FAQs

The SF-15, along with supporting documentation, should be submitted with your application to the agency where you are applying for Federal employment.

You can request ‘certification’ through your Military Personnel Office. 

The Department of Defense (DOD) Military Spouse Preference Program applies to spouses of active duty military members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the U.S. Coast Guard and full-time National Guard, who desire priority consideration for competitive service positions at DOD activities in the U.S. and its territories and possessions. For more information, contact your local Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Office.

Yes. A service-member who is on terminal leave pending separation from active duty under honorable conditions may accept a civilian position in the Federal government.

No.

Maybe.  Eligibility for veterans’ preference in Federal employment is dependent on military service dates or service-connected disability and having served honorably.  The Feds Hire Vets website (www.fedshirevets.gov) provides guidance on veterans’ preference and special hiring authorities for veterans.

No.  Veterans' preference does not apply when the agency is using merit promotion procedures to fill a position.

The SF-15 is used by Federal agencies to adjudicate an individual’s claims for veterans' preference.  Veterans and certain family members who claim 10-point preference must fill out and submit the SF-15, to include supporting documentation when applying for Federal positions.

For many veterans, Federal Civil Service is a natural transition and therefore, highly competitive.  You are competing against other highly skilled, highly educated, and highly qualified individuals, including veterans. Veterans' preference does not require an agency to use any particular appointment process. Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligible including special appointing authorities.  An agency may consider candidates already in the civil service from an agency-developed merit promotion list or it may reassign a current employee, transfer an employee from another agency, or reinstate a former Federal employee. In addition, agencies are to give priority to displaced employees before using civil service examinations and similar hiring methods.

Yes. 

In 1978, the Civil Service Reform Act amended the employment preference for retired officers by denying it to those retiring at the rank of major (O-4) and above.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, as amended (VEOA) is a competitive service appointing authority that can only be used when filling permanent, competitive service positions. It allows veterans to apply to announcements that are open to "status" candidates, which typically includes "current and former competitive service employees."

No. Your veterans' preference does not apply to internal agency actions such as promotions, transfers, reassignments and reinstatements

To apply for a job, there are four basic steps:  1. If you haven’t already, create a USAJOBS account https://login.usajobs.gov/Account/Create Note:  Visit USAJOBS' Help Center for more information on Getting Started  Please note that you do not need to create an account to search for jobs, but you must do so to save searches and apply for jobs online.  2. Search for jobs You can use the basic, advanced, or map search. You can also use different filters such as location, salary, work schedule or agency to narrow your results. Learn how to search for jobs. 3. Review job announcement Read the Who May Apply section to determine if you’re eligible to apply for the position. Read the Qualifications section to see if you meet the qualifications of the position. Understand the job announcement. Prepare your application in USAJOBS  4. Read the How to Apply section of the job announcement before starting your application. Prepare your application in USAJOBS.  Learn how to create an application.  5. Submit application to agency Once your application is ready, you’ll be sent from USAJOBS to the agency application system.