FAQ

1. Find Job Opportunity Announcements (JOAs) on USAJOBS

2. Create a USAJOBS Profile and Account

3. Carefully Review the Job Announcement

4. Prepare and Submit Your Application

5. Application Review by the Agency

6. Interview (if selected)

7. Candidate Selection and Tentative Offer

8. Background Check and Security Clearance

9. Final Job Offer and Start Date

You don't always need to list every single job you've ever had on a resume or job application, though most resumes typically cover the past 10 to 15 years of work history. It's acceptable to prioritize relevant work experience, especially if you have a long work history. You can exclude older or less relevant positions to keep your resume concise and focused on the skills and experience that align with the job you're applying for.

When filling out a job application, avoid submitting a poorly formatted resume, using an

unprofessional email address, and including irrelevant information.

The 30-second resume rule is a quiet concept, but it's crucial for your job search. To summarize, hiring managers decide if you're worth interviewing within the first 30 seconds of reading your resume. While it may seem harsh or hasty, first impressions apply to resumes as well.

To get a copy of your non-government employment/pay history, we recommend you visit your local Social Security Administration office or visit https://www.ssa.gov/.

Gaps won't necessarily keep you from getting a job. However, employers will probably expect you to give some sort of reasoning behind why you were unemployed. So, take the time to think about what you're going to say ahead of time.

The length and reasoning behind employment gaps are crucial factors. Short gaps of a few months are generally acceptable and can be easily explained. However, longer gaps, such as those extending beyond a year, require a more thoughtful approach to address potential employer concerns.

The general rule is to use 3 to 5 bullet points per job, but there's some flexibility. You can go as low as 2 or as high as 7 — so long as each point is relevant and adds value.

Be brief. Keep your bullet points brief by only including information that is absolutely necessary. Choose details that relate to the job you applied to and make you look accomplished and skilled in your field.

To be legally authorized for employment in the United States, individuals generally need to be either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or have a visa or other immigration status that allows them to work. If not a citizen or permanent resident, individuals may need to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (also known as a work permit) by filing Form I-765 with USCIS.

Generally, employers are legally allowed to make location a condition of employment. But HR's real challenge is recognizing when those decisions start to introduce proximity bias that can undercut fairness, engagement and performance.

Generally, yes. Many employers will look at your credit report as part of an employment background check. If you're turned down for a job because of something in your credit report, they must notify you.

At least one to two hours per day would be ideal to avoid burnout, with more on the weekend. To gain traction in your job search, an estimated 10 hours per week should be enough before you find yourself blindly applying to unrealistic roles or positions that you may be severely underqualified for.

Know Your Rights. When you hear things like “a bad credit score can prevent you from getting a job,” it's generally false. This is because employers don't pull actual credit scores. However, depending on the position or field being applied for, keep in mind that some employers do enlist the aid of third-party ethical background investigations. These do not “run” credit checks but rather observe candidate score history to provide insight on qualifying characteristics like financial responsibility. As one will hesitate to hire an accountant if they have a severely low credit score and are deeply in debt with several lenders, this also applies to the Federal or Government sector, where this investigation highlights trustworthiness and lowers risk of recruitment that could lead to financially motivated misdeeds.

In many jurisdictions, especially those with "at-will" employment, your current employer can legally fire you for interviewing with another company. This is because in at-will employment, employers generally have the right to terminate an employee for any reason (or no reason at all) that is not discriminatory or illegal.

As a rule of thumb, you're advised to wait 10 to 14 days before following up. It's common to wait for a few weeks before hearing back from your interviewer. Calling too often can make you appear needy or even desperate. Try to be patient and let the hiring team do their job.