How to Search and Apply for Jobs on USAJOBS

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Are you interested in a job with the United States Federal Government? Do you already have a job with the federal government and are seeking a new position? Or perhaps you are a veteran looking for a job?

You can find federal job opportunities in the United States and around the world by using the federal government’s job search website, USAJOBS.

Federal Government Job Listings

USAJOBS (USAJOBS.gov) is the official source for federal government job listings throughout the United States, as well as abroad.

With thousands of positions listed on the site, it's the place to put in an application and find employment information for federal government jobs.

If you find the sheer volume of job openings overwhelming, use this guide to help tailor your search and apply for jobs successfully.

Creating an Account

By creating an account on USAJOBS, you can save specific jobs or save your job searches, and even receive emails for updates on new jobs that fit your search criteria.

You can choose to receive daily, weekly, or monthly email alerts for new jobs that meet your needs and interests.

USAJOBS account members can post up to five resumes online, apply for federal jobs online, save job searches, and set up search alerts. Recruiters can search through the resumes online to find candidates for vacancies.

There is a 'resume builder' that will help you create a resume. Since you can post several resumes on the site, be sure to tailor your resume to match the specific position you are applying to. Even if you are applying to several federal jobs with similar job titles, the requirements may vary between the postings.

You can also upload other necessary documents, including cover letters, transcripts and more.

Job Search Options

Keyword Search

Search USAJOBS by keyword (you can put in things like job title, department or agency) as well as location,which can be as broad as a country or as narrow as a zip code.

Filter the Search Results

You can also filter your search results using filters on the right side of the search results page:

  • These filter jobs by variables such as salary, pay grade, department, agency, series (which refers to job category), work schedule (full-time, part-time, etc.), appointment type (permanent, temporary, etc.), security clearance, travel percentage, and more.
  • Students can select 'internship' or 'entry-level' under appointment type to isolate options for current students or recent graduates.
  • You can also organize results by relevance, start date, salary, and more.

Federal Hiring Paths

Users can also search for jobs by specific hiring paths. These hiring paths include current federal employees, veterans, individuals with disabilities, current and recent students, military spouses, Native Americans, family of overseas employees, Peace Corps and AmeriCorps Vista volunteers, and more.

Some federal jobs are open to the general public, but others are only open to certain people based on their eligibility.

You can filter your search to include only jobs for which you are eligible.

Explore In-Demand Jobs

Not sure what kind of job you are looking for? The USAJOBS homepage lists the government's most urgent hiring needs, organized by field under the Explore Opportunities link.

You can use this list to get a sense of what kinds of jobs are in demand. For example, the current list of high-demand jobs includes economist, statistician, nurse, information technology manager, human resources manager, contractor, auditor, chemist, civil and mechanical engineer, physical scientist, biological scientist, and computer scientist.

Applying for Jobs

Once you submit a job application, you can check your account on USAJOBS for information on your job application history. This is a great way to keep track of which jobs you've applied for, and where each application is in the review process.

Creating an account is advantageous for many reasons. It allows you to save searches (so you can easily check in on newly-posted jobs), save jobs you’re interested in, create and upload documents, and apply for jobs.

Events for Job Seekers

USAJOBS also lists upcoming events for jobseekers. Some of these are virtual, such as online training sessions for jobseekers on topics like developing a resume for federal jobs and interviewing.

Others are national and international events for people seeking jobs with the federal government. For example, there are hiring workshops and recruiting events for jobs at specific agencies. You can check out upcoming events on the site's homepage.

Veterans' Resources

The federal government has a site dedicated solely to veterans and their family members, called FEDShireVets.

This site has tools and resources for all U.S. veterans, including featured job opportunities for veterans, forms to apply for veterans' preference, benefits, and other program information.

The site also has guidelines regarding eligibility for veterans’ preference, which allow qualified vets to receive preference over non-veteran applicants in the hiring process.

For more information on how federal jobs get filled, the hiring process, federal job applications, civil service exams, and federal hiring trends, use the help center of USAJOBS.gov.