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- Are non-citizens eligible for employment in the civil service?
Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals may compete for competitive jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only when there are no qualified citizens available. - Are there overseas employment opportunities for civil service employees?
There may be opportunities available for new hires overseas. These positions are usually filled by transferring career Federal employees from the United States. Only when Federal employees are not available for transfer overseas, and qualified United States citizens cannot be recruited locally, are these vacancies filled through the open examination process. - Are veterans given hiring preference?
Veterans meeting the criteria for preference and who are found eligible (achieve a score of 70 or higher either by a written examination or an evaluation of their experience and education) have 5 or 10 points added to their numerical ratings depending on the nature of their preference. - How can I obtain proof of my prior Federal employment?
You can obtain proof of your prior Federal employment by writing the Federal Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration, 111 Winnebago Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63118. Inquiries should include your full name under which you were formerly employed, social security number, date of birth and, to the extent known, names and addresses of former Federal agencies and dates of employment. - What benefits are offered for civil service employees?
There is an extensive list of benefits available for civil service employees including child care, health and life insurance and a matched retirement plan. View the complete list of civil service benefits. - What Bureaus and Offices have opportunities for civil employees?
There are 55 Bureaus and Offices that make up the domestic organizational components of the Department of State. For a complete list, view our Bureaus list, or go to the main Department of State website http://www.state.gov/. - What does it mean when a position is posted as "temporary" or "term"?
Temporary and term appointments are used to fill positions when a continuing need for the job to be filled (e.g., special projects). Neither type of appointment is permanent, so they do not give the employee civil service status. - What happened with the Career Entry Program (CEP)?
The President's recent Executive Order rescinded and revoked the Federal Career Intern Program (at the Department of State, we called it the Career Entry Program, aka CEP). It will be superceded by a new program. Details should be available sometime next year. At this time, we do not know if the new program will be advertised on various Federal agency websites, or directly through OPM. We suggest that you check the OPM website www.opm.gov from time to time for updates on the new program. - What is the Federal payment scale (GS)? What are entry salaries for Officers, Specialists, Civil Service?
View the current pay schedule on the main Department of State site. - What types of civil service jobs are available at the Department of State?
There are hundreds of career possibilities within the U.S. Department of State. No matter which one you choose, you'll be able to make a difference in the world while contributing to the mission of supporting the foreign policy of the United States of America. To help you decide, we have divided our many Civil Service positions into six broad areas: Operations; IT, Engineering, and Security; Professional and Analytical Careers; Office Support Professionals; Finance and Accounting; and Executives. Please visit the Civil Service Job Category page for more information. - Where can I go to find current Civil Service Job Openings?
For all open Civil Service positions, please visit the Civil Service Vacancy Announcement page. To apply for any civil service position, please click on the vacancy announcement of your choice to go to USAJobs and start the Gateway to State online application process. - Who are the Diplomats in Residence? What do they do?
Each year, the U.S. Department of State assigns Senior Foreign Service Officers to the position of Diplomat in Residence (DIR) at certain colleges and universities throughout the United States. - Will I have to take a test to be eligible for Federal civil service employment?
No. A written test is not required for Civil Service employment with the Department of State. - Will I have to undergo a background check?
Almost all Civil Service positions in the U.S. Department of State require at least a secret security clearance. The clearance process considers such factors as registration for the Selective Service; failure to repay a U.S. government-guaranteed student loan; past problems with credit or bankruptcy; failure to meet tax obligations; unsatisfactory employment records; violations of the law, drug or alcohol abuse; or less-than-honorable discharge from the armed forces. - Will the Federal government repay my college loans?
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has implemented a program for the repayment of student loans. By law, the maximum any federal agency can award is $10,000 a year, or $60,000 over a lifetime. In each of the first three years of our program, the Department approved payments of $4,700. In return, an employee must agree to remain with the paying agency for at least three years.
