should i write a cover letter for usajobs

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What types of documents might I need to provide?

Job announcements will indicate the need to supply one or more of these types of documents in the How to Apply section.

Cover letter

A cover letter may be included if there is additional information you wish to express to the hiring authorities that is outside of what is normally included in a resume.

Transcripts

A transcript is a copy of your permanent academic record from a high school or college. To get a copy, contact the high school and/or college registrar office for instructions. Refer to the job announcement for specific instructions on which transcripts, if any, should be included.

If there are other additional documents that you wish to pass to hiring authorities, you can attach them under this document type. In addition, some jobs may require specific documents outside of this list such as writing samples, which can be attached using the type of "other".

Senior Executives

Executive core qualifications (ecqs).

If you're applying to a Senior Executive job within the Senior Executive Service (SES) you must demonstrate you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) . The ECQs define the competencies needed to build a federal corporate culture that drives for results, serves customers, and builds successful teams and coalitions within and outside the organization. The ECQs are required for entry to the SES and are used by many departments and agencies in selection, performance management, and leadership development for executive positions.

The ECQ requirement only applies to jobs within the SES. There may be other senior executive level jobs outside of the SES that require different qualifications.

Federal employees

The OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment is used to determine your acceptability for Federal and Federal contract employment and your enrollment status in the Government's Life Insurance program. You may be asked to complete this form at any time during the hiring process. Follow instructions that the agency provides. If you are selected, before you are appointed you will be asked to update your responses on this form and on other materials submitted during the application process and then to re-certify that your answers are true.

The SF-50 is a permanent record in your Official Personnel Folder that documents and reports all personnell actions (except mass transfer and mass change actions). It's the required form of notification for accessions, conversions, and separations, and for corrections and cancellations of those actions. It also details your series, grade, and proves that you worked where you said you worked, as well as when and how much you were paid. All current and former federal employees have an SF-50. Learn how to obtain a copy of your SF-50 .

The DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", is issued to military members upon separation from active service. It contains information about the veteran's dates of military service and separation. Most veterans and their next-of-kin can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 Report of Separation and other military and medical records through the National Archives Veterans' Records Service .

The SF-15 "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference" is used by Federal agencies and OPM examining offices to adjudicate individuals' claims for veterans' preference.

Additional resources

• Standard forms (OPM)

Still need help?

How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Government Job

Getting Started Don’t apply at the last minute and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to take these steps :

• Carefully read the entire announcement before applying. It seems obvious, but each announcement, even in USAJobs, is different and will have different skills needed for the job. Print a hard copy of the announcement and highlight a checklist to ensure you can address at least 3 out of 5 of the skills they’re asking for. Once you highlight their requirements, it will be easier to go back to your own cover letter to address those points.
• Research the agency to which you are applying. Your cover letter is your first opportunity to express how your mindset and talent matches with that of the organization. Catch the hiring manager’s eye by demonstrating you’ve done your homework and are familiar with the agency’s mission and some of its current programs.
• Get specific . Explain exactly what experiences you have had that make you a great candidate for the position. Don’t just say “I did x,y, and z.” For government jobs, use numbers, dollar amounts, and specify how many years for as much as you can.

Tailor Your Cover Letter So what does it mean to tailor your cover letter to the job? It’s not just highlighting your experiences and hoping the hiring manager will see a good fit. You have to connect the dots for them and that means making your skills match the required skills almost word-for-word.

First, compare your resume and the job announcement side by side. Highlight the requirements they’re asking for the job and highlight corresponding skills and experiences you have from your resume. Try doing this process in about 15 to 20 minutes. This will also help you practice for interviews since you will eventually be required to quickly recall your job experiences.

And of course, go over your applications materials in depth to make sure you don’t submit any formatting, grammatical, or punctuation errors.

Here is an example of a post from USAJobs with keywords in bold:   The Student Trainee (Contract Specialist) – PATHWAYS Intern  is a member of a team responsible for the negotiation, award, and monitoring/administration of Federal assistance agreements (grants and cooperative agreements) and contracts for a wide array of research, non-personnel support services, specialized studies and other activities necessary to support the FHWA Headquarter, FHWA Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center, State Division Office, and Resource Center program offices.  Under close supervision of the Team Leader, the intern will perform the following functions:

• Assists in pre-award and post-award functions involving a full range of procurement actions, typically involving technical services or programs of research and development , specialized equipment or systems.
• Assists with  developing requests  for  applications  (RFA), requests for  proposals  (RFP), and requests for  quotations  (RFQ).  The intern will help to  analyze, evaluate, and negotiate  proposals and applications for agency contracting and Federal assistance opportunities.
• Assists with  acquisition planning, scheduling  procurement from time of acceptance through award.

Here’s an example from my undergraduate resume to match with some of the above points:

• Nonprofit Volunteer Coordinator: Oversaw research and development as well as the technical production of building Tunnel on campus and acquirement of specialized equipment systems needed for sound and visual media. Cost of production was over $20,000 and took a total of 9 months to plan.
• University Program Board Director: Developed and negotiated over 50 proposals and contracts with speakers and agencies, scheduled and planned 100 events by coordinating facilities, catering, as well as budget of over $30,000.

You’re not going to have the exact same positions as specified in the job announcement. But chances are you’ve had some academic, volunteer, and/or professional experiences that are applicable. Be sure you’re also not making up your skills just to fit the job requirements. Just adjust words in your resume and cover letter to better fit the job vacancy.

Draft the Cover Letter Now that you have gone through your resume and highlighted matching examples to the job requirements, it’s time to start writing your cover letter. Choose the three most relevant examples from your resume that you can tailor to the position. This is because a cover letter should be no more than 3-4 paragraphs, so you want to be succinct. Use numbers, years, and any dollar amounts to be as specific as possible.

Here’s an example to start off with relevant points highlighted from the above USAJobs vacancy:

Dear Ms. Smith,

As a recent graduate of (xyx program), I am seeking to apply my 4 years of research, administrative, and event planning to a career in public service. I am interested in the Student Trainee Contract Specialist Position because I want to specialize in negotiation, award, and monitoring of Federal assistance agreements . More importantly, I believe my negotiating, evaluative, and analytical skills all would be highly suitable for the position.

The next two to three paragraphs should each draw on a bulleted example you use from your resume elaborating on how your experiences in the position apply to the job vacancy and how it would help you to grow in the role.

Remember, your cover letter is your opportunity to make a good first impression with the hiring manager. It can determine whether or not the hiring manager will even read your resume. While it is a long and tedious process for a seemingly short letter, it’s important to allow the necessary time and research to make sure that your cover letter keeps the potential employer reading.

For more resources on cover letter writing, be sure to check out these posts:

– How to Tweak Your Cover Letter and Resume for More Impact

– Are You Making These 4 Mistakes in Your Cover Letter?

For more reading about millennials in public service, check out this weekly GovLoop series,  First 5: Advice from millennial to millennial

Related Content

• Fall Into Free Professional Development

Tips for Introverted Leaders

The Do’s and Don’ts of Delegation

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great points. would have loved to see an example of a complete cover letter (the link is broken in :Example of a cover letter tailored to a federal position”)

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Last Updated on 12/26/2023

Sample cover letters for government jobs provide clear guidance to help you craft an enticing message to a job recruiter. Your letter should be no more than one page and quickly highlight your best qualifications for the desired position.

A government cover letter template will guide you through the elements that a strong cover letter needs to succeed. In general, the letter must:

• Name the open job position and employer
• Cite technical skills and training
• Refer to the candidate’s strongest work experience.

When writing your letter, keep in mind the priorities of the person who’ll read it. That person does not have much time to look at your letter. The reader’s whole goal will be to spot details that match the job description.

A closer look at a sample letter reveals specific techniques for conveying technical skills and real-world experience.

Table of Contents

• 1.1 The Opening Paragraph
• 1.2 Second Paragraph 
• 1.3 Third Paragraph 
• 1.4 Fourth Paragraph 
• 1.5 The Final Word

Federal Cover Letter Example

In this sample cover letter for a government job , you see a simple format. The job candidate’s contact information is at the top of the page. The salutation addresses the exact person screening job candidates. It’s important to add the exact name when you know it to demonstrate your attention to detail.

The Opening Paragraph

The opening paragraph states the job position and department. This immediately communicates to the reader that the candidate took the time to customize the letter for the application.

Second Paragraph 

The 2 nd paragraph recognizes the issues that form the department’s operational purpose. The recruiter will favor candidates who frame the discussion around the employer’s needs. The candidate’s references to an analytic and quantitative background fit with the job’s work duties. In the rest of the paragraph, the job candidate makes strong statements about academic training, international work, and communication skills.

Read on How to Write a Cover Letter for a Government Agency

Third Paragraph 

The 3 rd paragraph strives to portray the candidate as someone who never stops learning. The letter provides information about the candidate’s current participation in an intense graduate training program at a prestigious university. Details about the finance and econometric content of the curriculum sharpen the focus on the candidate’s advanced skills.

Fourth Paragraph 

The 4 th paragraph highlights a person’s international experience. The candidate cites two accomplishments in business and finance. The closing paragraphs describe the person’s process for solving problems while accomplishing goals overseas. The candidate emphasized the creativity and leadership necessary to succeed in the projects. This information shows that the person has the ability to work independently.

The Final Word

The letter finishes with a summary of the person’s technical skills and a desire to serve the public. The strong examples within the sample letter have a high potential to motivate the recruiter to look at the resume.

Need more information? See another government resume template.

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Did you recently discover a federal job that looks like it was made for you? Perhaps you found it directly on USAJOBS, or perhaps you heard about it from a colleague, saw a call on social media or discovered a posting on another job board. Either way, you'll almost certainly need to apply through USAJOBS. We know it's a complex and often mysterious system, so we've compiled some tips below to help you navigate USAJOBS and make sure your qualifications come through clearly. (Note: This document is for informational purposes only. Refer to USAJOBS for specific application requirements for each open position.)

Important facts about the federal hiring process

• The only place to apply for Federal Jobs is online at USAJOBS ( https://www.usajobs.gov ).
• Applying to the Federal Government is more complicated than simply sending in a resume. It requires your resume to be translated onto a standard job application.
• The information you enter into USAJOBS will be used to determine if you have met a pre-defined list of qualifications that align with the job announcement. If you have not addressed all the questions in the application or given details that are needed to verify your qualifications, you will not be deemed qualified for the position.
• Including your resume as an attachment is encouraged! A resume including cover letter, CV and statement of career goals can provide added context for the search committee (but it won’t help if you don’t qualify, so be sure to read the qualifying section below).
• Once the hiring agency has determined that you are qualified, they may use other assessments such as interviews or testing to select employees.

Qualifying for a Federal Job

Federal jobs usually require that you have experience in a particular type of work for a certain period of time. You must show how your skills and experiences meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. It is critical to Include dates, hours, level of experience and examples for each work experience. HR needs to see that you worked full time for a certain amount of time to qualify you. For each work experience you list, make sure you include:

• Start and end dates (including the month and year).
• The number of hours you worked per week. For example, if you worked a 40-hours-per-week job and do not specifically write “full time 40 hours per week,” your application will be rejected.
• The level and amount of experience—for instance, whether you served as a project manager or a team leader/member—helps to  helps to illustrate your level of experience.
• Examples of relevant experiences and accomplishments that prove you can perform the tasks at the level required for the job as stated in the job announcement. Your experience needs to address every required qualification.

Applying for a job with a disability? Check out this Resume and Employment Guide for People with Disabilities (Source: Resume Builder)

Tips for Submitting the Right Materials

The basic things you need: Resume, education transcripts (unofficial is OK), and cover letter. Below are some tips to make sure you have all the right materials to make your application shine. 

• Resume format: Upload this as a standard PDF or .doc/.docx file, even if you're also prompted to fill in the USAJOBS resume questions. PDFs are much easier for reviewers to read.
• Resume content: Make sure to list the month and year of each job, not just the year. Many good candidates can get inadvertently disqualified at this stage, if HR isn't sure they've completed the minimum time requirement for a certain kind of experience (e.g. "1 year at the postdoctoral level" or "1 year at a GS-12 equivalent"). Again, to make sure HR can see that you’re qualified, make sure your resume explicitly ties your experience to everything listed in the “Specialized Experience” section.
• Transcripts (unofficial is OK): Upload all of your higher education transcripts, including undergraduate transcripts. Sometimes jobs have a specific number of semester hours required for a certain field, and if you don't include your undergraduate transcripts, HR may not know that you've completed them. (Pro tip: If you want to make it extra easy for HR, list the classes you've taken that meet each coursework requirement. The application reviewers will love you for doing this.)
• Foreign transcripts: If you obtained any degrees outside the U.S., provide documentation explaining their equivalency to U.S. courses and degrees.
• For scientist applications: List any relevant grants you've received, with the title, amount, award number and funder. (This may not be relevant for all applications.)
• Job specific questions: After you finish designating which materials from USAJobs you want to apply to a particular job application, you will get transferred to a Smithsonian site, where you answer application-specific questions. After you transfer, if your documents (transcripts, etc., not the resume) do not show up as attached, you will need to click on them to attach them to your application. Your resume should upload automatically and is not considered a "document". Check to be sure your resume and all documents show up as attached and answer all job specific questions.

Find out more on what to include in your application and get tips on resume writing for federal hire

Common snags

• The job closed before you applied. Some USAJOBS ads are only open for a few days. Have a set of general documents ready to apply for federal jobs, and then customize them as needed for each job.
• You didn’t include the number of hours you worked per week, or the number of months and years you worked , for the job that qualifies you under the specialized experience statement.
• Your specialized experience wasn’t clear to HR , who are not specialists in your field. Be explicit about what your experience includes, use straightforward language (such as the language in the USAJOBS ad specialized experience statement) and don’t be afraid to elaborate as much as you need to. This is where a lot of good candidates get blocked.
• Your application package is missing documents. Double check before submitting, and frequently log back in to your USA Jobs account to see if HR has flagged any missing documents.

U.S. cover letter tips and examples

Many jobs in the USA will require you to write a cover letter. Find tips on how to write a strong cover letter. Review examples and download a template you can fill in.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a short document that you submit along with your resume when applying for a job. It is meant to share more about you than just the information on your resume . 

A cover letter allows you to:

• Introduce yourself.
• Share your interests and values.
• Highlight your experience and skills in more detail.
• Explain why you are a good fit for the position and the company. 
• Show your communication style. 

Job applications will state whether a cover letter is required or optional. If it is marked optional, consider submitting one if you have important information to offer that’s not listed in your resume. 

10 tips for writing a good cover letter

1. do your research..

Visit the company’s website and LinkedIn profile and read about its mission, work, and team. Find the name of the hiring manager.

2. Make sure your letter has a good structure. 

It should have these key sections:

Date: This can be at the top of the letter.

Address your letter: After the date, add your contact information including your email address. Add the employer’s contact information below it. This should be followed by a “ Dear hiring manager, ”. If you can find the specific name of the person doing the hiring, you should include that instead. 

Opening : Introduce yourself and name the position you are applying for. Explain why you are interested in this job and how you will be a good fit for it. 

Body : Describe your education, work experience, and qualifications that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Give examples of specific projects that relate to the work and skills outlined in the job description. 

Closing : Restate your interests and qualifications. Thank the reader and ask for a meeting or phone call. 

Signature: At the bottom of the letter include a “ Sincerely, ” followed by your signature and then typed name. 

3. Share you understand what the company does and why you like them.

It is important to show you have done your research and are familiar with the company culture. Explain what you like about the company and why you want to work with them. Talk about the values and goals that you share with the company. 

4. Write about yourself and not your team. 

Use the word “I” instead of “we” when talking about your specific strengths and accomplishments.

5. Highlight what makes you unique. 

Talk about the strengths, skills, and experiences that will help you succeed in your job. For example, how will your immigrant or refugee background be an asset to the position and company?  

6. Focus on what you’re good at. 

Write about the skills and experiences you have. Do not mention qualifications that you do not have. You can still be a good candidate even if you do not have all the skills listed in the job description.

7. Write clearly and concisely. 

Do not include any information that’s not related to the job or company. Do not repeat basic information in your resume. Instead, give more detail about a specific skill or achievement. Tell a story about a time you made a positive impact at work.  

8. Use good formatting and the same font as your resume.

Set the margin to 1 inch on all sides. Use single spacing. Left align the text. Make sure to use the same font style and size on your resume. 

9. Proofread your cover letter. 

Check your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word choice with a tool like Grammarly. Reading your cover letter out loud can also help you catch mistakes. Ask a friend to read your cover letter and give you feedback.

10. Save your cover letter in the correct format. 

Check your job application for instructions on which format to save your cover letter in. You may be asked to share your cover letter as a word document or PDF. Others might ask you to upload it on a website.

Cover letter templates and examples

Learn how to format your cover letter. Download this cover letter template and fill it in. 

• Career One Stop has a template and tips for writing a cover letter. 
• Upwardly Global’s cover letter guide includes a template, cover letter samples, practice questions, and a checklist. 

An effective cover letter is important if you want a good chance at your dream job. Best of luck on your job search!

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Tips for Writing a Federal Resume

Creating a federal resume that brings your qualifications to life and shows that you are a perfect fit for the job can be a challenge. Be sure to demonstrate how your skills, experience, training and education match the employer’s needs. Avoid misspelled words and bad grammar. Following are a few ways to make this easier.

Consider what positions you are interested in and review what qualifications or experience they require by reviewing different types of jobs and job opportunity announcements on USAJOBS . Gather information and begin to build out a description of your knowledge, skills and experience to add to your resume. How you present your skills and experience in your resume will help determine whether or not you are invited to interview for a job.

Attend job assistance training prior to departing the service. Contact your Transition Assistance Center as soon as possible and sign up for a Transition Assistance Program Workshop. If you are not near a Military Transition Center, you may use the services at Transition Assistance Offices operated by the other military services. Use your transition counselors. They have the tools and knowledge you need. If available, get their help in creating your first resume or filling out a draft application. Ask them to critique your work and then make the changes they suggest.

One size never fits all. As you apply for jobs, tailor your resume to the position’s requirements. Study the job opportunity announcement and emphasize the parts of your work history that match the qualification requirements listed there. It is important to portray your knowledge and skills as a match to the requirements of the position and demonstrate the ability to do the job. This is easy to do when you include your results, achievements and accomplishments. Minimize the use of technical jargon or specialized terminology (e.g., military abbreviations) in your resume.

Resumes are generally presented in one of three formats: chronological, functional or a combination of both. Which format you choose will depend, in part, on the type of work you have performed and whether or not you are going to continue in the same field.

• Chronological resumes list work experience according to date, with the current job appearing first. Chronological resumes work well if your career has been progressive and you plan to continue in the same line of work.
• Functional resumes are organized by the skills you have used on the job. Functional resumes work well if you are contemplating a new career, do not have a lengthy work history, or have held a number of different positions because they sell your abilities based on the skills you have acquired throughout your career. Be sure to include relevant volunteer experience.
• Combination resumes both describe your work experience and highlight your skills. Combination resumes usually provide the most comprehensive overview of your career.

Unlike resumes used in the private sector, federal resumes require additional information. For each past job, give the standard information found in most resumes. Your federal resume should include the following:

• Job announcement number, job title , and job grade of the job for which you are applying
• Your full name, mailing address , day and evening phone numbers and home e-mail .
• Country of citizenship , if different from U.S.
• Veterans – Ensure that you attach or upload supporting documentation (e.g., DD214 or Statement of Service if still on Active Duty; SF-15, Application for 10-point preference; and Disability Rating Letter of 30% or more from the VA, if applicable).
• Peace Corps / AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers – If you are a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, you will need to provide your Description of Service (DOS) to claim non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs. AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers
• Persons with Disabilities (Schedule A) – To verify eligibility for employment under the Schedule A hiring authority, you must provide proof of disability issued by a licensed medical professions, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any federal agency, state agency, or an agency of the District of Columbia, or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. Contact the Department’s Selective Placement Coordinators for help with hiring and accommodation requests.
• Veterans – Keep in mind that your military training may count towards qualifications. Use your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) document (DD Form 2586) to document your training and education.
• Begin with your current position and list all other positions held in chronological order.
• State the job title, starting and ending dates (including month and year), prior employer's name and address (or write "self-employed," if that applies), and major duties and accomplishments. Include any positions temporarily held.
• Show the average number of hours worked per week or simply state "full-time"; salary or wage earned; supervisor's name, address and telephone number; and whether you’re most recent supervisor may be contacted.
• Veterans - Avoid using military job titles or occupational codes. Instead, look at what you did using your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) as a starting point. Employers prefer proven performers, so make sure you know what employers are looking for in comparison to your military work experience.
• Indicate if your current supervisor can be contacted
• Job-related training courses (title and year).
• self-management skills refer to the way you manage yourself on the job (e.g., dependable, resourceful, etc.);
• functional skills are the skills you use on the job or have used in previous jobs (e.g., operate equipment, supervise, analyze, etc.); and
• technical skills relate to specific skills required to perform a described task (e.g., computer programming, accounting, sales, etc.)
• Current job-related certificates and licenses - Make sure you understand the licensure and certification requirements for your job objective.
• Job-related honors, awards, special accomplishments , leadership activities, memberships, or publications.

Once you have spell checked your resume, take a good look at its overall appearance. Is it appealing and easy to read? Is there enough white space? Are the margins appropriate? Have the headings, font and formatting style been used effectively? Keep in mind that your resume is an employer's first impression of you. Make sure it makes the best one possible.

• Review the job announcements carefully for key words
• Use verbs and adjectives (e.g., managed, implemented, created) that match key words identified in the job announcement.
• Eliminate military lingo (use words such as personnel instead of squad or platoon).
• Include your accomplishments; do not be shy, be truthful.
• Focus on the mission of the agency and translate your experiences.
• Your positive attitude and genuine enthusiasm goes a long way.

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How to write winning resumes and cover letters for federal internships

Not all resumes are created equal — at least when it comes to those for the federal government.

Applicants applying to a government internship might feel inclined to copy and paste the same resume that has been submitted to other positions outside the federal government. But there are some key differences and tips to know when submitting a resume to Uncle Sam.

For one, while private sector hiring managers prefer resumes that do not exceed one page, federal job applications do not adhere to this standard. Government jobs actually prefer multiple-page long resumes that list experience, education, job titles and descriptions, salaries, employment dates for timeline comparisons, successes made during previous employment and how an applicants skills and abilities apply to the job description, according to USAJobs .

USAJobs, the premiere job board for agencies looking to hire, offers a template that helps create a uniform, succinct resume tailored to government work. That’s a good place to start, but experts interviewed by Federal Times offered additional tips to help applicants submit the best resume and cover letter possible, prepare for an interview and complete an application properly.

Before an applicant can even get to the stage of applying, one must find the internship itself. Sadly, there is no exhaustive list of every available federal internship. However, USAJobs and the Pathways Program are both popular options that list many federal internship opportunities across agencies.

Pathways recently proposed changes to expand its eligibility and provide internship opportunities for individuals without a college degree.

Strict deadlines

After finding job listings that look promising, note the deadlines of the position as many federal positions have strict deadlines and due to the lengthy application process and security clearances , can come up sooner than expected. This means starting the process early and noting all deadlines before even beginning to fill out forms.

“Work on it early, especially if you are a university student,” said Brian Rowe, director of experiential education at American University’s career center. “Start to plan a path of exploration because internships can be exploratory. You don’t have to start an internship the very first minute you get to college, but start the process of evaluating what you’d like to explore, what you’d like to do and see how it fits into a path … Sometimes you have to get the ball rolling really quickly because of security clearances.”

Many federal internships use technology to sift out applications that do not satisfy their requirements, so make sure when applying to federal internships, buzzwords from the job listing are sprinkled throughout the resume.

“Try to use as many of the keywords that are in the job description in your resume,” said Kira Carney, a former National Park Services intern. “I’m pretty sure this internship had an electronic scanner that your resume is processed first electronically and weeded out, for federal jobs that’s definitely true. So using keywords is a great way to bolster and tie your resume as much as you can to the position.”

For agencies that do use an automated application process to sort through resume’s, the machine is not the only one doing the work. Applications that correctly fit the job application will be sent on to a human representative who will give them a more in-depth review.

So, when building a resume for a federal internship, focus on keeping the font neutral and readable and make sure the formatting is not confusing. Don’t try to be fancy, but highlight qualifications and let the work speak for itself.

Many federal internships are not expecting every applicant to have lots of previous employment, so experience like volunteer work, relevant in-depth projects, topical academic work and research are all relevant.

How to stand out

“To stand out, you want to take that job description and apply it [to your resume] because federal job descriptions are very clear,” Rowe said. “They aren’t ambiguous. Look at what it is saying. What is it asking for? What are the action verbs? What are the tasks? What are the skills that are required? And reflect that back in context for your experiences.”

An excellent cover letter also speaks volumes, Rowe acknowledged . The cover letter lets the hiring manager know why they should hire an applicant over anyone else. Use the opportunity a cover letter presents to tell a story.

“It’s a short way to give a narrative and focus on the skills and experience that the internship is looking for,” Rowe said. “Sometimes people describe their resume as the “what,” like what are my skills, what is my knowledge, what’s my training - academic or otherwise - and the cover letter can be a little more of the “why,” what’s my motivation, why am I applying for this, why am I really motivated to come in and do a great job?”

It’s also good to specify the federal agency’s name in the cover letter and mention something about it to show interest.

“I found it fascinating when applicants could mention the agency and the mission,” said Carol Wilkerson, former Press Director at the Small Business Administration and a former recruiter for the Peace Corps. “Those who mention the agency or the mission or something that was recent in the news relating to the internship position they are vying for, that helped me put that applicant at the top and that person got additional points pertaining to the interview level.”

It’s also important to keep in mind who the audience is. While it may not be apparent who exactly is reviewing each resume, knowing what hiring managers are looking for is important. On top of the job description, employers are looking for demonstrated commitment.

“When I’m sifting through those resumes, I would always look at their scholarly achievements, where they are in their career goals or what they have done community service-wise and any volunteer activities that can show me that that person is committed and dedicated to this particular assignment,” Wilkerson said. “I do look at that timeline to see if this person is going to stay on the course with us.”

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While waiting in the interim to hear back on whether an application will move forward to the interview phase, a follow-up email with a thank you note is a good step to boost an application’s chances of getting noticed.

“I actually reached out to the contact for the [internship] I ended up getting, just to follow up on my application,” Carney said. “And she actually told me that I was one of very few who followed up, so that’s why I got an interview because there were over 100 [applicants] and they started with people who took the initiative to follow up.”

Once an applicant has been selected for an interview, it is important to prepare for the interview. Do mock interviews, think of ways to answer popular questions, like the star method , research the agency’s missions and look for advice from trusted sources who might have experience in similar realms.

“I had jobs in high school and the beginning of college, but those were all server jobs, kind of your basic restaurant jobs,” said Katie Gray, a former intern at the Federal Bureau of Investigations. “They weren’t super serious, so this was my first real job interview so I talked to my parents for advice. I talked to a family friend who had been in the military for several years and had knew what to expect from government interviews. And then I made a list of some questions I was expecting and prepared some answers.”

Georgina DiNardo is an editorial fellow for Military Times and Defense News and a recent graduate of American University, specializing in journalism, psychology, and photography in Washington, D.C.

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1 Federal Cover Letter Example

Federals are known for their meticulous attention to detail, adherence to regulations, and commitment to public service. Similarly, your cover letter should reflect these qualities, presenting a detailed account of your professional journey, showcasing your adherence to the job requirements, and demonstrating your dedication to the role. In this guide, we'll delve into the best cover letter examples for Federals, helping you to craft a compelling narrative that resonates with recruiters.

Cover Letter Examples

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The best way to start a Federal cover letter is by addressing the hiring manager directly, if their name is known. If not, use a formal salutation such as "Dear Hiring Manager." Then, introduce yourself and state the position you're applying for. It's also beneficial to mention where you found the job posting. This shows you're proactive and have a genuine interest in the position. Remember, Federal jobs often require a more formal tone than private sector jobs, so keep your language professional and clear.

Federals should end a cover letter by summarizing their interest in the position and expressing their eagerness to contribute to the organization. They should reiterate their key qualifications and how they align with the job requirements. It's also important to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration. The closing should be professional and respectful. For example, "Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to bring my skills and dedication to your team and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further." After the closing statement, they should include a formal sign-off such as "Sincerely" or "Respectfully," followed by their full name. It's also recommended to include their contact information below their name for easy reference.

A Federal cover letter should ideally be one page long. This length is sufficient to present your qualifications, skills, and experiences relevant to the job you are applying for without overwhelming the reader. Federal hiring managers often have to review many applications, so it's important to keep your cover letter concise and to the point. Make sure every sentence serves a purpose and contributes to demonstrating your suitability for the role. Remember, the goal of the cover letter is to entice the hiring manager to read your resume and consider you for the position.

Writing a cover letter with no experience as a Federal can seem challenging, but it's definitely possible. Here's how you can approach it: 1. Research: Understand the role you're applying for and the agency. This will help you tailor your cover letter to their needs and values. 2. Introduction: Start with a strong opening paragraph that grabs the reader's attention. Mention the position you're applying for and where you found the job posting. 3. Highlight Transferable Skills: Even if you don't have direct federal experience, you likely have skills that are transferable. Highlight these in your cover letter. For example, if you're applying for a project management role, discuss any projects you've managed in the past, even if they were in a different industry. 4. Use Examples: Provide examples of your work that demonstrate your skills. This could be a project you completed, a problem you solved, or an initiative you led. 5. Show Enthusiasm: Express your interest in the role and the agency. This shows that you're motivated and eager to contribute. 6. Align with the Agency's Mission: Federal agencies often have specific missions or goals. Show how your personal or professional values align with these. 7. Professionalism: Remember to maintain a professional tone throughout your cover letter. This includes using formal language, proper grammar, and avoiding slang or casual phrases. 8. Closing: In your closing paragraph, thank the reader for their time and express your interest in the opportunity to interview for the position. 9. Proofread: Finally, make sure to proofread your cover letter for any errors before sending it. Remember, the goal of your cover letter is to show how your skills and experiences make you a good fit for the role, even if you don't have direct federal experience.

Related Cover Letters for Federals

Contract manager cover letter.

Procurement Cover Letter

Postal Service Cover Letter

Contractor Cover Letter

Program Manager Cover Letter

Federal Cover Letter

Related Resumes for Federals

Federal resume example.

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How to write a federal cover letter?

If you are trying to apply for a government job, you probably have come across this question several times.

Federal government jobs are very lucrative. According to the U.S Bureau of Labour Statistics , federal job opportunities will grow by 6 million by 2029.

However, with these immense growth opportunities, there is enormous competition for federal jobs in the market.

To secure a federal job for yourself, you need to set yourself apart from the crowd.

And a cover letter for federal job can help you do that.

Writing a cover letter is already tricky for some of you!

But writing a federal resume cover letter can be a whole other story.

You need to keep a lot in mind when writing a cover letter for a federal government job.

Would you like to know how?

In this article, we show you:

• What is a federal government cover letter?
• A federal resume cover letter sample
• how to write a cover letter for a federal job?
• Federal cover letter formatting rules
• A checklist for writing a federal government cover letter
• 5 helpful tips to write a federal government cover letter

What is a Federal cover letter?

[ Back to Table of Content ]

A federal cover letter is a professional one-page letter that you need to create when applying for a US federal government job.

Your federal job cover letter will allow you to highlight your skills, experience, and accomplishments to the federal government employer and show them that you are the perfect fit for the job.

A federal government cover letter should not contain all the information on your resume, but it should elaborate the most relevant information about you succinctly.

Why do you need a federal cover letter?

Most federal resumes are one to two pages long and can not address the hiring manager directly. A recruiter only gets 7.4 seconds to look at your application.

A tailored federal cover letter can pique the recruiter’s attention and highlight your most relevant skills and accomplishments to the recruiter. A cover letter for federal job also is a tool to sell your skills to the organization and emphasize how you can benefit the organization.

Federal Cover Letter Sample

Here's a federal cover letter example for you:

Federal Cover Letter - Starting

Your cover letter for federal job is a professional letter. So it needs to follow the rules of a professional cover letter. These rules are : Start with a proper heading Ensure that your federal cover letter heading is appropriately formatted. Make sure this information are on the cover letter heading:

• Contact Number
• Residential location
• Linkedin Profile Link (If you have)
• Job title you are applying for
• Name of the hiring manager
• Title of the hiring manager
• Organization name

Use professional salutation

Your federal job cover letter is a professional letter. So make sure you are addressing the hiring manager professionally. For example:

• Dear Mr. Shaw,
• Dear Dr. Hobbs,
• Dear Ms Moore,

If you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, then you can simply address by,

• Dear Hiring Manager,

But do not use “ To whomever it may concern ,” It’s old school and does not pique the recruiter’s attention.

To know more, you can follow the “ How to address a cover letter ” guide.

Federal cover letter - Introduction

Hiring managers are already frustrated sorting and reading resumes and cover letters all day. Do not bore them further by writing a dull introduction to your federal resume cover letter.

Here are three powerful ways to start your federal cover letter with a bang:

• Start your cover letter mentioning your years of experience.
• Start your cover letter highlighting your professional accomplishments.
• If you are an entry-level professional, start your cover letter with academic achievements, referrals, awards, or anything relevant to the position.

Federal cover letter example - introduction:

10th January 2023 Ms. Carrie Woods Hiring Manager ABC LLC 81, Metro Lane, Colorado Springs, CO

RE: Market Administrator

Dear Ms. Woods, As 3 years experienced Market Administrator with a track record of successfully managing multiple projects with 100+ workers, I am adept at conceptualizing and implementing optimum process efficiency strategies. With a focus on deploying an in-depth understanding of project planning to Improve process efficiency, I am incredibly interested in the profile of Market Administrator at the Federal Agency Department

Note : This is a perfect example of a federal cover letter example. It starts with a powerful statement about your experience. Also, it successfully quantified your accomplishments.

Dear Hiring Manager, I have 3 years of experience in project management. I previously worked as a market administrator in the Federal Milk Distribution department, where I managed multiple projects successfully.

And I am incredibly interested in working with the Federal Agency Department .

Federal cover letter with no experience - example:

Dear Ms. Woods, I am an enterprising ocean conservation advocate pursuing a law degree from Loyola University, adept at legal research and legal writing. I have an excellent understanding of federal laws, including the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. I'm also skilled at the legislative process and advocating for policy changes.

Federal cover letter - Second paragraph

Your federal cover letter second paragraph should highlight your relevant professional experience. Also, do not use vague language to describe your accomplishments.

Be specific with your work experience and quantify your achievements wherever possible.

Furthermore, tailor your cover letter to the federal job you are applying for.

This process is easier than you think.

• Read the job description thoroughly.
• Highlight the responsibilities required for the federal job
• Match the skills and responsibilities with your current skills and experience in the cover letter

It shows the hiring manager that you have done your research and are interested in the job.

Additionally, if you have any career gap in the resume, a cover letter is the perfect opportunity to justify your career gap.

Federal Cover Letter Example- Second paragraph: Right:

In my last stint at the Federal Milk Distribution Department, I have successfully attended 100+ phone calls per month. Additionally, I have converted 300+ analog documents into digital prints and created catalogs by deploying Oracle systems. Apart from that, I was responsible for managing and scheduling meetings for 10+ staff members with 100% efficiency.

Note : Notice that this second paragraph successfully highlights the candidate's key accomplishments and entice recruiters to read the resume.

In my last job, I was responsible for attending calls, managing documents, and scheduling staff members’ meetings.I also have experience in Microsoft Excel and Oracle systems for document management.

Note : This example does not have anything that might pique the hiring manager’s interest to read your cover letter further.

Federal Cover Letter - Ending

You have successfully hooked the hiring manager till the end. Now it’s time to show the recruiter how much you want to work for the organization and end the letter with a powerful CTA.

All federal jobs are most glorious. It takes the right kind of professionals to excel in some jobs. So, you need to project your enthusiasm for the job at the end of your resume and let the recuriter know how much you love working.

Not only that, It's better to directly ask the recuriter for an interview.

However, do not be pushy or needy why asking for an interview like this:

• Please accept my candidature for an interview
• It would be great if you consider me for an interview.

Instead, write this:

• I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my suitability and qualifications with you on call or in person.

Federal cover letter Example - Ending:

Right : I thoroughly believe that my 3 years of experience in meeting scheduling, document preparation, and call handling can bring your organization success. Inspired by its collaborative working style that emphasizes teamwork, trust & tolerance, I consider the Federal Agency to be my most preferred employer.

Enclosed for your consideration is my resume. I’d appreciate the opportunity to further discuss my suitability and qualifications with you on call or in person. Sincerely,

David Johnson

Enclosures: Resume

Wrong : I think my 3 years of experience in meeting scheduling, document management, and call handling will bring success to your organization.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Best, David Johnson

Note: This is not a proper ending for a federal cover letter. Firstly, you should not use a casual ending salutation in your federal cover letter. Secondly, it does not have a clear CTA to encourage the recruiter to take action. Refer to our federal government cover letter samples above to understand better.

Federal Cover Letter - Formatting

Writing the perfect federal cover letter is not all. To get noticed, you need to make sure that the cover letter is presented to the hiring manager properly.

So, make sure to format your federal cover letter well and proofread it before sending it to the hiring manager.

Here are a couple of tips to professionally format your federal cover letter:

No professional letter should stretch beyond one page. And you need to follow the same rule for your federal cover letter.

Use simple or clear fonts in your federal cover letter. It improves the readability and looks clean.

Some professional fonts are:

• Times New Roman

Note : Make sure to use a font size between 11-14 points

Make sure to have at least 1” margins on all sides of your federal cover letter. If the cover letter exceeds one page, you can shrink the margins to ½* or ¾*, not more than that.

Ensure that your federal cover letter has plenty of whitespaces. It improves readability and helps the cover letter get past the ATS system.

File format

Always send your cover letter in PDF format , not in JPEG, or PNG. Not even DOCS format.

It will help the hiring manager to sort your cover letter effortlessly.

Federal cover letter - Checklist

This checklist will help you write a federal cover letter for yourself.

• Your name, contact information, and location on the header
• Cover letter title
• Hiring manager's name
• Company name
• Company address
• First paragraph - better to start with your years of experience
• The second paragraph - Highlight your relevant key skills and achievements
• Third paragraph - Why you think this job is right for you
• Fifth paragraph - Call to action for an interview
• Closing salutation
• Enclosure - resume

Federal cover letter - Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips to help you write a stellar federal cover letter.

Read the job description thoroughly

Usually, the job description contains all the information about the skills and responsibilities of a federal job. So, always read the job description carefully before writing the cover letter. It will Help you sort out the jobs to find the perfect fit job for you.

You can pick from the skills mentioned in the job descriptions and highlight them throughout your cover letter.

Also, many job descriptions have specific instructions for resumes and cover letters. If you do not read the job description, you will miss these essential instructions, and your resume will never get past the ATS system.

Research the Government agency

Every job is different, and each job takes the right mindset and love to excel in it. Your cover letter allows you to showcase that your skills and passion for the job lies with the government agency’s vision and mission.

For example, if you apply for an Environmental Specialist position, you can showcase your passion for the environment by mentioning some volunteer work you have done in the past.

Create specific cover letters for each job

Many candidates create generic cover letters for each job profile. But for a federal job, you need to tailor each cover letter for the specific job you are applying for. You can easily do this by creating a master cover letter. Whenever you need to apply for a job, tweak the master cover letter concerning the job description skills and responsibilities.

Keep your Federal Cover Letter to-the-point

The hiring manager only has a couple of seconds to look at your cover letter. So, make sure to keep your federal cover letter concise and to the point. Do not exceed one page, and try to wrap up your cover letter within 3-4 paragraphs.

Proofread your cover letters

Do not send your cover letter to the recruiter right away. Always proofread your cover letters and do a proper grammar and spelling check before sending it to the recruiters. It’s best to take expert opinion to create your federal cover letter before sending it to the recruiter.

Hiration Online Resume Builder Service can help you do that.

Online Resume Builder

These are the features of Online Resume Builder:

• Option to save unlimited resumes
• Intuitive next text suggestion
• Auto bold feature
• 20+ Cover letter designs
• LIVE resume score
• JD-resume matcher
• Full rich-text editor
• Unlimited PDF downloads
• 1-click design change
• A sharable link
• LIVE editor Go to our Online Resume Builder and choose from 20+ federal cover letter templates to create a professional cover letter for yourself!

Key Takeaways

With that, we have come to the end of this blog. Let’s see some of the key takeaways from the blog:

• Always format your federal cover letter professionally. Keep it on a single page, and ensure to have 1” margins on all sides.
• Start your cover letter introduction with a powerful statement such as your years of experience.
• Highlight your best achievements relevant to the job on the second paragraph of the cover letter and include keywords in this section
• Explain why you are the right fit for the job in the third paragraph
• Do some research on the organization and write something that matches your personality with the company mission in the last paragraph.
• End your cover letter for federal job with a CTA for an interview
• Do not forget to enclose your resume in the federal government cover letter.

If you want to create a federal cover letter, go to Hiration Resume Builder tool and choose from 20+ cover letter templates to create a professional federal cover letter for you.

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An official website of the United States government

Attorney- Adviser (Public Utilities)

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies through the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government Rankings! This Attorney-Adviser position is located in the Office of General Counsel. For more information visit:  Office of the General Counsel (OGC) .

• Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

09/03/2024 to 09/12/2024

$117,962 - $191,900 per year

Pay scale & grade

3 vacancies in the following location:

• Washington, DC 3 vacancies

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Some travel maybe required.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Appointment type, work schedule, promotion potential.

15 - FPL for the GS-13 is GS-13. FPL for the GS-14 is GS-14. FPL for the GS-15 is GS-15.

Job family (Series)

• 0905 Attorney

Supervisory status

Security clearance, position sensitivity and risk.

Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

Bargaining unit status.

Yes - This position is included in a bargaining unit.

Announcement number

FERC-ATTY-2024-0020

Control number

This job is open to.

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from current and former competitive service Federal employees, and people eligible under special hiring authorities. You may be reinstated within 3 years after the date of your separation. Reinstatement eligibility may be extended by certain activities that occur during the 3-year period after separation from your last career-conditional appointment.

These positions are located in the Energy Markets section.

As an Attorney-Adviser, some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Drafting orders, opinions, regulations or other documents related to Commission jurisdictional matters affecting the electric and natural gas pipeline industries.
• Evaluating facts, legal pleadings and briefs, data or other relevant materials, marshal evidence and arguments to support conclusions and recommendations and identifying and recommending appropriate resolution of questions of law and policy.
• Working collaboratively with cross-departmental teams that may include attorneys, analysts, engineers, other subject-matter experts, or external stakeholders.
• Providing advice to senior staff members and senior officials within the Commission; Performing legal research and analysis of legal decisions, opinions, rulings, and other documents.
• Applying the statutory provisions of statutes such as the Federal Power Act; Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act; Natural Gas Act; Natural Gas Policy Act; the Interstate Commerce Act; Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act; Administrative Procedure Act.

Requirements

Conditions of employment.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited college or university.
• Current, active bar membership required.
• A two-year trial period may be required.
• **This is a bargaining unit position.
• Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
• This position has an education requirement; you must submit transcripts.
• You may be required to divest certain energy-related securities.
• A background investigation is required.

You must meet all eligibility and qualification (experience and/or education) requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

You must meet the following basic requirements, by the closing date of this announcement: (1) hold a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from an accredited college or university and (2) be a current, active bar member in good standing.

In addition, to the minimum requirements above, you must meet the following qualifications for each grade level by the closing date of this announcement:

At the GS-13: At least two years of professional legal experience post bar admission. The GS-13 salary range is $117,962 through $153,354 per annum. 

At the GS-14: At least three-and-one-half years of professional legal experience post bar admission. The GS-14 salary range is $139,395 through $181,216 per annum.

At the GS-15: At least five-and-one-half years of professional legal experience post bar. The GS-15 salary range is $163,964 through $191,900 per annum.

Specialized experience is defined as: applies relevant experience and professional knowledge to case assignments that contain difficult legal or factual questions; knowledge of relevant statutes, regulations and policies pertaining to the agency; independently manages caseload and completes activities within established schedules with limited supervision.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Please do not cut and paste  the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

This position has a basic education requirement listed under the “Qualifications” section of this announcement.

Additional information

Our employees ranked FERC as a top 5 mid-size agency in both Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) and Effective Leadership according to the  Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government !  In addition, FERC was also ranked #1 in Work-Life Balance and we are proud to offer telework and workplace flexibilities in accordance with agency policy.

The duty location of this position is Washington, DC. Agency employees are eligible for telework and other workplace flexibilities. Telework days and waiting periods for eligibility are determined when an employee enters on duty.

When promotion potential is shown, future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
• Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC’s supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of these securities may be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment.
• Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.

For more information regarding Federal benefits programs, visit:  https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications above. All applications that are verified to meet the basic requirements will be referred to the selecting official.

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

If you do not provide all required documents by the closing date of this vacancy announcement, you will not be considered for this position.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR ALL CANDIDATES:

• Position title
• Name of employer
• Beginning and ending dates of employment (Month/Day/Year format)
• Hours worked per week
• Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)
• Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions)
• List your education history, including the type of degree and your major of study
• VACANCY QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit and complete the online eligibility and vacancy questions.
• PROOF OF BAR MEMBERSHIP: Documentation showing you are a current bar member in good standing.

OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR CANDIDATES (You are strongly encouraged to submit these documents as a part of your initial application; however, if contacted for an interview, these documents will be required):

• COVER LETTER : You may be required to submit a cover letter that showcases how your unique combination of skills and experience(s) meet the requirements of the position.
• TRANSCRIPTS: You may be required to submit copies of your college and law school transcripts to verify your education. Unofficial copies are acceptable; however, if selected you will be required to provide official transcripts before your effective date.
• WRITING SAMPLE : You may be required to provide a writing sample that demonstrates your persuasive writing skills and that reflects your analytic skills.   
• VETERANS’PREFERENCE (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.): There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, FERC considers military service a positive factor when reviewing applications. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are encouraged to submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an “Application for 10-point Veteran Preference” (SF-15), along with official VA letter and the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. For more information about veterans' preference, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans .

The FERC Careers site provides detailed instructions on how to apply to FERC vacancies.  For more information visit:  https://www.ferc.gov/about/careers/job-searchapply .

Here are a few additional tips: 

• When applying to a FERC vacancy announcement, please remember you must complete and submit your entire application (including your resume, vacancy questionnaire, and any applicable supporting documentation) no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date . Please note, it may take you longer to apply to some vacancy announcements than others. Starting your application late on the evening the vacancy closes is not recommended because you might not have enough time to ensure your application is successfully submitted and received.
• When the specialized experience statement in the vacancy announcement requires experience presenting information to a large audience, your resume should include speeches or presentations you've given.
• Make sure you verify that your resume clearly indicates possession of the competencies and specialized experience listed under the “Qualifications and Evaluations” and “How You Will Be Evaluated” sections of this announcement.
• Remember to submit all required and supporting documentation listed under the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: FERC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact [email protected] no later than 11:59 pm ET on the vacancy closing date.  The decision to grant a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on telework, click the following link: USAJOBS Help Center | What is telework?

For more information on remote work, click the following link: USAJOBS Help Center | What is a remote job?

Agency contact information

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. You will be notified of the status of your application up to four times throughout the application process, via your USAJOBS dashboard. To verify the status of your application, both during and after the announcement open period, log on to your USAJOBS account. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an option to “Track this application.” Your “Applicant status” will also appear along with the dates you applied to this position and when your application was last updated. To learn more about your specific job status and how this helps you track jobs and applications visit:  https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status

Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement.

More than one selection for similar positions may be made from this announcement and the program office for that selection may vary. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s).

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request

Required Documents

How to apply, fair & transparent.

This job originated on www.usajobs.gov . For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/807652900 . Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.

Learn more about

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines as well as licensing hydropower projects.

Our Mission:  Economically Efficient, Safe, Reliable, and Secure Energy for Consumers. For more information visit:  https://www.ferc.gov/ .

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An official website of the United States government

Secretary (OA)

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OTHER IRS CAREERS? Visit us on the web at www.jobs.irs.gov

• Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

08/28/2024 to 09/11/2024

$54,292 - $97,034 per year

Pay scale & grade

1 vacancy in the following locations:

• (AK3237) 949 E 36 Ave Anchorage, AK
• (AL1213) 417 20th St N Birmingham, AL
• (AR0063) 700 W Capitol Little Rock, AR
• (AZ7748) 4041 N Central Ave Phoenix, AZ
• Show more locations (73)
• (CA7803) 700 P St Fresno, CA
• (CA0521) 24000 Avila Rd Laguna Niguel, CA
• (CA0150) 300 N Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
• (CA0281) 1301 Clay St Oakland, CA
• (CA6139) 4330 Watt Ave Sacramento, CA
• (CO1811) 1999 Broadway Denver, CO
• (CT0013) 135 High St Hartford, CT
• (DC0198) 77 K St NE Washington DC, DC
• (DC0022) 1111 Constitution NW Washington DC, DC
• (DE0077) 4051 Ogletown Stanton Newark, DE
• (FL3026) 10200 49th St N Clearwater, FL
• (FL0067) 400 W Bay St Jacksonville, FL
• (FL2437) 1248 N University Dr Plantation, FL
• (GA0087) 401 W Peachtree St Atlanta, GA
• (HI8469) 1003 Bishop St Honolulu, HI
• (IA0112) 210 Walnut St Des Moines, IA
• (ID0025) 550 W Fort St Boise, ID
• (IL0236) 230 S Dearborn St Chicago, IL
• (IL2454) 3101 Constitution Dr Springfield, IL
• (IN0133) 575 N Pennsylvania Indianapolis, IN
• (KS1615) 555 N Woodlawn St Wichita, KS
• (KY3005) 300 Madison Ave Covington, KY
• (KY0086) 600 Dr Martin L King Louisville, KY
• (LA1336) 1555 Poydras St New Orleans, LA
• (MA0131) 15 New Sudbury St Boston, MA
• (MA5813) 900 Chelmsford St Lowell, MA
• (MD0055) 31 Hopkins Pl Baltimore, MD
• (ME0068) 68 Sewall St Augusta, ME
• (MI0800) 985 Michigan Ave Detroit, MI
• (MN1600) 30 E Seventh St Saint Paul, MN
• (MO1937) 333 W Pershing Rd Kansas City, MO
• (MO0106) 1222 Spruce Saint Louis, MO
• (MS0083) 100 W Capitol Jackson, MS
• (MT5513) 10 W 15th St Helena, MT
• (NC2598) 10715 David Taylor Dr Charlotte, NC
• (NC2668) 4905 Koger Blvd Greensboro, NC
• (ND0046) 657 2nd Ave N Fargo, ND
• (NE0051) 1616 Capitol Ave Omaha, NE
• (NH6185) 75 Portsmouth Blvd Portsmouth, NH
• (NJ4721) 955 S Springfield Ave Springfield, NJ
• (NJ5105) 50 W State St Trenton, NJ
• (NM1464) 6200 Jefferson St NE Albuquerque, NM
• (NV7516) 110 N City Prky Las Vegas, NV
• (NY0300) 11 A Clinton Ave Albany, NY
• (NY7288) 2 Metrotech Center Brooklyn, NY
• (NY7340) 130 S Elmwood Ave Buffalo, NY
• (NY0376) 1040 Waverly Ave Holtsville, NY
• (NY0350) 290 Bwy Foley Square New York, NY
• (OH0189) 550 Main St Cincinnati, OH
• (OH0192) 1240 E Ninth St Cleveland, OH
• (OK1356) 55 N Robinson Oklahoma City, OK
• (OR0043) 1220 SW 3rd Ave Portland, OR
• (PA0809) 2970 Market St Philadelphia, PA
• (PA0233) 1000 Liberty Ave Pittsburgh, PA
• (PR4068) 475 Calle C Guaynabo, PR
• (PR4001) City View Plaza Ii Guaynabo, PR
• (RI7097) 380 Westminster St Providence, RI
• (SC0068) 1835 Assembly St Columbia, SC
• (SD1317) 1720 S Southeastern Sioux Falls, SD
• (TN0005) 5333 Getwell Rd Memphis, TN
• (TN0052) 801 Broadway Nashville, TN
• (TX2038) 3651 S IH-35 Austin, TX
• (TX0058) 1114 Commerce St Dallas, TX
• (TX0272) 700 E San Antonio El Paso, TX
• (TX0302) 4050 Alpha Rd Farmers Branch, TX
• (TX0298) 1919 Smith Houston, TX
• (UT0035) 324 25th St Ogden, UT
• (VA0088) 400 N Eighth St Richmond, VA
• (VT8139) 128 Lakeside Ave Burlington, VT
• (WA0101) 915 Second Ave Seattle, WA
• (WI1720) 211 W Wisconsin Ave Milwaukee, WI
• (WV0304) 700 Market St Parkersburg, WV
• (WY1228) 5353 N Yellowstone Rd Cheyenne, WY

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Appointment type, work schedule.

Competitive

Promotion potential

Job family (series).

• 0318 Secretary

Supervisory status

Security clearance.

Not Required

Position sensitivity and risk

Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

Bargaining unit status, announcement number.

24-12527889K-TAN-0318-8T9

Control number

This job is open to.

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

Open to IRS Career/Career-Conditional, Treasury/IRS CTAP, & IRS RPP employees

• Serves as the liaison between the manager and his key subordinate staff members and other key officials. Assures understanding and clarification of manager's views on all problems and issues. Serves as liaison with National Office officials in matters relating to highly sensitive congressional inquiries, reorganizations, receiving and transmitting information, etc.
• Acts as office manager for the office and ensures that the practices and procedures used by secretaries in subordinate offices are consistent with those of the office. On own initiative, recommends changes in administrative policies. Devises and installs office procedures and practices to be used by secretaries in subordinate offices. Prepares agenda for and conducts periodic secretarial training sessions for all secretaries.
• The incumbent exercises exclusive control over the manager's appointments, with complete authority for commitments of time. Screens all calls and visitors, answering most questions and completing most business involving established policy or routine matters.
• Analyzes incoming directives, manual issuance, policy changes, regulatory and procedural changes, etc., for significant potential effect on manager's objectives and for general interests of the manager. Alerts manager of the area of potential impact and arranges for any necessary follow-up technical review by appropriate segment of the organization. Ensures the follow-up action is accomplished.

Requirements

Conditions of employment.

STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTIONS (SPD): PD92882 and PD92393 Visit the IRS SPD Library to access the position descriptions.

• A 1-year probationary period is required (unless already completed).
• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.

Qualifications

Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume. You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-08: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: screening and answering telephone calls; Arranging conferences when required to record and transcribe minutes; Reviewing correspondence, reports and other documents for proper format, grammar, punctuation, and mathematical correctness and writing simple or complex non-technical correspondence; Briefing on important and office related facts, issues, and reports; Providing administrative support services such as preparing personnel actions, reconciling bank/credit account statements and credit card reports and ordering and maintaining supplies; Retrieving, gathering, and generating data, as well as using various word processing, spreadsheet, slides, and statistical data computer software applications. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-09: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: obtaining needed background information before referring calls and visitors and referring items of special importance; Arranging meetings and conferences and assembling material for agenda items; Reviewing action documents for grammar, format, clarity of information, and conformance with the manager's viewpoint; Serving as liaison by briefing on views on current issues, programs, and activities; Conducting periodic training sessions; Performing administrative support assignments such as, collecting data for the annual budget estimates, setting up controls to monitor expenses and recommending adjustments, preparing reports and requests for procurement of supplies and equipment; and completing personnel action requests. AND MEET TIME IN GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT: You must meet applicable TIG requirements to be considered eligible. To meet TIG for positions above the GS-05 grade level, you must have served at least one year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade (or equivalent) in the normal line of progression for the position you are applying to. Advancement to positions up to GS-05 is permitted if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade held within the preceding 52 weeks. AND TIME AFTER COMPETITIVE APPOINTMENT: By the closing date (or if this is an open continuous announcement, by the cut-off date) specified in this job announcement, current civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive referral certificate, known as time after competitive appointment . For this requirement, a competitive appointment is one where you applied to and were appointed from an announcement open to "All US Citizens". Applicants must be a qualified typist with a minimum typing speed of 40 words per minute (based on a 5-minute sample with three or fewer errors). Applicants may meet these requirements by passing the appropriate performance test, presenting a certificate of proficiency from a school or other organization authorized to issue such certificates by the Office of Personnel Management local office, or by self-certifying their proficiency. Performance test results and certificates of proficiency are acceptable for three years. We may verify proficiency skills of self-certified applicants by administering the appropriate performance test. For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards .

A copy of your transcripts or equivalent documentation is required for positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. If the position has specific education requirements and you currently hold, or have previously held, a position in the same job series with the IRS, there is no need to submit a transcript or equivalent at this time. Applicants are encouraged, but are not required, to submit an SF-50 documenting experience in a specific series. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page . FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.

Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Additional jobs may be filled.
• The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum locality pay up to maximum locality pay for all duty locations listed. The range will be adjusted for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages .
• This is a non-bargaining unit position.
• Tour of Duty: M-F: Day Shift - Start and stop times between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours or telework may be available.
• In the event that a building is closed due to rent management, new hires may be placed in a local commuting location.
• Telework Eligible Positions : Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. Employees must meet and sustain IRS telework eligibility requirements (e.g., reporting at least twice a pay period to your assigned Post of Duty (POD) ) and supervisor's approval to participate in the IRS Telework Program. Employees must also be within a 200-mile radius of their official assigned post-of-duty (POD) while in a telework status. As a reminder - If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.
• Relocation expenses - No.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

• Adaptability
• Conscientiousness
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Manages and Organizes Information.

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

The following documents are required and must be provided with your application. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English.

• Resume - Your resume MUST contain dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or present). To ensure you receive full credit for relevant experience, include the hours worked per week. We recommend that your resume not exceed 5 pages. If including Federal service experience, you MUST provide the pay plan, series, and grade, i.e., GS-0301-09. If the pay plan, series, and grade are not provided, it may result in an ineligible determination. Your resume must NOT include photographs, classified or government sensitive information, social security number (SSN), encrypted/digitally signed documents, links to external sources, or other inappropriate material or content. If your resume contains prohibited information as listed above, your application will be determined ineligible, and you will not receive consideration for this position. ( Cover letters are optional.) Please view Resume Tips. It is also recommended that your resume not include personal information such as age, gender, religion, race, disability, etc.
• Online Application - Questionnaire responses
• Education - See Education Section above
• Performance Appraisal/Awards (if applicable) - You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your most recent, signed, completed annual performance appraisal which includes the final rating and copies of any incentive/performance awards you received. If a revalidated appraisal is used for merit promotion, the supervisor must prepare a narrative for each critical job element that does not have a narrative describing the performance in the appraisal period covered by the rating. Note: If you are a manager or management official, your most recent annual performance appraisal must be used for the overall rating identified.
• Registration/License ( if applicable ) - active, current registration/license
• IRS Reassignment Preference Program (RPP) ( if applicable ) - You MUST meet the requirements in your RPP notice. Submit a copy of your RPP Notice along with a copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal. Your performance appraisal must have a fully successful or higher overall rating.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) ( if applicable ) - You MUST submit the required documentation as outlined at: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP). If you are an IRS CTAP eligible, you can apply for jobs within and outside the commuting area. If you are a Treasury CTAP eligible can apply for jobs within the commuting area.
• To begin the application process, click the "Apply Online" button.
• You will be re-directed to USASTAFFING to complete your application process; answer the online questions and submit all required documents. (To submit supporting documents, import documents from USAJOBS to the appropriate document types. If the document you need was not imported from USAJOBS, you may upload it directly into this application. To protect your privacy, we suggest you first remove your SSN).
• To complete , you must click the "Submit Application" button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/11/2024.

Agency contact information

Treasury believes in a working environment that supports inclusion; to review reasonable accommodation policies and procedures please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/reasonable-accommodations/ . We provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process. Once your application package and online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email. You are responsible for checking status updates and notifications in USAJOBS. Hard copy notifications will not be sent to you. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status." For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on "more information." Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. If your email mailbox is full or blocked (SPAM) you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position. As a current employee, you know the great benefits we offer. Should you have any questions about benefits, please contact the Employee Resource Center (ERC) at 1-866-743-5748 option #1 for ERC.

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request

Required Documents

How to apply, fair & transparent.

This job originated on www.usajobs.gov . For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/807040800 . Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.

Learn more about

Internal Revenue Service

WHY IS THE IRS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK? As an IRS employee, you will feel proud knowing you helped make America stronger while working at one of the world's biggest financial institutions. You will be part of an organization that collects over $2 trillion in revenue and processes over 200 million tax returns annually. We are proud of how we apply the tax law with integrity and fairness to all. The IRS hires talented and dedicated individuals from many backgrounds, including accounting, business, finance, law enforcement and information technology. You will be challenged & supported on a daily basis. Whether you are just starting out or looking for a new opportunity, consider an IRS career. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has a distinguished history dating back to the founding of our nation. As the steward of U.S. economic and financial systems, Treasury is a major and influential leader in today's global economy. We have over 100,000 employees across the country and around the world. Come Join the Department of the Treasury and Invest in Tomorrow.

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Internal Revenue Service, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/IGc4r9YpcyA?si=68RHYXPaG3XK_GHm/

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