USAJobs Federal Employment Guide
The federal government is the largest employer of veterans in the country. Learn how to navigate USAJobs, understand the GS pay scale, leverage your veterans' preference, and land a federal career.
1. What Is USAJobs?
USAJobs (usajobs.gov) is the federal government's official employment portal. Nearly every civilian federal job — across all agencies, departments, and locations worldwide — is posted here.
- ✓Over 500 federal agencies post positions on USAJobs
- ✓Jobs are available at every level, from entry-level to senior executive
- ✓Positions include full-time, part-time, temporary, term, and permanent appointments
- ✓You can search by location, agency, salary range, job series, and more
- ✓Create a profile, upload resumes, and set up saved searches with email alerts
Tip: Not all federal jobs appear on USAJobs. Some agencies (like the CIA, FBI, and certain intelligence community positions) have their own application portals. Check agency websites directly if you have a specific target.
2. GS Pay Scale Explained
The General Schedule (GS) is the pay system covering the majority of federal civilian employees. It has 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15), each with 10 step increases. Your grade is determined by your qualifications and experience; steps are earned through time in grade and performance.
How Steps Work
- ●Steps 1–3: 1 year between each step (waiting period)
- ●Steps 4–6: 2 years between each step
- ●Steps 7–10: 3 years between each step
- ●It takes approximately 18 years to go from Step 1 to Step 10 within the same grade
2025 Base Pay Table (Selected Grades)
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $33,906 | $44,081 |
| GS-7 | $42,022 | $54,625 |
| GS-9 | $51,332 | $66,731 |
| GS-11 | $62,107 | $80,737 |
| GS-12 | $74,441 | $96,770 |
| GS-13 | $88,520 | $115,079 |
Locality Pay: These are base rates. Most employees also receive locality pay, which can add 17–45% depending on your duty station. For example, the Washington, D.C. locality adjustment is about 33%, so a GS-12 Step 1 in D.C. earns roughly $99,000. Check the OPM pay tables for your area.
3. Veterans' Preference
Veterans' preference gives eligible veterans an advantage in federal hiring. It does not guarantee a job, but it can move you ahead of non-veteran candidates with similar qualifications.
Types of Preference
5-Point Preference (TP)
For veterans who served on active duty during a war or campaign period, or for more than 180 consecutive days after September 11, 2001, and received an honorable or general discharge. Adds 5 points to your passing examination score.
10-Point Preference (CP / CPS / XP)
For veterans with a service-connected disability (CP: 10–29% rated, CPS: 30%+ rated), Purple Heart recipients (CPS), and certain spouses, widows/widowers, or parents of deceased or disabled veterans (XP). Adds 10 points to your passing exam score and provides additional protections.
Required Documentation
- ✓DD-214 (Member 4 copy): Proof of military service, character of discharge, and campaign medals. Required for all preference claims.
- ✓SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Preference): Required form if claiming 10-point preference. Lists the documentation you must provide.
- ✓VA Disability Letter: Official letter from the VA confirming your service-connected disability rating. Required for CP and CPS preference.
Important: Veterans' preference applies to competitive service positions. It does not apply to Senior Executive Service (SES) positions or to internal merit promotion announcements open only to current federal employees.
4. How to Read a Vacancy Announcement
Federal job announcements are dense and full of jargon. Understanding the key sections saves time and helps you tailor your application.
Overview / Summary
Agency, location, pay scale/grade, open/close dates, appointment type (permanent, term, temporary), and who can apply (public, federal employees, veterans, etc.).
Duties
What you will actually do on the job. Read carefully — this tells you the keywords to mirror in your resume.
Qualifications / Specialized Experience
The minimum requirements for each grade level. "Specialized experience" must be equivalent to the next lower grade and directly related to the position. You must demonstrate this experience in your resume or you will be screened out.
KSAs / Competencies / Questionnaire
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities that will be assessed. Many announcements use a self-assessment questionnaire. Answer honestly but do not undersell yourself — your resume must support your ratings or you risk being downgraded.
How to Apply
Step-by-step instructions for submitting your application. Follow these exactly. Missing a required document or deadline means automatic disqualification — there are no exceptions.
Key Phrase: Look for "Open to the public" or "U.S. Citizens" in the "Who May Apply" section. Some announcements are restricted to current federal employees or specific hiring authorities only.
5. Military Rank to GS Grade Mapping
While there is no official one-to-one conversion, these are commonly accepted mappings based on responsibility level, education, and experience. Your actual qualifying grade depends on the specific position requirements.
| Military Rank | Typical GS Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 / E-6 | GS-5 / GS-7 | NCOs with supervisory experience and/or college credits |
| E-7 / E-8 | GS-7 / GS-9 | Senior NCOs with significant management responsibilities |
| E-9 | GS-9 / GS-11 | Top enlisted with strategic-level experience |
| O-1 / O-2 | GS-7 / GS-9 | Junior officers; bachelor's degree qualifies for GS-7 |
| O-3 / O-4 | GS-11 / GS-12 | Mid-grade officers with 4–12 years of experience |
| O-5+ | GS-13 / GS-14 / GS-15 | Senior officers; may also qualify for SES positions |
Education matters: A bachelor's degree qualifies you for GS-7, a master's for GS-9, and a PhD for GS-11 — regardless of military rank. You can combine education and experience to meet qualification requirements.
6. Resume Tips for Federal Jobs
A federal resume is nothing like a private-sector resume. As of September 2025, USAJobs enforces a 2-page maximum on all resumes. Despite the shorter length, federal resumes still require specific information that would never appear on a civilian resume.
Required Information for Each Position
- ✓Job title (civilian equivalent, not military title alone)
- ✓Start and end dates (month and year)
- ✓Hours per week (typically 40 for military)
- ✓Salary or pay grade (annual military salary or grade/step if prior federal)
- ✓Supervisor name and phone number (and whether they may be contacted)
- ✓Detailed duties and accomplishments — use paragraphs and bullets, not one-liners
Key Differences from Private-Sector Resumes
7. Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
Beyond veterans' preference, several special hiring authorities allow agencies to hire veterans non-competitively — meaning they can skip the traditional application process.
VRA — Veterans' Recruitment Appointment
Allows agencies to appoint eligible veterans without competition to positions up to GS-11 (or equivalent). Eligible: disabled veterans, veterans who served on active duty during a war or campaign, veterans separated within the last 3 years, and Armed Forces Service Medal recipients. Appointments are initially for 2 years, convertible to permanent.
30% or More Disabled Veteran
Veterans with a 30%+ service-connected disability can be appointed non-competitively to any position for which they are qualified, at any grade level. This is one of the most powerful hiring authorities available. The appointment can be temporary initially but converted to permanent at any time.
Schedule A (Disability)
For individuals with a severe physical, psychiatric, or intellectual disability. Requires documentation from a licensed medical professional, vocational rehabilitation counselor, or any federal or state agency that issues disability benefits. Can be used by veterans with qualifying conditions.
Direct Hire Authority
When agencies have critical hiring needs or severe shortages in specific occupations, OPM may grant direct hire authority. Veterans' preference and the "rule of three" do not apply under direct hire, but these positions are often filled quickly and may favor candidates who apply early.
Strategy: If you have a 30%+ disability rating, you can contact a hiring manager directly with your resume. You do not need to go through the USAJobs application process. Network at federal job fairs and reach out to agency Veteran Employment Program Offices (VEPO).
8. Federal Hiring Timeline
Federal hiring is slow. Plan for 60–120 days from application to start date, and sometimes longer. Understanding the process helps set realistic expectations.
Application Submitted
Apply before the announcement closes. Late applications are not accepted.
HR Review & Qualification Screening
HR specialists review applications against minimum qualifications. This is where keyword matching matters most.
Certificate Issued & Interviews
Qualified candidates are ranked and placed on a certificate (referral list) sent to the hiring manager. Interviews may be conducted by phone, video, or in person.
Selection & Tentative Offer
The hiring manager selects a candidate. You receive a tentative job offer, which is conditional on background checks and other requirements.
Background Check & Final Offer
Security clearance investigation (if required), drug testing, and reference checks. Once cleared, you receive a firm offer with your start date, grade, step, and salary.
Entry on Duty
You start your new federal career. Positions requiring TS/SCI clearance can take 6–12 months or longer.
Do not wait. Apply to multiple positions simultaneously. Keep applying even after interviews — nothing is final until you have a firm offer letter in hand.
Ready to start your federal career?
Build a federal-ready resume with our free tool, then head to USAJobs to apply.