Federal employees
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 about jobs you're eligible for and prevent you from spending time on jobs for 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.
Not sure what service you fall under?
Additional opportunities
Land Management
If you're a current or former term or temporary employee of a land management agency, you may be eligible to apply for merit promotion jobs at any agency. Learn more.
Base Management
If you're a current or former term or temporary employee of a base facilities management agency, you may be eligible to apply for merit promotion jobs at any agency. Learn more.
Documents you may need
Upload and submit through USAJOBS
You can upload and save documents to your USAJOBS account. 
End of
Translation
Once uploaded, you can submit these forms with your job application as needed.
Sign into USAJOBS or learn how to upload documents.
Competitive service
Merit promotion
Merit promotion lets a current or former federal employee apply for a job without having to compete with general public or people with Veterans' Preference. Instead, you compete with other competitive service employees.
How do I know if it's a merit promotion job?
In the job announcement look for the This job is open to section. When it's a merit promotion job, you'll see the Federal employee—competitive service icon
There may be other groups listed that can also apply.
You can also select the Federal employees—competitive service filter in search.
Does Veterans' Preference apply to merit promotion jobs?
Veterans who are VEOA eligible may apply for these jobs, but Veterans' Preference does not apply to merit promotion jobs. If you're a veteran, learn more about your hiring options.
Internal to an agency
Some federal jobs are only available to current employees of a specific agency. Internal to an agency jobs can be in all three services.
How do I know if a job is open internally?
In the job announcement look for the This job is open to section. When the job is open to current employees of the agency, you'll see the internal icon
You can also select the Internal to an agency filter in search. Your results will display all jobs open to current employees of the hiring agency.
Transfer
If you're in the competitive service, you may be eligible to move to another position in the competitive service. Learn more.
Former employees
Former federal employees previously in the competitive service may be eligible for:
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
If your job, agency or department was eliminated, you may be eligible to receive selection priority over other applicants. Learn more.
Reinstatement
If you were in the competitive service, you may be eligible to return to the federal government under the reinstatement program. Learn more.
Excepted service
How do I know a job is open to excepted service employees?
In the job announcement look for the This job is open to section and you'll see the Federal employee—excepted service icon There may be other groups listed that can also apply.
You can also select the Federal employees—excepted service filter in search. Your results will display all jobs open to federal employees in the excepted service.
Interchange Agreement
If you're in the excepted service and your agency has an Interchange Agreement, you may be eligible to move to another job in the competitive service. Learn more.
Search Jobs
Federal employees - Competitive service
Federal employees - Excepted service
Look for these options under the Hiring Path filter when searching.