizen to apply?
A. Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals may be
appointed to competitive civil service Federal jobs. Sometimes in limited rare cases,
agencies may hire certain non-citizens when there are no qualified U.S. citizens available,
unless the appointment is prohibited by statute. In addition, Congress frequently
restricts agencies’ ability to hire non-citizens into the excepted service as well, through
appropriations provisions. For more information about citizenship requirements, please
visit: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI9.asp.
Q13: How can I find out for which positions I am qualified?
A. Job Vacancy Announcements for a job will include the qualification requirements, such
as education and/or experience, license requirements, etc. A simple way: you should just
review the vacancy announcement and quickly determine whether you meet the
requirements for the position, or not.
Q14. Can the OPM (U.S. Office of Personnel Management) review my resume or
application to determine for which positions I am qualified?
A. The OPM has delegated most of such examining authority that it has for competitive
service positions to agencies. This authority includes making qualification determinations
for agency jobs. The particular hiring agency evaluates your application against OPM-
issued minimum qualification requirements (e.g., related work experience, education,
licensure, if required) to determine your eligibility for the advertised position.
Q15: What are "qualification standards"?
A. Qualification Standards are a description of the minimum requirements necessary to
perform the work of a particular occupation successfully and safely. These minimum
requirements may include specific job-related work experience, education, medical or
physical standards, training, security, and/or licensure. They are not designed to rank
candidates, or to identify the best qualified for a particular position, or to substitute for
an analysis of an applicant's knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies. The
qualification standards for white collar occupations are in the Operating Manual:
Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions. To review the Operating Manual
please visit: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/index.asp. For information about the Job
Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations, please visit: http://www.opm.
gov/qualifications/x-118c/index.htm.
Q16: If I am found to be qualified, will I get an interview?
A. Individual Federal agencies develop their own procedures for interview practices. The
decision to interview may depend on a variety of factors, including your ranking against
other candidates, the number of positions being filled, and the number of people who
applied.
Q17: How long will it take before I hear my results?
A. The time it takes to be contacted to schedule an interview or to be notified of non-
selection for a position may vary. Agencies have a 45-day timeline goal for hiring, and the
OPM has developed a 45-day hiring model to increase efficiency in the hiring process. The
model focuses on a series of recommended steps from the date the vacancy
announcement closes until the time an offer is made to a candidate. The OPM holds
agencies accountable for the degree to which they achieve the 45-day goal, but the goal
is not legally binding upon the agency and confers no particular rights on applicants. It is
recommended you maintain the vacancy point-of-contact information you'll usually find in
the vacancy announcement so you can make follow-up contacts to obtain the status of
your application and the position for which you applied.
Q18: How does the Federal pay system work?
A. For white-collar employees, basic pay is usually set under the General Schedule (GS),
which is adjusted annually. Employees in GS positions in the continental United States
also receive locality pay (there are 32 defined locality pay areas). Employees outside the
continental United States in non-foreign areas (i.e., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands) do not receive locality rates, but rather receive cost-of-living
allowances. Vacancy announcements include pay ranges for the advertised positions.
The current salary tables for the GS and locality pay areas are available at http://www.
opm.gov/oca/06tables/index.asp.
For blue-collar employees, the basic pay is set under the Federal Wage System (FWS).
There are 132 appropriated fund and 125 non-appropriated fund local wage areas. For
current FWS rates, please visit http://www.opm.gov/oca/wage/Wagesch.asp and select
a state and county for the corresponding wage schedule.
White-collar and blue-collar employees in certain occupations and/or geographic areas
may receive special rates. Special rates are higher rates of pay than GS and locality rates.
Some agencies have statutory authority to administer their own pay systems. Employees
in these agencies are compensated through alternative pay systems established by their
employing agency.
Q19: What will my salary be?
A. There are 15 grades in the General Schedule (GS) pay system; each grade has 10
steps. Upon your first appointment to a GS position, you will typically be placed in the
first step of the grade for which you are selected. Occasionally, exceptions can be made
for applicants with hard-to-find or highly desirable skills. These exceptions are at an
agency’s discretion and are not an employee entitlement. (Some agencies have statutory
authority to administer their own pay systems. Employees in these agencies may be
subject to different pay-setting rules.) Current GS salaries may be viewed at http://www.
opm.gov/oca/06tables/index.asp. In certain situations, agencies, at their discretion, may
offer recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives. Information on recruitment,
relocation, and retention incentives is available at http://www.opm.
gov/oca/pay/html/3RS_newQAs.asp.
The Senior Executive Service (SES) includes most managerial, supervisory, and policy
positions classified above GS grade 15 or equivalent positions in the Executive Branch of
the Federal Government. Compensation for SES positions is based on a pay-for-
performance system. For additional information, please visit: http://www.opm.
gov/ses/compensation.asp.
Q20: What does GS, WS, WG, YA, VN, etc., mean in a position’s title?
A. Positions within the Federal Government are classified by occupational series, grade
or pay level, and pay plan. The pay plans identify the pay system under which the
position is covered. Many white-collar employees are paid under the General Schedule
(GS), which is regulated by title 5 and administered by OPM. GS positions, including other
white-collar positions, are paid annual salaries. Current GS salaries may be viewed at
http://www.opm.gov/oca/06tables/index.asp.
Blue-collar employees are paid under the Federal Wage System (FWS). FWS positions
are craft, trade, and laboring positions and include several different pay plans (WS, WG,
WL, etc.). FWS positions are paid on an hourly basis. For current FWS rates, please visit
http://www.opm.gov/oca/wage/Wagesch.asp and select a state and county for the
corresponding wage schedule.
Some agencies have statutory authority to administer their own pay systems. Employees
within these agencies may be paid under separate pay systems (e.g., pay bands) with
separate pay plan codes. For instance, the YA pay plan is used only by the Department
of Defense for positions classified under the National Security Personnel System
(NSPS). The VN pay plan is specific to nursing positions within the Department of
Veteran Affairs. Because of variations in independent personnel systems across the
Federal Government, it is recommended applicants contact the hiring agency directly to
obtain definitive information about pay plans other than the GS.
convenience) of starting a job hunting process for a Federal job?
A. Getting minimally educated and informed, FIRST, about the whole process of Federal
job hunting and application-making and what it all involves, should be the BEST way to
go. The remedy for that is real simple. Just get a hold of the title called, The Federal
Jobs Handbook: How to Job Search for, Apply for and Get Federal Job, authored by
Benji O. Anosike, Ph.D. Considered to THE BIBLE in the Federal job-hunting affairs, this
Handbook will put together for you in one single place, and provide you, the whole basic
run down you need to get started. (You can obtain a copy of this Handbook from this
website, www.GetFederalJobNow.Com).
Q2: Where can I find information about Federal jobs?
A. Actually, that's all fully outlined in detail, step-by-step, in The Federal Jobs Handbook.
(See especially Chapters 5 and 12 of the manual). But, basically, one principal place you
can go for such information (among a few others), is the USAJOBS website. This site
(http://www.usajobs.gov/) is the official job site of the United States Federal
Government. It is the centralized site for most Federal agencies to post vacancy
announcements. At any given time, there are approximately 20,000 to 30 federal
positions posted on the site. Further, also as more fully detailed in the Federal Jobs
Handbook, additionally there are many individual Federal agencies which also post their
job vacancies on their own individual websites, as well as advertise in newspapers of
general circulation, participate in job fairs, and recruit on school campuses.
Q3: How does USAJOBS work?
A. Federal agencies are responsible for posting job vacancy announcements on the
USAJOBS Website. Job Vacancy Announcements for agency positions are posted for a
specific period of time and indicate a closing date. Application procedures and application
time periods for each particular Federal agency differ based on agency practices. Hence,
it is important that an interested job applicant promptly reviews the application
information included in the vacancy announcement put out for each position in which you
are interested
Q4: What is a VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT or JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT?
A. Federal Vacancy Announcements are the means by which an agency officially and
formally advertises its job vacancies. Job vacancy announcements basically outline
information about the vacant job or position involved - the title, the salary, duties,
qualification requirements, the closing date for the application, and the application
procedures for applying, etc. There is no universal format for vacancy announcements:
each agency creates and manages announcements independently, so you should
carefully review each section. If posted on the USAJOBS website, the Announcement is
usually removed from the site on the closing date; therefore, you are encouraged to
maintain for future reference a copy of announcements to which you apply.
Q5: What is a closing date?
A. The closing date is the last day you can apply for the job, the last day by which, if your
application is submitted or received, it will be accepted. The Vacancy Announcement for a
job will specify the acceptance period for electronic submissions or, if a hard copy is
required, it will all specify whether or not your application should be either received or
postmarked by the closing date.
Q6: What does “area of consideration” mean?
A. The area of consideration describes the individuals from whom the agency will accept
applications to compete for the position. It may be a broad or a limited group of
individuals. The area of consideration may also be referred to as “Who May Apply” within
the vacancy announcement. If you do not fall within the area of consideration limits and
you are not eligible for a non-competitive or special hiring authority, the agency will not
consider your application.
Q7: How do I apply for a Federal position?
A. Each vacancy announcement on USAJOBS, regardless of format, includes a section
with directions on how to make an application, called "How to Apply.” Since application
procedures vary across agencies, it is important that you, the job applicant, follow closely
the directions provided within each vacancy announcement. You may, for example, be
specifically directed to use an on-line application program. In such instances, you may
need (if so directed) to provide additional documentation such as your college transcripts
or verification of veterans' preference by mail or fax for your application to be considered
complete. Some agencies require that all application materials be mailed or faxed. In
these circumstances, you will be given the option to submit either a resume or an
application. The OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment) form is the Federal
Government job application to use in such a case.
Q8: Is there still a civil service "test" or "examination" for federal jobs?
A. There is no single civil service "test" covering all civil service positions. Under current
procedures in use, to apply for many Federal jobs you do not have to take a traditional
paper and pencil test. The vacancy announcements on the USAJOBS website will indicate
if a specific written test is necessary. Otherwise, you should refer to the vacancy
announcement to obtain information regarding how qualifications and abilities are
evaluated.
Q9: What do the following phrases that one may find in a Vacancy Announcement's
WHO MAY APPLY section, mean - "all sources" or "status applicants" and/or
"reinstatement eligibles”?
A. These refer to groups of individuals the agency may identify as groups from which it
will accept applications to compete for its vacancy.
When a vacancy is open to “all sources,” it means anyone may apply. While there are no
restrictions on the groups of candidates who may apply to these types of
announcements, in most cases, U.S. citizenship is required. In rare cases, agencies may
hire certain non-citizens when there are no qualified U.S. citizens available, unless the
appointment is prohibited by statute. In addition, Congress frequently restricts agencies’
ability to hire non-citizens into the excepted service as well, through appropriations
provisions.
“Status applicants” refers to those individuals who are current or former Federal civilian
employees who hold or held non-temporary appointments in the competitive service, not
the excepted service.
NOTE: Certain veterans eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act
(VEOA) may also apply and be considered under vacancy announcements limited to
status candidates. For information on VEOA eligibility, please visit: http://www.opm.
gov/veterans/html/vetguide.
asp#Veterans_Employment_Opprtunities_Act_of_1998.
Finally, the term "Reinstatement eligibility" refers to the ability for those individuals
who previously held a career or career-conditional appointment to apply for jobs in the
competitive Federal service open to status applicants. There is no time limit on
reinstatement eligibility for those who either have veterans' preference, or acquired
career tenure by completing 3 years of substantially continuous creditable service. For
more information on reinstatement, please visit: www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei2.asp.
Q10: What are the special appointing authorities some agencies include in their
vacancy announcements?
A. Special appointment authorities may be used by agencies to appoint specific groups of
individuals who meet the respective eligibility requirements to positions in the Federal
Government.
The following are a few examples where special appointment authorities may be
used.
1. Federal hiring officials are authorized to use a special appointment authority when
considering certain PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (e.g., those with mental retardation,
severe physical, or psychiatric disability). Use of this authority is at the discretion of each
agency. Individuals may contact agency Special Placement Program Coordinators (SPPC)
to inquire about opportunities under this authority. SPPC contact information can be
found by visiting: http://apps.opm.gov/sppc_directory/.
For more information on Federal employment for people with disabilities, please visit:
http://www.opm.gov/disability/appempl.asp
2. VETERANS RECRUITMENT APPOINTMENT (formerly known as the Veterans
Readjustment Appointment or VRA): the VRA is an excepted appointment, made without
competition, to positions otherwise in the competitive service. Use of the authority is
entirely discretionary, and no one is entitled to a VRA. This special authority allows
agencies to non-competitively appoint a qualified covered veteran to any position for
which he or she is qualified up to a GS-11 or equivalent. Upon completion of two years of
satisfactory service, the covered veteran is converted to the competitive service. For
more information on the VRA, including eligibility requirements, please visit: http://www.
usajobs.opm.gov/EI4.asp.
3. 30% DISABLED VETERANS: Federal agencies have the authority, by law, to give a
non-competitive temporary or term appointment of not less than 60 days to any veteran
who has a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more and who meets the
qualification requirements of the position. Like the VRA, this authority is discretionary
with the agency. To be eligible, the individual must be a disabled veteran who has a
compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more officially documented by the
Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information on
this hiring authority, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetsinfo.asp.
Q11: For which positions may I apply?
A. If you have no prior Federal civilian service and are not eligible for any special
appointing authority, you may only be considered for announcements which are open to
the public or all sources or U.S. citizens. If you meet the criteria for a special appointing
authority, you may apply under that authority as well; however, you may have to submit
separate applications if you wish to be considered under more than one appointment
authority. Each Vacancy Announcement will include qualification criteria for the job
involved, outlining the minimum education or experience requirements that an applicant
for the position must possess to be considered qualified.
(TIP: Closely follow the instructions provided in the “How to Apply” section of each
vacancy announcement). You will be competing against other applicants based on the
information provided in your application and job-specific question responses; therefore,
you must ensure you provide a complete and accurate explanation of your experience
and qualifications.
Q12: Do I have to be a US citizen to apply?
A. Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals may be
appointed to competitive civil service Federal jobs. Sometimes in limited rare cases,
agencies may hire certain non-citizens when there are no qualified U.S. citizens available,
unless the appointment is prohibited by statute. In addition, Congress frequently
restricts agencies’ ability to hire non-citizens into the excepted service as well, through
appropriations provisions. For more information about citizenship requirements, please
visit: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI9.asp.
Q13: How can I find out for which positions I am qualified?
A. Job Vacancy Announcements for a job will include the qualification requirements, such
as education and/or experience, license requirements, etc. A simple way: you should just
review the vacancy announcement and quickly determine whether you meet the
requirements for the position, or not.
Q14. Can the OPM (U.S. Office of Personnel Management) review my resume or
application to determine for which positions I am qualified?
A. The OPM has delegated most of such examining authority that it has for competitive
service positions to agencies. This authority includes making qualification determinations
for agency jobs. The particular hiring agency evaluates your application against OPM-
issued minimum qualification requirements (e.g., related work experience, education,
licensure, if required) to determine your eligibility for the advertised position.
Q15: What are "qualification standards"?
A. Qualification Standards are a description of the minimum requirements necessary to
perform the work of a particular occupation successfully and safely. These minimum
requirements may include specific job-related work experience, education, medical or
physical standards, training, security, and/or licensure. They are not designed to rank
candidates, or to identify the best qualified for a particular position, or to substitute for
an analysis of an applicant's knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies. The
qualification standards for white collar occupations are in the Operating Manual:
Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions. To review the Operating Manual
please visit: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/index.asp. For information about the Job
Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations, please visit: http://www.opm.
gov/qualifications/x-118c/index.htm.
Q16: If I am found to be qualified, will I get an interview?
A. Individual Federal agencies develop their own procedures for interview practices. The
decision to interview may depend on a variety of factors, including your ranking against
other candidates, the number of positions being filled, and the number of people who
applied.
Q17: How long will it take before I hear my results?
A. The time it takes to be contacted to schedule an interview or to be notified of non-
selection for a position may vary. Agencies have a 45-day timeline goal for hiring, and the
OPM has developed a 45-day hiring model to increase efficiency in the hiring process. The
model focuses on a series of recommended steps from the date the vacancy
announcement closes until the time an offer is made to a candidate. The OPM holds
agencies accountable for the degree to which they achieve the 45-day goal, but the goal
is not legally binding upon the agency and confers no particular rights on applicants. It is
recommended you maintain the vacancy point-of-contact information you'll usually find in
the vacancy announcement so you can make follow-up contacts to obtain the status of
your application and the position for which you applied.
Q18: How does the Federal pay system work?
A. For white-collar employees, basic pay is usually set under the General Schedule (GS),
which is adjusted annually. Employees in GS positions in the continental United States
also receive locality pay (there are 32 defined locality pay areas). Employees outside the
continental United States in non-foreign areas (i.e., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands) do not receive locality rates, but rather receive cost-of-living
allowances. Vacancy announcements include pay ranges for the advertised positions.
The current salary tables for the GS and locality pay areas are available at http://www.
opm.gov/oca/06tables/index.asp.
For blue-collar employees, the basic pay is set under the Federal Wage System (FWS).
There are 132 appropriated fund and 125 non-appropriated fund local wage areas. For
current FWS rates, please visit http://www.opm.gov/oca/wage/Wagesch.asp and select
a state and county for the corresponding wage schedule.
White-collar and blue-collar employees in certain occupations and/or geographic areas
may receive special rates. Special rates are higher rates of pay than GS and locality rates.
Some agencies have statutory authority to administer their own pay systems. Employees
in these agencies are compensated through alternative pay systems established by their
employing agency.
Q19: What will my salary be?
A. There are 15 grades in the General Schedule (GS) pay system; each grade has 10
steps. Upon your first appointment to a GS position, you will typically be placed in the
first step of the grade for which you are selected. Occasionally, exceptions can be made
for applicants with hard-to-find or highly desirable skills. These exceptions are at an
agency’s discretion and are not an employee entitlement. (Some agencies have statutory
authority to administer their own pay systems. Employees in these agencies may be
subject to different pay-setting rules.) Current GS salaries may be viewed at http://www.
opm.gov/oca/06tables/index.asp. In certain situations, agencies, at their discretion, may
offer recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives. Information on recruitment,
relocation, and retention incentives is available at http://www.opm.
gov/oca/pay/html/3RS_newQAs.asp.
The Senior Executive Service (SES) includes most managerial, supervisory, and policy
positions classified above GS grade 15 or equivalent positions in the Executive Branch of
the Federal Government. Compensation for SES positions is based on a pay-for-
performance system. For additional information, please visit: http://www.opm.
gov/ses/compensation.asp.
Q20: What does GS, WS, WG, YA, VN, etc., mean in a position’s title?
A. Positions within the Federal Government are classified by occupational series, grade
or pay level, and pay plan. The pay plans identify the pay system under which the
position is covered. Many white-collar employees are paid under the General Schedule
(GS), which is regulated by title 5 and administered by OPM. GS positions, including other
white-collar positions, are paid annual salaries. Current GS salaries may be viewed at
http://www.opm.gov/oca/06tables/index.asp.
Blue-collar employees are paid under the Federal Wage System (FWS). FWS positions
are craft, trade, and laboring positions and include several different pay plans (WS, WG,
WL, etc.). FWS positions are paid on an hourly basis. For current FWS rates, please visit
http://www.opm.gov/oca/wage/Wagesch.asp and select a state and county for the
corresponding wage schedule.
Some agencies have statutory authority to administer their own pay systems. Employees
within these agencies may be paid under separate pay systems (e.g., pay bands) with
separate pay plan codes. For instance, the YA pay plan is used only by the Department
of Defense for positions classified under the National Security Personnel System
(NSPS). The VN pay plan is specific to nursing positions within the Department of
Veteran Affairs. Because of variations in independent personnel systems across the
Federal Government, it is recommended applicants contact the hiring agency directly to
obtain definitive information about pay plans other than the GS.
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