Veterans’ preference for federal jobs

The federal government is one of the most veteran-friendly employers, and veterans' preference gives eligible veterans an edge in hiring. Understanding which preference and hiring authorities you qualify for can be the difference between your résumé being seen or skipped.

5-point vs 10-point preference

  • 5-point preference — for veterans who served on active duty during a qualifying war, campaign, or period and separated under honorable conditions.
  • 10-point preference — for veterans with a service-connected disability or a Purple Heart, and for certain spouses, widows/widowers, and mothers of veterans. Submit an SF-15 with supporting documents to claim it.

Preference adds points to your rating on competitive examinations and, in many cases, moves you ahead of non-veterans with equal scores.

Special hiring authorities (often more powerful than points)

  • VRA (Veterans Recruitment Appointment) — agencies can hire eligible veterans non-competitively up to the GS-11 level; after two years of satisfactory performance it converts to a permanent career appointment.
  • 30% or More Disabled Veteran authority — if you're rated 30%+, agencies can appoint you non-competitively to any grade you qualify for, bypassing the usual competition.
  • VEOA (Veterans Employment Opportunities Act) — lets you apply to internal "merit promotion" jobs normally limited to current federal employees. If you have 10-point preference, you're automatically VEOA-eligible.

How to claim it

  1. Apply on USAJOBS and answer the preference questions honestly.
  2. Attach your DD-214 (Member-4 copy), your VA disability letter if claiming 10-point, and a completed SF-15 for 10-point preference.
  3. Watch each announcement's "Who May Apply" — look for VEOA, VRA, or disabled-veteran eligibility.

Related: military spouses also get federal hiring preferences — see the military spouse guide — and plan your job search around your separation date with the transition timeline.

General information; eligibility rules are set by OPM and the hiring agency. Confirm details at OPM's FedsHireVets and USAJOBS. Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.