How to answer questions about federal service

In your profile, you must provide information about your current or former federal employment.

Please select the statement below which best reflects your federal employment status (if applicable).

I am currently a federal civilian employee.

Select this option if you’re a current employee of:

  • The Executive, Legislative, or Judicial Branches
  • An independent agency

I am a former federal civilian employee with reinstatement eligibility.

Select this option if you’re a former federal employee who held a career or career-conditional appointment with reinstatement eligibility.

I am a former federal civilian employee but do not have reinstatement eligibility.

Select this option if you’re a former federal civilian employee without reinstatement eligibility.

What is reinstatement?

You may be eligible for reinstatement if you held a career or career-conditional appointment in the federal government. Reinstatement allows former federal employees to re-enter the federal competitive service workforce without competing with the public. Learn more about reinstatement.

Not a federal employee

I am not and have never been a federal civilian employee.

Select this option if you’ve never worked for the federal government. Working for a federal contractor does not qualify as working for the federal government.

If you select “Yes” to any of the federal employee options, you will get additional questions to answer about your federal service. These questions are optional.

Current federal service

Is your position in the competitive, excepted, or senior executive service?

You’ll only see this question, if you selected you’re a current federal employee. Choose one of the following:

  • Competitive
  • Excepted
  • Senior Executive

Learn how to determine which service you belong to.

Have you been displaced from a position in a federal agency?

You will see this question if you selected “Yes” to current or former federal employee. Select one of these options:

  • Yes, I am eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
  • Yes, I am eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
  • No

Learn more about career transition programs.

Are you a retiree receiving a federal annuity?

You’ll see this question if you selected “Yes” to current or former federal employee. Select Yes if you’re a federal retiree receiving annuity benefits. If you’re receiving a federal annuity and then accept a new position, it may affect your annuity payments. Learn more about federal annuity.

Have you accepted a buyout from a federal agency within the past 5 years?

You will see this question if you selected “Yes” to current or former federal employee. Some federal agencies may offer a buyout, also called a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP), to employees if the agency needs to downsize or restructure. If you’ve accepted a buyout from a federal agency and then accept a new paid position with a federal agency within 5 years of the buyout, you’ll be required to pay the entire amount back to the agency that gave you the buyout (before you start the new job). Learn more about buyouts.

Additional resources