FAQs

It depends. Spouses may be eligible when the veteran has a service-connected disability and has been unable to qualify for any position in the civil service.

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.

No.  While OPM provides Government-wide leadership on Federal programs and policies, OPM does not investigate individual complaints alleging prohibited personnel practices.  Complaints alleging prohibited personnel practices and retaliation should be directed to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC).  OSC receives, investigates, and prosecutes allegations of prohibited personnel practices and can be visited at https://osc.gov/.

Yes.

In the Federal government, layoffs are called reduction in force (RIF) actions.  When an agency must abolish positions, the RIF regulations determine whether an employee keeps his or her present position, or whether the employee has a right to a different position.

Yes. There are 24 Veteran Employment Program Offices (VEPO) responsible for promoting Veterans' recruitment, employment, training and development, and retention within their respective agencies. Veterans are encouraged to contact these individuals for specific information on employment opportunities in those agencies. For a complete listing of VEPOs visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/AgencyDirectory/index.aspx

Each of the military services maintains a discharge review board with authority to change, to correct or to modify discharges or dismissals that are not issued by a sentence of general courts-martial.  You can apply for a review of discharge by writing to the military department concerned, using DoD Form 293 available at  http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/eforms/dd0293.pdf

The agency may identify these as specific individuals from which it will accept applications to compete for its vacancy. When a job opportunity announcement is open to “All Sources,” or “All U.S. Citizens,” it means anyone may apply. While there are no restrictions on the individuals who may apply to these types of announcements, in most cases, U.S. citizenship is required.   “Status Applicants” or “Status Candidates” refers to those individuals who are current or former Federal civilian employees who hold or held non-temporary appointments in the competitive service, not the excepted service.   NOTE: Certain veterans eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) may also apply and be considered under job opportunity announcements limited to status candidates. For information on VEOA eligibility, please visit: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/index.aspx#veoa.   Reinstatement eligibility refers to the ability of those individuals who previously held a career or career-conditional appointment to apply for jobs in the competitive civil service that are open to status applicants. There is no time limit on reinstatement eligibility for those who either have veterans' preference, or acquired career tenure by completing 3 years of substantially continuous creditable service.

It depends on the appointing authority. For instance, the VRA and Schedule A for Persons with Disabilities appointing authorities do not require the veteran to be a preference eligible.

The Feds Hire Vets website. Go to  http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx

Most positions within the Federal government can be found on the USAJOBS website: www.usajobs.gov. Additionally, individual agency websites may list employment opportunities.

Page 2 of the SF-15 provides information on acceptable documentation based on the criteria for claiming 10-point preference.

Follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement to apply.

No. The SF-15, along with supporting documentation, should be submitted with your application to the agency where you are applying for Federal employment.