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Step 1
Search for Federal jobs at the USAJOBS website (see Resources below). The website is officially sanctioned by the U.S. government for federal employment and lists current and future openings as well as job requirements and application processes. You can search by job description, location, federal department or salary.
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Step 2
Use the USAJOBS website to submit your application to the federal agency you’re interested in or you can place your resume on the site to attract government employers with jobs to fill. Prospective employment opportunities that match your criteria will be emailed to you from a database of thousands of federal jobs.
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Step 3
Mail your resume to the correct federal agency. Some government jobs do not accept online applications or resumes. You will need to download an application from the agency's website and mail it to the address listed.
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Step 4
Applying for a federal job requires answering questions on experience, job difficulty and responsibilities for future employment. The government uses the answers to these questions to give a grade for each employee and for a specific job. Grading inevitably decides duties, rank or title and the pay scale for job seekers. Former federal employees and veterans automatically grade higher for previous government work.
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Step 5
Make sure that all relevant contact information on your resume and application is current. If any information changes, alter your online resume to reflect the changes. You will be contacted for a phone interview and, ultimately, a live interview.
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Step 6
Be patient when waiting to hear about a potential job. Most federal offices will contact you within 30 days of applying for a specific job opening, but if you feel your application may have been overlooked and want to verify the status of your application, contact the department via the email address listed on the original job vacancy listing.
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Step 7
Know that qualified veterans of The Armed Forces are entitled to some preference when applying for a federal job. The Veterans Preference program was enacted to show appreciation for men and women serving in active duty and to help them integrate into the workforce after serving.
