Veterans Preference

Custodian Jobs With the USPS

Posted on by Nancy Ledgerwood

Labor Custodians play a major role in the United States Postal Service. They are responsible for the daily manual labor in connection with maintenance and cleaning of the buildings and grounds of a postal facility. The job is physically demanding, requiring both indoor and outdoor responsibilities. They are responsible for such duties as clearing sidewalks and driveways of snow and ice to mopping floors and dusting furniture and fixtures. Applicants must be able to perform the duties of the position with or without accommodation. Labor Custodians are used in the processing and distribution plants as well as some of the larger post offices.

Custodian
Custodian

Hundreds of Custodians are employed by the USPS. The starting pay is $13.25 an hour and they are paid under the APWU pay schedule. The Mid-America district office in Kansas City, MO, is located in their Western Region and they employ 197 career custodians to service facilities in their area. The Mid-America district office is one of 67 nationwide.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Makes or assists in making minor maintenance repairs to building and equipment.
  • In smaller buildings assist the fireman-laborer in firing the boiler; in firemen-laborer’s absence fires and clean the boiler.
  • Operates a variety of power driven equipment such as floor scrubbers, floor sanders, waxers, and wall washers; adjusts brushes, buffers, and other attachments on machines; uses wax, polish, and other protective agents appropriate for the various; surfaces; washes walls and ceilings from scaffolding.
  • Performs general laboring duties such as uncrating and assembling furniture and fixtures using bolts and screws for assembly, loading and unloading supplies and equipment.
  • Performs janitorial duties such as cleaning, scrubbing, waxing, and polishing floors; washes walls and ceiling; dusts furniture and fixtures; cleans hardware and toilet fixtures; washes windows; cares for lawns and shrubs; cleans sidewalks and driveways and removes ashes, snow and ice.
  • In addition, may: operate elevator, stack supplies in storage rooms and on shelves; move furniture and equipment.

Applicants must successfully complete Postal Service Test 916. This custodial exam is made up of 60 multiple-choice questions. There are four parts:

  • Vocabulary
  • Safely basics
  • General Cleaning
  • Following Instructions

Sample questions could include the following: (More sample questions are provided in the 6th edition of Post Office Jobs.)

1. Avoid breathing caustic product fumes. Caustic most nearly means:

A. Harmful
B. Cleaning
C. Safety
D. Helpful
E. Degenerative

2. Which of these would you use to clean a concrete floor?

A. Mop
B. Scraper
C. Wire Brush
D. Detergent
E. All of the Above

3. What must you do when working in an area with high dust levels?

A. Hold your breath while cleaning the area
B. Put a handkerchief over your nose and mouth
C. Wait until the dust settles
D. Wear an approved protective mask provided by your employer
E. Wear gloves to keep dust off your hands

This position is restricted to applicants eligible for veterans’ preference.

Note: Applicants who are not entitled to veterans’ preference may be considered only when preference eligible applicants are not available for appointment.

Not all veterans receive preference for federal civilian employment, and not all active duty service qualifies for Veterans’ Preference. Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions are eligible for Veterans Preference. Preference eligible vets must have been discharged under an honorable or general discharge. There are two types of preference eligible; those with a service-connected disability and those without.

Vets without a Service Connected Disability (5-point Preference) entitles you to be hired before a non-veteran whose application is rated in your category. To meet this criterion, your service must meet one of the following conditions;

  • 180 or more consecutive days, any of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001 and ending on a future date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law as the last date of Operation Iraqi Freedom, OR
  • Between August 2, 1990 and January 2, 1992 OR
  • 180 or more consecutive days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955 and before October 15, 1976, OR
  • In a war, campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or between April 28, 1952 and July 1, 1955.

Vets with a Service Connected Disability (10-Point Preference) – You are a 10-point preference eligible if you served at any time and you:

  • Have a service connected disability
  • Received a Purple Heart
  • Are the spouse, widow, widower or mother of a deceased or disabled veteran.

If interested in custodian position or any other positions at the United States Postal Service, please visit http://www.postalwork.net to begin your job search. Good luck in your job-hunting endeavors. Use our Postal Job Guide to familiarize yourself with the application process and for links to the official Post Office recruiting web site.

Helpful Career Planning Tools 

Visit our other informative site

The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM, the postal service or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Veterans Hiring Authorities

Posted on by David Scholl

In my last article, we looked at the types of hiring preferences available to veterans, how one becomes eligible for a preference, and how that preference is applied in the recruitment of Federal competitive and excepted service positions. This article describes special hiring authorities under which veterans, and their spouses, may be hired by the Federal government without competition. These are unique authorities and, if eligible, you should not hesitate to contact an agency’s hiring office and inquire as to the availability of such an appointment when conducting your job search.

Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) Authority

The VRA authority permits any agency to appoint, without competition, a qualified and eligible veteran to any position at any grade level up to and including GS-11 or equivalent. A VRA is an excepted service appointment to a position that would otherwise be in the competitive service.
After two years of satisfactory service, the agency must convert the veteran to a career or career-conditional appointment, as appropriate.

A veteran is eligible for a VRA appointment if he or she:

  • is disabled; or
  • is in receipt of a campaign badge for service during a war or in a campaign/expedition; or
  • received an Armed Forces Service Medal for participation in a military operation; or
  • is a recently separated (within three years of release/discharge) veteran, and separated as a result of an honorable or general discharge

Although these criteria are similar to those required for a veterans’ preference, they are not identical. For example, a veteran who served during the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992, would be eligible for veterans’ preference solely on the basis of that service. However, service during that timeframe alone does not confer VRA eligibility unless one of the criteria listed above is met.

The distinction between VRA eligibility and veterans’ preference is particularly significant once an agency decides to fill a position through a VRA appointment and considers more than one eligible candidate, at least one of which has a veterans’ preference. In this instance, the agency must apply the applicable regulatory veterans’ preference procedures.

Finally, as with veterans’ preference, it is essential that you properly document your eligibility when seeking a VRA appointment. Proper documentation entails submission of the number 4 copy of your DD214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty;” completion of an SF-15 if claiming a 10 point preference; and, if applicable, documentation of the relevant campaign badge or medal.

30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans

Pursuant to statutory and accompanying regulatory provisions, an agency may give a non-competitive, temporary appointment of more than 60 days or a term appointment to any veteran who:

  • retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more; or
  • since 1991 was rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or any branch of the Armed Forces at any time, as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more

There is no grade level limitation for this authority, but the appointee must meet all qualification requirements. As a general matter, the agency may convert the employee to a career-conditional appointment at any time during the employee’s temporary or term appointment. Following conversion, and upon completion of the probationary period, the individual acquires competitive status.

Spousal Appointment Authority

In an effort to enhance the recruitment and retention of skilled members of the military, and to further honor those killed or disabled while serving their country, the Obama Administration issued a 2008 Executive Order authorizing the non-competitive appointment of certain military spouses to competitive service positions.

If you are a military spouse qualified for the position in question, you are eligible under this appointment authority if your active duty spouse:

  • received permanent change of station (PCS) orders; or
  • has a 100% disability rating from a military department or Department of Veterans Affairs; or
  • was killed while on duty and you, as the widow/widower, have not remarried

Agencies may use this authority to fill temporary, term or permanent positions without grade level restriction. This authority does not entitle spouses to a hiring preference and is subject to the agency’s clearance of applicable reemployment priority lists.

In order to meet the eligibility requirements, active duty spouses with PCS orders also must be authorized to, and actually relocate to, the new duty station. Spouses can only receive appointments to positions located within a reasonable commute of the new duty station. The appointment must also occur within two years of the relocation order. The geographic limitation does not apply to spousal appointments based on the service member’s death or 100% disability rating. Finally, although a spouse can receive an unlimited number of temporary or term appointments during the two-year window, he or she may only receive one permanent appointment through the use of this authority.

The spousal appointment authority can prove to be a very useful option, particularly when military families are uprooted and need the financial support of two jobs. As with veterans’ preference and other hiring authorities, it is important that you submit all relevant documents when seeking an appointment, such as a marriage certificate, the PCS orders, a DD214, and documentation establishing disability or death.

For detailed information regarding this authority, see the applicable regulations and the Office of Personnel Management’s Questions & Answers on the subject.

Additional Resources

Helpful Career Planning Tools 

Visit our other informative site

The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Veterans’ Hiring Preference

Posted on by David Scholl

If you are a veteran who recently left or are about to leave military service, the Federal government is a great option for you to consider in your civilian job search. In further recognition of their sacrifice to our nation, the Obama administration issued a 2009 Executive Order designed to promote employment opportunities for veterans. Since that time, government-wide hires of veterans have risen from 24 percent to 31 percent for FY 2013. In addition to enhancing the recruitment of veterans, the government applies a long-standing preference for many veterans when assessing their job applications in relation to similarly qualified applicants. This article describes the types of preference and the circumstances under which they are applied. My next article will describe special hiring authorities under which veterans may be hired without competition.

Types of Preference

Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under an honorable or general discharge may receive a preference. If you are retired from the armed forces you are not eligible for a preference unless you are a disabled veteran or retired below the rank of major or equivalent.

Note that not all active duty service qualifies for veterans’ preference. Along with the required application materials, it is critically important that you document your preference eligibility with the member 4 copy of your DD214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.” If you do not yet have a DD214 because you are still in the military, you may request and submit an official statement of service with the dates and type of discharge you will receive. This allows for the application of a tentative preference pending receipt of your formal discharge document. Failure to include this documentation may result in the agency’s denial of your preference in the particular recruitment action.

In order to receive a preference, you must also meet one of the eligibility requirements of the two categories detailed below.

Non-Disabled

You are a 5 point preference eligible if your active duty service meets any of the following:

  • During a “war” (those declared by Congress) ; or
  • During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; or
  • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or
  • During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992; or
  • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010, the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation as the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or
  • In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference.

Disabled

You are a 10 point preference eligible if you served at any time and you have:

  • A service connected disability, or
  • Received a Purple Heart

When claiming a 10 point preference, you must also submit a SF-15 in order to receive appropriate consideration.

Application of Preference To A Hiring Action

Entitlement to a veterans’ preference is an extremely valuable job search asset. Your preference applies when applying for permanent and temporary positions in both the competitive and excepted services of the executive branch. The preference does not apply to positions in the Senior Executive Service or positions requiring Senate confirmation. Additionally, the preference does not apply in the event an agency determines to fill a job through merit promotion, reassignment, transfer or reinstatement of a former Federal employee.

Although the preference does not apply when an agency determines to fill a position through a merit promotion action, veterans’ preference holders should be aware that they have the right to apply for these positions pursuant to the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) as long as the announcement is open to Federal employees outside the agency advertising the vacancy. Bear in mind that an agency has the discretion to recruit for the same job through both a competitive examination, or all sources, announcement and a merit promotion announcement, and to make a selection from either announcement. In this case, the individual with veterans’ preference should apply under both announcements to insure consideration depending on the method of selection.

Preference Groups

Assuming you’ve applied for a position through a competitive examination announcement, are determined as qualified for that position, and have properly established your preference, you are placed into one of the following groups for ranking your application:

  • CPS – Disability rating of 30% or more (10 points)
  • CP – Disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30% (10 points)
  • XP – Disability rating of less than 10% (10 points); this group also includes the “derived preference” applicable to qualified spouses, widows/widowers and mothers of veterans who otherwise meet the applicable preference requirements
  • TP – No disability rating (5 points)

Category Rating

Pursuant to a 2010 Presidential Memorandum, agencies are currently required to assess and select job applicants for positions filled through competitive examining by use of a category rating approach rather than requiring the selecting official to select from the three highest scoring applicants, otherwise known as the “rule of 3.” Under this rating system, qualified candidates are placed in one of at least two predefined categories, e.g., Highly Qualified and Qualified, rather than ranking by a numeric score.

When using the category rating process, veterans’ preference is applied as follows:

  • Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more (CPS and CP preference groups) are placed at the top of the highest category on the referral list in all jobs other than scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher.
  • Qualified XP or TP preference group eligibles are placed ahead of non-preference eligibles within the same rating category.

The process for determining and applying veterans’ preference can be complicated. If you pursue Federal employment and believe you are entitled to such a preference, make sure you have included all the documents relevant to your preference and do not hesitate to contact the hiring office throughout the recruitment action in order to insure that your application is properly considered.

Additional Resources

Helpful Career Planning Tools 

Visit our other informative site

The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Applying For Federal Civil Service Student Internships

Posted on by Dennis Damp

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Federal Civil Service Internships

The Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) and the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) were replaced by the Internship Program in 2012. The Internship Program provides high school students, and college students up to and including graduate level, with the opportunity to explore careers and work with pay at agencies while attending school.  Students who successfully complete a civil service internship may be eligible to convert to a permanent federal civil service job. During my federal career, spanning over 35 years, we hired many students who successfully completed the program and landed federal jobs with tremendous career advancement opportunities.

Students are eligible to apply for federal civil service internships if they are currently attending  an accredited high school, college, junior college and community colleges; technical, professional,  vocational, and trade school; advanced college and university degree programs; or other qualifying educational institutions pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.

Federal Internship Program Requirements

According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interns may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 120 days of successful completion of the program. To be eligible for conversion, Interns must:

  • Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program
  • Complete their degree or certificate requirements
  • Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted
  • Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant’s Agreement, and Perform their job successfully.

Agencies may waive up to 320 of the required 640 hours of work for federal civil service interns who demonstrate high potential as evidenced by outstanding academic achievement and exceptional job performance.

In addition, students working in agencies through third-party intern providers may count up to 320 of the hours they work toward the 640 hour requirement. Time spent under previous Internship Program appointments may count towards required work experience hours.

Seven Steps to Finding Federal Civil Service Internships

1.      Determine which civil service occupations would be suitable for your course of study. High school students can identify their target career choices. OPM’s comprehensive Federal Occupations by College Major list is available to help you identify occupations suitable for your internship. 

2.      Find internship and summer work job vacancy announcements on OPM’s www.USAJobs.gov  recruiting site.  Enter “Internships” in the Keyword box and then enter your city, State or zip code in the Location box and click on search.  If you are looking for summer jobs enter “summer” and click on search. Select a vacancy announcement of interest, print it out, and read it top to bottom. The job announcement lists the required qualifications, pay, benefits, and all of the information that you need to apply.  If you meet the qualifications apply for the position. Apply for all internships that you meet the qualifications for to improve your chances.   

3.     Expand your search. If you can’t find suitable vacancies in your area call local agency human resource offices to determine when they anticipate recruiting interns in your area. Use your local phone directory’s blue page government office listings or search online for agency offices in your area.  You can also contact the Federal Executive Board office for your area and discuss internship options with the manager and/or his staff.  They meet frequently with representatives from the majority of agencies in their area and often know about upcoming vacancy announcements.  Search for internships in federal, state and the private sector to expand your options.

4.     Complete a thorough federal resume and application. Unlike the private sector, a federal resume for an entry level position can be from 3 to 5 pages or more. All federal resumes must be tailored to the job announcement.  If you attempt to use a standard one page private sector resume your application may be rejected. Your federal civil service application and resume, in most cases, must be submitted online. Set up an account online and start your resume as soon as possible and before applying for your first job. Many job announcements are only open for a short period, from several days to a week or more.  You can store up to 5 different resumes online and you can save and automate job searches after you register. 

5.       Include academic achievements, class projects, and student activities in your federal resume to highlight your accomplishments, motivation, and drive. Include membership in organizations such as Toastmasters International, class room projects, reports, membership in professional organizations for students, and other activities that showcase your accomplishments.  You can review sample federal resumes and learn how to prepare one in the 11th edition of The Book of U.S. Government Jobs. This title was recommended by Library Journal and it is available at many libraries.   

6.      Explore ALL job options. If your future degree will be in the professional or technical area don’t exclude administrative positions to get your foot in the door. The majority of administrative positions require either a BS degree or 3 years of general experience to qualify for a GS-5 position.  You won’t have either as an intern however when you graduate you will meet the basic qualifications for those positions as well. After you get your foot in the door you can apply for internships that open up for your specialty.

7.      If you don’t land the first federal civil service internship you apply for don’t get discouraged.  Submit multiple applications for all job vacancies in your area and learn from your rejections.  Ask selecting officials if other positions will be available in the future and what you can do to be best qualified next time around. Many neglect to search for vacancies after their first application; check for new vacancies weekly and remember they are only open for short periods so be prepared to submit a new application in a minutes notice.  

Helpful Career Planning Tools 

Visit our other informative site

The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM or any federal entity. You should consult with school councelors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Federal Jobs in the FAST Lane

Posted on by Dennis Damp

Federal recruiting dropped off appreciably over the past couple of years due to cost cutting initiatives within the federal sector. Federal job opportunities are returning and substantially within certain agencies and occupations . It was recently reported that 700 FBI jobs will be filled shortly and other agencies are following their lead.

Many federal job announcements are being posted for openings across the country and overseas. Things are a little different this time around since the Office of Personnel Management (OPM ) changed their USAJobs job listing format a few years ago. When you visited their site, prior to the change, there appeared to be many more federal job listings. They now list jobs with multiple vacancies when appropriate and the number of individual federal job listings has decreased as a result.  It is also a good practice to check for new listings frequently because many jobs, especially ones that typically receive many applicants, are often advertised for shorter periods.

There are abundant opportunities in many occupations now including engineering jobs in multiple disciplines. A recent search resulted in 573 job announcements. many with multiple positions ranging from 2 to as high as 35 just in the first 26 listings. The first 26 federal job listings resulted in 115 job vacancies! One of the Electronic Engineer (GS-0855) job announcements is recruiting at 35 different  locations across the country, in Canada, and overseas.  It’s important to read the job announcement thoroughly and when you have multiple locations you will be asked your preference.  The more willing you are to relocate the better you chances of landing a job. I accepted my first competitive federal  job in a small town in Central Pennsylvania to get my foot in the door and I bid on multiple position to improve my chances. It worked!

Job opportunities are available now in many occupations, just perform a search for the occupation and location you desire and review all of the job announcements of interest.  Other hot occupations:

Each of my upcoming articles will feature current hot careers and job opportunities.  Search by occupation to find jobs in federal, state, and the private sector. You will also find relevant  USAJobs searches for each occupation if you desire to limit your search to the federal sector.

More Information

How to Apply For a Federal Job Step-by-step guidance on how to apply for government jobs

Do I Have to Take a Civil Service Exam? Discover if a civil service exam is required for your occupation

Welcome to the FederalJobs.Net Blog

Posted on by Dennis Damp

This is the first of many articles to help job seekers find, apply for, and land a high paying and secure federal government job. The articles will cover all aspects of federal employment from entry level jobs to Senior Executive Service (SES) positions, federal  benefits, to pay and career exploration. We will also help you cope with the often stressful federal job interview.

Our site,  www.federaljobs.net,  provides easy to find information about all aspects of federal employment including expanded centralized job listings.  Our job searches compile listings from both the private and federal sectors by occupation and /or agency to provide the largest pool of job vacancies for you to explore. The job searches are geographically targeted to your area.  Unlike most job listing services we also offer abundant information on all aspects of the federal sector to prepare you for your new job. It isn’t enough to simply apply for a job vacancy, you need to know about how the federal sector functions, what your benefits will be, the work environment, and how to understand the various pay systems,  pay structure and upward mobility potential.

Use this site to locate federal job announcements and for assistance with completing your federal application and resume and to prepare for civil service exams if required.  You can explore job vacancies by occupations or agency plus learn how to best prepare for a federal job interview.  Explore the qualification standards for all occupations and learn about overseas jobs,  healthcare and law enforcement jobs, student employment, and jobs with the Post Office.  Many resources are available to locate job announcements for all occupations including agency sponsored job hot lines, Internet Web site links, employment  services, and directories. Research hiring programs such as student hiring, employee reinstatement, and  veteran’s preference.

This is an interactive blog, submit your questions and comments and we will use the feedback  to develop future articles that will address your interests and concerns. I look forward to working with site visitors to ensure they have the tools and information they need to pursue their federal job quest.