Federal Employees

If you are a current or former federal employee, there are different hiring options available to you, depending on your eligibility.

Eligibility

Being a federal employee doesn't mean you're eligible for every federal job, so it's important to understand:

  • Which service you belong to.
  • The appointment type you are serving on.

Understanding this will help you know which jobs you’re eligible for and prevent you from spending time on jobs for which you’re not eligible.

Being eligible for a job is different from being qualified for a job. Understand the difference.

Services

Services are how the Federal Government describes categories of jobs that provide different options and benefits to the future employee. There are three services in the Federal Government.

Competitive Service
Positions with agencies that follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Eligible to apply for merit promotion jobs?

Yes

Expected Service
Positions with agencies that have their own hiring rules, pay scales, and evaluation criteria.
Eligible to apply for merit promotion jobs?

No,unless your agency has an Interchange Agreement. But you can apply to jobs that are open to the public and federal employees -- excepted service.

Senior Executive Service
Positions with agencies that follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Eligible to apply for merit promotion jobs?

No but you can apply to jobs that are open to the public or other jobs in the Senior Executive Service.

Not sure what service you fall under?