An official website of the United States government
The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
This site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
The federal government has job opportunities available now in agencies throughout the U.S. If you’re interested in a job with the federal government, visit USAJOBS.gov, the official one-stop source for federal jobs and employment information. There, you can:
Review the job announcements for those jobs to see if you qualify.
Prepare your application in USAJOBS.
Submit your application to the federal agency with the opening through USAJOBS.
Though most federal jobs are listed on USAJOBS, some agencies post jobs on their websites or elsewhere. If you’re interested in working for a particular agency, find its website through the A-Z Index of Government Agencies.
Find answers to frequently asked questions about federal employment from the Office of Personnel Management.
Read a blog series from the Bureau of Labor Statistics about federal employment.
There is never an application fee or testing fee to apply for a government or U.S. Postal Service job. Find information about government job scams and how to avoid them.
Former Federal Employees
If you are a former federal employee, you may be eligible for reinstatement, which allows you to apply for federal jobs without competing with the public.
If you've served in the military and want to find a federal government job, FedsHireVets.gov provides information on veterans' preference, special hiring authorities, and other tips for vets and transitioning service members seeking federal civilian jobs. Learn more about your eligibility from the VA.
Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training and related instruction to give you skills to advance in your chosen field.
Apprentice programs vary in length from one to six years. During that time, as an apprentice, you'll work and learn as an employee. When you complete a registered program, you will receive a nationally recognized certificate from the Department of Labor (DOL) as proof of your qualifications.
If you’re a woman looking for an apprenticeship in the field of construction, transportation, or protective services, check out the Women Build, Protect & Move America portal. You’ll find resources for local and nationwide apprenticeships as well as information about the different jobs in each field, professional trade organizations, and your rights on the job.
Government internships provide students with opportunities to expand their knowledge while gaining hands-on experience. Find internship opportunities and information within the federal government for undergraduate, graduate, and law students:
Some federal positions will require a security clearance, a status granted to individuals allowing them access to certain secure information or facilities.
Not all federal positions require a security clearance, but they do require the candidate to undergo a suitability adjudication process to determine if the individual is suitable for federal employment.
Background investigations are conducted to assess the loyalty, character, trustworthiness, and reliability of the person requiring the clearance.
Once a security clearance is granted, it allows a person filling a specific position to have access to classified information up to and including the level of clearance that they hold.
If you have questions about your specific security clearance, contact the security officer of the federal agency that requested your evaluation or check with OPM's Systems Access Support Team (SAST) at 1-724-794-5612, extension 4600. They can help you find the right contact within a federal agency.
Private Companies or Federal Contracting Positions
Sometimes private companies that do business with a local, state, or federal government agency are required to obtain security clearances for their employees to access facilities and information. Your employer or the agency that you work for will help you obtain clearance using that agency's security clearance granting system. If you need help, ask your company or the agency that you work for.
Most federal contracting positions will require a security clearance from each worker to gain access to secure facilities, equipment, and information. Your employer and the agency that you will be working for can help you obtain clearance. Ask your employer to help if you have questions.
Some private companies also use security clearances to protect such things as intellectual property rights and financial information. Most of these companies use a background check, which usually researches a candidate's work, criminal, and credit history. Your company will provide information about its security rules.
There is no longer a mandatory single civil service exam to cover all federal jobs. Most jobs with the federal government do not require written tests or exams. Certain agencies may require testing for certain positions, but this is uncommon. Ask the agency that you're applying to for more information about testing and exams.
If you are applying for a specific job, the vacancy announcement on USAJOBS.gov will indicate if a specific written test is necessary and whom you may contact for more information. This information is always free.
Scammers will try to guarantee that a course or test that they provide will get you a federal job. There is no way that you can be guaranteed a federal job by completing a class, course, workshop, training, certificate, or test. Find out more about spotting these scams.
There are no application or testing fees for federal jobs, nor are there "hidden" federal jobs. Learn more about federal job scams, including bogus testing and application fee scams.
