FEDERAL APPLICATION SUBMITTAL PROCESS

 To prepare to apply for a federal position,  you will need to have your high school and post secondary-transcripts, a copy of your DD214 (standard separation document from the United States military), AND a completed copy of VA form 15 (Application for 10 point Veteran’s Preference from the US Office of Personnel Management).  

 After you have requested and received all of your supporting documents, the next step is to thoroughly read the job advertisement or announcement.  Details of the qualifications and eligibility requirements for open federal  positions will be written in the position advertisement or announcement.

 Most federal agencies post vacancies on USAjobs.com.   Typically, each posting will clearly state a "close date" and this is the date the agency stops taking applications and the job is closed to submittals.  If you are a special needs applicant, you should read the job posting carefully for information on any application restrictions.  However, very few federal jobs restrict the eligibility to apply to a position by disabled veterans.  Read the announcement carefully to see if there is a contact number or person if you have any questions regarding physical restrictions or limitations for a position.

The Vacancy Announcement

In most federal agency job announcements you will find certain requirements which are required by the particular agency.  Many announcements contain certain elements such as basic qualifications required, conditions of employment, area of consideration, eligibility and other requirements and specialized experience.  Be sure to read the position announcement thoroughly for submission details.  

You may be required to submit a KASOC for the position.  Vet2Work has a page dedicated to this part of the submittal Click here for KASOC information.

Who May Apply

Most federal jobs have basic requirements or conditions which would include citizenship, age restrictions (if any), physical abilities requirements, security clearance and level, and meeting other requirements as laid out by the agency for competition.  When looking to apply for a federal position be sure you meet all of the basic eligibility and other requirements before applying.

Submitting Your Résumé

When preparing your resume to send for a federal position be sure to tailor it to the vacancy announcement. 

How to Find Out About Salaries and Wages

Salaries vary for each area of the country and are set by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on the General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay Tables and are laid out in both annual and hourly rates.    Positions are set up by grades (typically Grades 1-15) and steps (typically Steps 1-10).  You can access this information at http://www.opm.gov/oca/10tables/indexGS.asp .   

The Evaluation Process

 After you have completed your application, a review of your application will be done to ensure you meet the minimum job requirements.  To determine your qualifications for the job, a review of your resume and your supporting documentation is made and compared against your responses to the specific questionnaire.  Usually, applicants who meet the basic requirements are further evaluated against the KSA for the position.  Upon this screening, candidates for the position are generally placed into one of three categories: Qualified, highly qualified, and best qualified.   These categories include:

Qualified:  Meets the minimum qualifications for the position.

Highly Qualified: Meets the qualifications described under the qualified category and demonstrates proficient experience based on the responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities for the position.

Best Qualified:  Meets the qualifications described for the qualified category and excels on responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities for the position.

 For further information:
Civilian Personnel Management Service (CPMS) at http://www.cpms.osd.mil/
or
Office of Personnel Management at http://www.opm.gov/