How to apply for federal jobs: the step-by-step guide

If you’ve ever thought about working for the federal government, you’re not alone. Federal jobs do have attractive benefits, such as good healthcare, life insurance, pensions, PTO, and training. But this isn’t a typical situation where you can apply and immediately get an interview. 

The hiring process for federal jobs is much slower, taking an average of 6 to 18 months from start to finish. How to apply for federal jobs tends to be more complicated as well, with multiple steps and more required documentation than you would need for a private-sector job. 

In this step-by-step guide, we will break down the federal application process and help you learn how to apply for federal government jobs to get you started in your new career in public service.

How to applying for federal jobs vs. the private sector

A federal job posting—also known as a job opportunity announcement (JOA) or simply a vacancy—are almost exclusively posted on one website: USAJOBS.gov. Just a quick glance at any of the vacancies will immediately show the differences between these federal jobs and jobs in the private sector. 

For one thing, federal JOAs tend to be a lot longer and require much more documentation. Another main difference is that when a federal job lists a requirement, it’s just that—a requirement. If you don’t meet that requirement, you shouldn’t apply for that job. 

That said, the process to apply for federal government jobs shouldn’t look completely foreign to you. You’ll search for jobs the same way, using search keywords to narrow down your choices, then highlight your achievements with quantifiable data and the STAR method.

3 categories of federal jobs

Since the US government itself is so vast, it’s helpful to know that federal government jobs are classified into three categories. This will help you find the jobs that you’re qualified to apply for.

• The Competitive Service. This is the largest category of federal jobs, and is where you’re most likely to find one you can apply for. All jobs for this category are exclusively listed on USAJOBS.gov.

• The Excepted Service. This is for jobs outside of the “normal” range of positions, such as the intelligence agencies. These are more likely to be listed on the individual agency websites.

• The Senior Executive Service (SES). This is for senior-level positions. Keep in mind that these positions are GS-15 and higher, so you're less likely to be qualified for any of these SES positions.

The one exception to the Competitive Service category is the United States Postal Service (USPS), which is also a major employer and fills its vacancies outside of the regular federal process. These vacancies are listed on the USPS Careers webpage.

The 6 steps to apply for federal jobs

Learning how to apply for federal jobs can feel daunting, but it can be made easier by breaking the process down into manageable steps. If you’re interested in working for the federal government, use the following guide to help you navigate the process step by step.

Step 1: Go to USAJOBS

USAJOBS.gov is the website where you’ll find most of the federal job vacancies and will need to submit your application. You’ll first need to create an account and fill out the required information. Don’t take shortcuts; if they’re asking for information, you’ll have to supply it in order to be considered. 

In addition to applying for jobs with your account, you can also:

• Save jobs to apply for later

• Set up job searches

• Upload required documents

• Track application status

The advanced search function of USAJOBS allows you to search by keyword, location, pay grade, job series, agency, and more.

Step 2: Learn how to read the JOA

If you find a job opportunity announcement (JOA) that you’re interested in, make sure that you understand the qualifications and skills required for the position. Read the “Who May Apply” portion of the job listing and see if you’re eligible. If you’re not a veteran or have never worked for the government before, you should only apply for positions that are open to US citizens or those indicated as open to “all sources.”

The key here is to get a handle on the difference between the job’s “Responsibilities” (things they can train you to do) and “Qualifications.” Qualifications are non-negotiable; you must meet all of the criteria to be considered for the position. There’s no wiggle room on that.

Step 3: Apply for the JOA

Before you hit “apply,” take note of the opening and closing date listed. It’s also important to know that sometimes HR has a limit on how many applications they’ll accept, even if the closing date is in the future. So, it's important to not wait too long to apply for federal jobs. 

Be as careful and thorough as possible when you apply for a federal vacancy, and make sure that you’ve gathered all of the information and documents you’ll need ahead of time (which will be stated in the “How to Apply” section of the JOA).

Once you’ve applied, it can be hard to gauge how long an application will take to be processed, as it depends on the agency and nature of the job. You may have to complete a questionnaire (which you need to answer truthfully), answer eligibility questions, or provide other additional documents. This is not a quick upload-and-send situation—it might take up to an hour to complete.

Step 4: Sit back and wait

You should be prepared for the fact that you probably won’t hear from the agency about your application right away. You will likely need to wait and be patient while it goes through the various stages of the process. After you hit “submit,” your application status may say “received,” reviewed,” or “referred.”

“Reviewed” means that the agency has looked over your application and placed it into either the “qualified,” “highly qualified,” or “best qualified” categories. If you’re rated “best qualified,” you’ll be moved ahead in the process (remember, it’s competitive!) and your status will be changed to “referred.” 

Be patient—the gears of government turn slowly.

Step 5: Interview

If you make it to this step, congratulations! You’re one step closer to getting the federal job. Keep in mind that interview procedures vary by agency and may be conducted via panels, in person, video, or phone. 

You will probably have one round of federal interviews that are very structured, with every candidate being asked the same questions in the same order that relate almost exclusively to the job.

In addition to your regular interview preparation, take a look at the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section of the JOA and craft your answers to be as relevant as possible to the position and the required job criteria.

Step 6: Receive an offer

If you’re the chosen candidate, you’ll receive an official offer that includes salary and pay grade, which the agency is not required to negotiate. You may also be subjected to a background check for security clearance, which is not a fast process—this could take three to six months to complete. 

Once the necessary background investigation and security checks are completed, your offer is considered “finalized” and you will be cleared to start your new federal job.

Who hires the most federal employees?

The federal government is one of the largest employers in the United States, with around 3 million federal jobs, or 1.9% of all US employee jobs, as of the end of 2024. 

The federal agencies with the most employees (as of 2023) are:

• The Defense Department: 775,100

• The Department of Veterans Affairs: 433,700

• The Department of Homeland Security: 212,000

The states with the most federal employees are:

• California: 147,487 (0.8% of the state’s total workforce)

• Virginia: 144,483 (3.3% of the state’s total workforce)

• Maryland: 142,876 (4.6% of the state’s total workforce)

Frequently asked questions about how to apply for federal jobs

What is the official website of the United States government?

The official website of the US government is USA.gov, and the official site to apply for federal government jobs is USAJOBS.gov.

Do you have to be a US citizen to apply for a federal job?

Yes, you generally need to be a US citizen or US national (such as residents of American Samoa) to apply for a federal job, but there are a few exceptions:

• A non-citizen may be employed by the Excepted Service or Senior Executive Service (SES), if allowed by the annual Appropriations Act, the Immigration Law, and the agency’s internal policies.

• If no qualified US citizen is available for the competitive service, a non-US citizen may be considered with approval.

If those two conditions are not applicable, then the answer is no, a foreigner cannot work for the US federal government.

Can a dual citizen work for the US government?

Yes, a dual citizen can work for the US government. However, dual citizenship might prevent someone from getting certain higher security clearances, depending on the position in question.

What documents will I need to apply for a federal job?

According to USAJOBS, federal job applications will require the following:

• A cover letter

• Academic transcripts

• Form OF-306 “Declaration for Federal Employment”

• Form DD-214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" and Form SF-15 "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" (only if you’re a veteran)

• Your Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) (only for Senior Executive jobs)

• Any other documents, such as writing samples, that you want considered in your application

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Key takeaways

1. Federal jobs offer attractive benefits such as good healthcare, life insurance, pensions, PTO, and training.

2. There are three categories of federal jobs: the Competitive Service, the Excepted Service, and the Senior Executive Service (SES).

3. If you’re new to the workforce or don’t have a college degree, you may still qualify for jobs at the GS-2 level.