How to Get a Federal Government Job

Many U.S. federal government jobs are available across hundreds of agencies and specialties. Although similar to applying for private sector jobs in many ways, landing a federal government job involves lengthier and more standardized application steps. Putting extra time and effort into the job search can help increase the odds of getting a government job.

The federal civilian workforce comprises over 2 million employees across hundreds of specialties, making the U.S. federal government the largest employer in the nation.

The application process for federal government jobs differs from private sector opportunities and can be intimidating, but patience and strategy can make the federal job search easier. 

What is a Federal Government Job?

The U.S. government has three branches: legislative, judicial and executive. Within these branches, various departments and agencies hire workers for federal jobs that perform key functions to help the government operate and provide services to civilians.

Some of the areas and challenges that federal workers support include:

• National security.
• Healthcare.
• Transportation.
• Economics.
• Energy.
• Education.
• Law enforcement.

Aside from contributing to meaningful government services and operations, working for the federal government has many benefits. These include long-term job stability, healthcare, competitive salaries, pensions and vacation.

Civilian vs. Federal Government Job Search Process: What’s the Difference?

Although civilian and federal government job search processes are similar, many laws, regulations and executive orders that govern federal employment also affect the job search process. Designed to support fairness and equity in the hiring process, these regulations impose greater standards and detailed requirements.

The main differences are:

• The government calls job postings announcements or vacancies.
• Most job postings are available only on USAJOBS.
• Federal agencies use standardized job titles.
• Detailed resumes, sometimes as long as six or more pages, are typical.
• Veterans receive preference.
• Occupational questionnaires may be a part of the process.
• There are U.S. citizenship requirements.

Steps to Getting a Federal Government Job

Here are the steps involved in the job search process for most federal government jobs.

Create an Account on usajobs.gov

Applicants need a complete USAJOBS account and profile to apply for jobs. An account and profile allow applicants to apply for jobs, upload resume files and required documents, save searches and bookmark jobs.

To create a profile and apply for jobs, applicants follow these steps:

1. Create a login.gov account.
2. Create a USAJOBS profile and link it to their login.gov account.
3. Complete the required information, such as contact and citizenship information.

Explore the Different Hiring Paths

When applicants fill out their USAJOBS profile information, the system automatically categorizes them into hiring paths. These paths help the federal government hire diverse and representative individuals and filter job searches according to preferences and eligibility. Applicants can also manually select or unselect their preferred hiring path.

There are many hiring paths, including:

• Open to the public.
• Federal employees—competitive service.
• Federal employees—excepted service.
• Family of overseas employees.
• Native American and Alaskan Natives.
• Students.
• Recent graduates.
• Veterans.
• Military spouses.

Search Available Positions

USAJOBS filters job searches according to applicant profiles and preferences. Applicants can also narrow their job search by location, keywords, pay grades, salaries, agencies and occupational groups.

For instance, an applicant looking for a secretarial or similar role in Seattle can search for clerical roles across various agencies in the area.

To determine the type of job to look for, Jessica Hernandez, executive resume writer and LinkedIn Top Voice, writes, “Create an ‘ideal job’ description for the type of job you want… Identify which of your skills are most marketable to a prospective employer… Clarifying your skills will not only help in your job search, but will also help identify which skills, training/education and experience you emphasize on your resume.”

Apply to Jobs

Since the application process can be lengthy, it is important to review job announcements for eligibility and qualifications. Hiring federal agencies generally disqualify applicants who don’t meet these requirements.

Check for the following requirements:

• Who may apply: Defines which applicant groups or hiring paths are eligible for the position.
• Qualifications: Specifies required experience or education, such as accreditations or years of work history.

Sign Up for Notifications

Based on eligibility and preferences, USAJOBS automatically matches applicants with vacancy postings. Applicants can request daily, weekly or monthly notifications for these positions. They can also save specific keyword searches to their profile to access one-click searches and receive notifications for matching vacancy announcements.

Some vacancies have short posting periods and are only available for applications for several days. Frequent notifications ensure that job seekers don’t miss any opportunities.

Select Jobs of Interest

To prepare and submit an application, job seekers click “Apply” on the selected job announcement page. During the following steps, applicants may edit or provide further personal information, supply required documents, answer eligibility questions and complete occupational questionnaires.

Review Applications

Although it is important to apply promptly, applicants should carefully review their information before the final submission. The federal government disqualifies incomplete applications. It also may flag applications with issues such as spelling mistakes, missing documents, vague language or mismatched work history dates.

Check Application Status

Hiring agencies review applications, sort them into quality categories when the job announcement closes and send the top-ranked applications to hiring officials. Applicants can check that the hiring agency received their application and track the status from their USAJOBS account.

Begin Interviewing

Based on agency policy, hiring officials review and interview the highest-qualified applicants. Although it may take up to several months, the hiring agency contacts applicants to schedule interviews.

Interviews for federal government jobs are highly standardized and typically last between 30 and 60 minutes. Hiring officials use interview formats such as:

• Panel
• In-person
• Video conference
• Telephone

Receive an Offer

Following interviews and reference checks, hiring agencies extend conditional job offers with salaries to approved applicants. Once an applicant accepts an offer, the agency completes any necessary background investigation and security checks and determines a job start date.

How Much Do Federal Employees Get Paid?

Most agencies use the General Schedule (GS) pay system to group jobs and pay based on the level of difficulty, responsibility and qualifications required. As of the 2022 General Schedule, federal employees earn between $20,172 and $146,757 per year, depending on the GS pay grade and step of their job.

Entry-level positions have lower grades, mid-level positions have middle grades, and senior positions have grades beyond 14. Each of the 10 step increases within each grade is worth approximately 3% of that employee’s salary.

Final Thoughts on Getting a Federal Government Job

Understanding the application process helps job seekers find federal government jobs that match their qualifications, but other strategies can help applicants rank higher in job competitions or find better opportunities. Some tips and strategies include:

• Student jobs: Most agencies have student jobs, co-ops and internships available through the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP), allowing students to earn academic credits and pay while accumulating valuable experience.
• Recent graduates: The federal government offers programs for recent postsecondary graduates to help them access career-building training and opportunities.
• Detailed work experience: Applicants should emphasize aspects of their experience in alignment with the job posting. Describing specific titles, duties and timelines can help hiring officials better understand applicants’ qualifications.
• Persistence: The federal government job process can be slow and involve competition against thousands of other applicants. Job seekers should regularly apply to jobs that match their qualifications and follow up with the official job contact by phone or email.

Top Takeaways

• The U.S. federal government is the largest employer in the country, with over two million employees.
• The application process for federal government jobs can be lengthy and highly competitive. It is crucial to thoroughly review job announcements for eligibility and qualifications to improve the odds of landing a job.
• The USAJOBS portal provides access to account and profile services and job search and application functions.

(Reporting by NPD)