How to Apply for a Government Job Over the Internet

Is it possible to get a government job by applying over the internet? Absolutely! My husband did it and so can you. If you have ever thought about working for the United States Government, the easiest way to get started is to look on the internet at www.usajobs.gov. Thousands of government jobs are listed on USAJOBS, and it doesn't cost a thing to use the site.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. First, create a resume by following the steps on the USAJOBS website. The resume maker is easy to use and is necessary in order to apply for government jobs online. Once you set up for account (it's free), you can login on the My USAJOBS tab to pick up where you left off in your job search each day.
2. To search for jobs, open the SEARCH JOBS tab at the top of the homepage (0r from the My USAJOBS tab) and bring up the job search menu, which has several ways to search for jobs. The trick on this menu is to only choose one search option, such as desired job location or the type of job you want to do. If you try to select something from every menu on the search page, you won't see everything that is available. I have found it is easiest to simply select a state (California, Florida, etc.) from the location menu. If you qualify for a veteran's preference, you will also need to change the box at the bottom of the page from no to yes before hitting enter.
3. The next page will have lists of job openings for the state you selected. In the example pictured below, Alaska had 2037 job openings on the day we did this job search. Note JOB TITLE is on the left side of the page while JOB LOCATION and the GOVERNMENT AGENCY are on the right side of the page. In this example, the Army is looking to hire Motor Vehicle Operators and Welders at Fort Wainwrght (along with hundreds of other jobs.)
4. Select a job by clicking on the JOB TITLE. If you want to apply for the job, select the HOW TO APPLY tab. Select APPLY ONLINE at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions to apply for the job. Your resume will go directly to the hiring authority, but be aware you may be instructed to send KSA's by mail or fax to the address listed on the APPLY page. KSA's are short answers to a list of questions about your experience and/or education that will come up on the screen after you apply. The questions will be pertinent to the job you are applying for. Not all jobs have KSA's. Sometimes you also will be asked to mail transcripts, or military documents to the hiring authority, such as your DD214, if you are claiming veteran's preference. Therefore, be sure to READ and FOLLOW all the instructions when you APPLY ONLINE. If you do not send the requested documents, your application will not be processed. Use the telephone number on the APPLY page to call the hiring authority if you have questions. They also usually answer emails.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also search by job type if you want a certain type of job and do not care where the job is located.
• You can also search by city to see what is available right where you live.
• Be patient and don't give up. It can several weeks, but the applicant usually gets some sort of a response in the mail. You can also track your application from the My USAJOBS tab on the homepage.