Federal job postings can be confusing if you don’t understand the terminology they use. Here are some terms you should know:
| SF-50 | The SF-50 is a permanent record in your Official Personnel Folder that documents and reports all personnel actions. If you are not a current or former federal employee, you will NOT need one of these. |
| SF-15 | The SF-15 “Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference” is used by Federal agencies and OPM examining offices to adjudicate individuals’ claims for veterans’ preference. |
| DD-214 | The DD-214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”, is issued to military members upon separation from active service. It contains information about the veteran’s dates of military service and separation. Member 4 copy is best recommended for determining eligibility. It provides the disposition (honorable, other) at the time of discharge. |
| Certificate of Eligibles | A list of eligible and qualified applicants created for the hiring manager. Also known as a Referral list, one will receive this notice once they have been referred to the hiring manager. |
| Area of Consideration | A list of eligible and qualified applicants is created for the hiring manager. Also known as a Referral list, one will receive this notice once they have been referred to the hiring manager. |
| Career Appointment | The type of appointment an employee receives after working for the Federal Government for three years. |
| Competitive Status | The group of people that an agency will accept applications from to fill a job. This may include a specific location or whether the applicant is a current federal employee, a current federal employee working for a specific agency or the public. |
| Delegated Examining | The competitive application and hiring process an agency uses to hire someone who has never worked for the Federal Government. A job that says it is Open to the public will use the delegated examining hiring process. |
| Specialized Experience | Work experience that is directly related to the work to be performed in a job. For maximum consideration, you need to demonstrate your specialized experience. |
| Application or Job Questionnaire | Some jobs require you to answer several questions as part of the application process. You will see a link to preview the job assessment questions—read these questions before you apply for the job. Your resume must support your answers to the job questionnaire. Your responses to the assessment questionnaire are how you will be rated and per your score, determines if you make the referral list. |
| Why was my application not qualified? | A person’s basic eligibility for assignment to a position in the competitive service without having to compete with members of the general public in an open competitive examination. Once acquired, status belongs to the individual, not to a position. |