How to filter results by hiring path

Some federal jobs are open to the general public — meaning any U.S. citizen can apply. But, some federal jobs are only open to eligible current or former federal employees or people who may be eligible under a unique hiring path. You can filter your job search results to only show you jobs that meet your specific eligibility criteria. You can filter by one or more hiring paths.

You can filter your job search results by hiring path to only show jobs you may be eligible for. You must read the This job is open to section of the job announcement to determine if you’re eligible to apply. You can also read the Who May Apply section, but not all job announcements have that information.

Open to the public

This filter will only show you jobs that are open to the general public.

Select this option if you’re a:

  • U.S. citizen or
  • National or individual who owes allegiance to the U.S.

Who is a National or individual who owes allegiance to the U.S.?

Most federal jobs require you to be a U.S. citizen, but there are some exceptions for nationals and individuals who owe allegiance to the U.S., including those from the American Samoa and Swain Islands. The Who May Apply section of each job announcement lists whether the job is open to U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens.

Learn more about employment of non-U.S. citizens.

Federal employees

There are a few options for both current and former federal employees.

Competitive service

This filter will show jobs that are open to current or former competitive service employees. These are also known as merit promotion jobs. Select this filter if you’re a current or former competitive service employee who:

As a current of former federal employee, you can also apply to jobs that are open to the public.

Learn more about the federal employee-competitive service path.

Excepted service

This filter will show jobs that are open to federal employees and are in the excepted service. Any federal employee, in the excepted service or competitive service, can apply to these jobs. [Learn more about the federal employee-excepted service path](../../../../working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/.

Internal to an agency

This filter will show jobs that are only open to current agency employees. Use this filter if you’re interested in staying within your agency.

Learn more about the internal to an agency hiring path.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, Reinstatement)

This filter will show jobs that are open to surplus or displaced federal employees or former federal employees eligible for reinstatement.

Learn more about CTAP or ICTAP.

Learn more about reinstatement.

Land & base management

Select this option if you want to see jobs open to current or former time-limited federal employees under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act.

Learn more about land management.

Learn more about base management.

Armed Forces

Veterans

Select this filter if you’re:

  • Eligible for veterans’ preference or
  • Separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more, of continuous military service.

Learn more about the Veterans’ hiring path.

Military spouses

If you’re a military spouse, you may be eligible to apply to competitive service positions. You must meet specific requirements to be eligible for this hiring path. Select this filter if you want to see jobs open to military spouses.

Learn more about the military spouse hiring path.

National Guard

Select this filter if you want to see jobs open to current National Guard members or transitioning military service members. Learn more about the National Guard hiring path.

Students and recent graduates

Students

This filter will show internships for current students. If you’re a current student, you may be eligible for federal internships through the Pathways program and other student internship programs.

Learn more about the student hiring path.

Recent graduates

This filter will show jobs open to recent graduates—those who have graduated within the past two years. These jobs may be part of the Pathways Program.

Learn more about the recent graduates hiring path.

Senior Executives

There are a couple of different options, if you’re looking for a senior executive level job in the Federal Government.

  1. The Senior Executive Service (SES)
  2. Senior executive level jobs outside of the SES

Jobs in the SES are executive level positions classified above General Schedule (GS) grade 15 or equivalent positions in most Executive Branch agencies of the Federal Government. To qualify for these jobs you must meet the five Executive Core Qualifications.

Not all senior executive level jobs are in the SES. Agencies in the competitive or excepted service may have executive level jobs, where you may not have to meet the same qualification requirements as in the SES. Learn more about Senior Executive jobs.

Learn more about which jobs you are eligible to apply for.

Additional paths

Individuals with disabilities

If you’re an individual with a disability you can apply and compete for any job that you’re eligible for and meet the qualifications. However, some jobs offer the Schedule A hiring path. Schedule A gives federal agencies an optional, potentially faster, way to hire individuals with disabilities. Select this option to see jobs that offer the Schedule A hiring path.

Learn more about the individuals with a disability hiring path.

Family of overseas employees

If you’re currently overseas with a family member, and moving back to the United States, you may be eligible for a competitive service job without having to compete with the public. If you’re moving overseas, because a family member has been assigned to an overseas duty of station, you may be eligible to apply for overseas jobs with the Federal Government.

Learn more about the family of overseas employees hiring path.

Native Americans

Select this filter if you want to see jobs open to people with a tribal affiliation. Learn more about the Native American hiring path.

Peace Corps and Vista

This filter will show jobs open to people who have served at least two years with Peace Corps or one year with AmeriCorps VISTA. Learn more about the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps VISTA hiring path.

Additional resources