Searching for and applying to jobs can feel overwhelming and stressful, from weeding through hundreds of listings to finding the right fit to ensuring your resume is formatted properly with each application. Luckily, having a strong understanding of what to expect can help job seekers feel prepared and confident to tackle their search. Keep reading to learn more about how to decode the Federal Government’s official employment site—USAJOBS.gov.
Get to know USAJOBS
USAJOBS is the Federal Government’s one-stop-shop for employment. Here, you can create a profile, automate your job search, save jobs of interest, upload a resume and any certificates, and apply. Every business day, USAJOBS updates from a database of worldwide job opportunities, so it’s a good idea to check back often to see what’s new.
USAJOBS job postings
USAJOBS calls job postings Job Opportunity Announcements (JOAs). Each JOA will have a lineup of essential information for you to review:
- Overview, with information about the hiring agency and a description of the position.
- Location of the position, including relocation reimbursement availability.
- Duties and responsibilities of the position.
- Requirements all applicants should possess, as well as conditions of employment.
- Documents necessary to complete an application.
- Benefits eligibility for the position, depending.
- Hiring path.
Join our mission
You’ve reviewed multiple JOAs, uploaded your resume and are ready to take the next steps. VA offers rewarding careers across the nation that are All About Veterans. Learn more and apply on VA Careers.
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Will the VA be using the loyalty essay question in its job postings? “How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/05/29/federal-job-applications-will-have-questions-about-the-constitution-trumps-executive-orders/
At some point, as you are filling out the paperwork, the thought is going to cross your mind, “Do I measure up!” Trust me, you do! I retired from the Federal Government, and my reaction, once I was hired, was How did some of the people get in here? The paperwork is massive; they require a ton more than any other employer you have ever dealt with, plus they want to call your current employer for a reference. This is scary because once that happens, the cat is out of the bag, and you could lose your current position. If it gets to that point, you are 95% there, so go with the flow.
With all the Federal firings by trump, the Feds are still hiring?