How to Get a Government Job: US Federal Government Careers

Key takeaways

The federal government is the nation’s largest employer, with job opportunities available across a range of industries.

• More than two million people work for the federal government, as of January 2026 [1].

• Certain individuals, including current or former federal employees, veterans, and military spouses, can access different paths for federal government jobs.

• You can search online for federal government jobs, build a federal resume, and submit applications for jobs that interest you as part of your process in getting a government job.

Learn more about the kinds of jobs available in the federal government, salaries and compensation, and how to get a government job. To prepare for a job search, consider enrolling in the University of Maryland’s Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialization. In as little as three months, you’ll have the opportunity to build skills in business writing, interviewing, negotiation, and persuasive communication. By the end, you’ll have developed in-demand skills to prepare you for a new role.

Who works in federal government jobs?

The United States government is the country’s largest employer, with jobs in nearly every industry, from engineers and administrative workers to database administrators and public health officials [1]. More than two million people work for the federal government, as of January 2026 [1]. It includes politicians, department heads, and high-level positions such as vice president and president.

Requirements to apply for a job in the federal government

To apply for a job in the federal government, you must meet a few basic requirements in addition to any job-specific requirements on the posting:

• You are a US citizen or a US national.

• You are at least 18 years old.

• You meet the educational, experience, and licensure requirements of the specific job post.

• You submit to a background check.

How to get a job with the federal government

One way to find a federal government job is through USAJOBS at usajobs.gov, the official job posting website of the US government. You can apply to any job that lists itself as open to the public. Current federal employees, veterans, and military spouses have different paths to consider when seeking a job in the federal government.

• Current or former federal employees have different hiring options open to them, like the ability to search for federal jobs that are only hiring internally.

• Veterans have veterans’ preference over non-veteran applicants when applying for a job, with three tiers of preference for disabled veterans, non-disabled veterans, and sole survivors.

• Military spouses can use the federal government’s non-competitive hiring process as long as they meet the job qualifications and specific military spouse requirements.

If you have a college degree, use usajobs.gov's federal occupations by college major search to narrow down jobs that directly apply to your degree. A unique occupational code organizes all federal jobs. There, you find many majors and occupations with their four-digit occupational codes under them. You can then search for specific jobs using those codes. 

How hard is it to get a federal government job?

You might face some competition when applying for a government job due to the limited number of positions available and the benefits and job stability offered. Having a clear understanding of the skills and qualifications required for a government position and following all the application steps carefully can help.

How to get a government job

If you find a federal government job that interests you, the next move is to apply for the job. This process requires a series of steps:

1. Register and search for jobs at USAJOBS.

2. Assess your skills and experience.

3. Create a federal resume.

4. Fill out and submit an application. 

5. Track the status of the application.

6. Interview for the job.

7. Review the job offer.

Let’s examine each step further. 

Read more: How to Find a Job: 15 Ways to Expand Your Search

1. Register and search for jobs at USAJOBS.

Create an account using login.gov, a government website linked to USAJOBS. This allows you to save jobs and create a profile where recruiters can reach out to you. You can also save your resumes, required documents, and job preferences. Begin your job search using their filters for things like location, agency, schedule, and salary.

2. Assess your skills and experience.

When you find a job posting that interests you, review your skills and experience to ensure you qualify for the job. The federal government allows for years of work experience in an industry to sometimes cover education requirements. Ensuring your eligibility for a job is a requirement not tied to skills but rather the USAJOBS path the particular posting falls under, such as recent graduate, student, public, or veteran.

3. Create a federal resume.

Some jobs may require a federal resume, which is a more detailed version of a regular resume. Because of the specified nature of positions in the federal government, they require a more detailed resume with more specifics related to qualifications, experience, and personal details like citizenship. Here is a brief layout of what to include in a federal resume:

• Your name, the job title, and the grade you are applying for 

• All contact information, such as address, phone number, and email 

• Your citizenship status

• Veteran status, Peace Corps description of service, or proof of disability 

• Full education information, such as school attended, degree received, major, high school diploma, or GED completion dates 

• Work experience, remembering that federal resumes allow for more detailed and specific work experience to explain how your current and previous jobs give you the qualifications for this one

• Contact information for your current supervisor 

• Any training courses you completed with your current or previous jobs 

• A list of your knowledge and skills

• Any applicable certifications or licenses that are relevant to the job you are applying for 

• Any honors, awards, club memberships, or activities outside of work relevant to the job 

4. Fill out and submit an application.

After finding a position that interests you and you have your resume ready, click the apply button in the job listing to begin your application. You need to complete five necessary steps to fill out the application:

1. Add your resume.

2. Upload any necessary documents, like your citizenship.

3. Review the qualifications package.

4. Add your personal information.

5. Continue onto agency-specific application requirements.

Applications save as you make edits, so you can work on your application around other commitments if needed. After you complete your application and agency-specific questions, review that everything is correct and submit your application. 

5. Track the status of the application.

USAJOBS gives you the ability to track the status of your application after submission and provides a notification confirming its receipt. Job applications are only viewed after the job posting closes. Once reviewed, the hiring manager sorts applicants into minimally qualified and highly qualified, passing along the highest qualified applicants to the hiring official. 

6. Interview for the job.

Federal jobs include an interview process with the highest qualified applicants, as determined by the hiring official. These interviews take a range of forms based on agency guidelines. Expect an interview to be conducted by a panel of interviewers, in person, on the phone, or via video. Like many kinds of interviews, multiple rounds are typical. 

7. Review the job offer.

The agency sends a tentative job offer, typically contingent upon completing a background check. If you need security clearance, they perform those additional checks at this time as well. Once you pass all needed checks and negotiate the job offer, it becomes final, and you and the agency select a mutual start date. 

Prepare for your job search with free resources

Discover career tips and explore industry trends by subscribing to Career Chat on LinkedIn. Then, check out these resources as you prepare for a job search:

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career Is Right for Me Quiz? 

• Build your resume: 3 Resume Templates and How to Pick the Right One for You 

• Watch on YouTube: How to Answer Final Interview Questions Like a Pro 

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

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