Creating a USAJOBS Profile

All applicants applying for competitive service positions must do so through USAJOBS; you must have an account and a profile. Your profile must be accurate. This profile is what federal Human Resources (HR) professionals use to determine your eligibility. If your profile is incorrect, you may not receive the consideration for which you are eligible.

Note that only the fields marked with an * are required. There is no need to fill out the non-required information (willingness to travel; the type of work willing to accept; desired locations; etc.)

Other important things to keep in mind:

 

Military Veterans

• If you are a military veteran, claim all your potential veterans’ preference eligibilities and upload readable copies of your DD-214 and SF-15 as appropriate to document eligibility. The relevant profile section to document veterans’ preference and eligibility is below:

 

1. Are you a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or are you eligible for “derived” preference?
   • Yes                     No
2. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
   • No, I do not claim Veterans’ Preference
   • 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)
   • 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)
   • 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)
   • 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)
   • 10-point preference based on wife, widow, or widower preference (XP)
3. Are you a veteran who was separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after completing an initial continuous tour of duty of 3 years (may have been released just short of 3 years)?
   • Yes                     No
4. If you are a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, please indicate the start and end dates of your military service. For military members with a separation date in the near future, please estimate your end date or leave both dates blank.
   • Start Date:                                    End Date:

 

• If you are not sure which veterans’ preference eligibilities may apply, look at the link: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx for information.

 

Non-veterans should also pay close attention to the profile to document any eligibilities you may have. Some additional parts of the profile may be found below:

Current/Former Federal Employees

• If your client is a current or former federal employee, they should be sure to indicate that in their profile:

1. Please select the statement below which best reflects your Federal employment status (if applicable).
   • I am not and have never been a Federal employee.
   • I am currently a Federal employee.
   • I am a former Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility.
   • I am a former Federal employee but do not have reinstatement eligibility.
     • By which Federal agency and organization are you currently employed?
     • Department:
     • Agency:

2. Indicate the pay plan, series, grade level/pay band of the highest permanent graded position you ever held as a Federal Civilian Employee.
   • Pay Plan:
   • Occupational Series:
   • Highest Pay Grade:
3. Are you a retiree receiving a Federal annuity?
   • Yes                     No
4. Have you accepted a buyout from a Federal agency within the past 5 years?
   • Yes No

 

If you have prior federal competitive service, you may be eligible for a reinstatement. Indicate if so. You will need to include their pay plan and occupational series, along with their highest grade. This information will be located on the Standard Form (SF) 50. Your final SF 50 should be uploaded to USAJOBS.

 

Persons with Disabilities

• If you have a disability, you may be eligible for appointment under Schedule A. If you are willing to disclose this, you should be sure to mark the appropriate box under the Special Hiring Options section. Other special hiring paths can be identified in this section as well:

 

Special Hiring Options

Select from among the special hiring authorities listed below for which you are eligible.

(Please note that agencies will require documentation of eligibility prior to your appointment.)

Identification of eligibility for any special hiring authority is entirely voluntary, and you will not be subject to any adverse treatment if you decline to provide it. If you do not wish to volunteer this information at this time, you may still choose to apply for jobs, as they are announced, under any of these special hiring authorities for which you are eligible. If you volunteer to provide information here about the special hiring authorities for which you believe you are eligible, then agencies who are searching for potential applicants to hire under one of these authorities may be able to locate your resume through USAJOBS and invite you to apply. Otherwise, this information will be retained in the USAJOBS database and not disclosed. For information on each of the special hiring options below, please review the definitions on our Special Hiring Options page.

 

• Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA)
• 30% or More Disabled Veteran
• Disabled veterans who have completed a VA training program
• Military Spouse
• Certain former overseas employees
• Schedule A Disabled

 

 

• There are other hiring authorities as well. Recent Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Vista volunteers are an example.
• Candidates are not required (or asked) to supply their Social Security Number (SSN) for USAJOBS. However, many agencies require an applicant’s SSN as part of the application process.
• Veterans’ preference; Schedule A, and some other appointment eligibilities may be used more than once. In some cases, it is possible to apply for the same job using multiple hiring paths.
• Since most federal postings receive hundreds of applications (and often more than a thousand), unless your career field is very niche, there is no reason to make your resume searchable (most HR offices are not looking to increase the number of applications they must consider).