Projecting to hire 193,000 new employees over the next two years, the U.S. government is a great place to look for a great career.

The federal government is the largest single employer in the United States, with almost 2 million civilian workers. About 1.6 million are full-time permanent employees. Contrary to popular belief, five of six federal employees work outside the Washington, D.C. area, in locations across the U.S. and even abroad. Federal employees work in 15 cabinet-level agencies; 20 large, independent agencies and 80 smaller agencies.

When you apply for a job in federal government, there are some specific instructions you need to follow in order to give your application best chance of winning an interview:

Applying for a Government Job

The best and easiest way to find and apply for government jobs is now online through the USAJOBS.gov website, the federal government’s official employment portal. Applying for jobs on USAJOBS.gov is a six-step process:

Create a USAJOBS account: You will first need to create a Login.gov personal account on USAJOBS. Login.gov is service that offers safe, secure, and private online access to a wide range of government programs, such as federal benefits, services, and applications. A single login.gov account enables you to use the same username and password to sign into multiple government websites, including USAJOBS.gov. Create a USAJOBS profile: A USAJOBS account and profile allows you to save jobs you are interested in, save and automate job searches, and manage the forms and other documents needed to complete job applications. Search for jobs: Be sure to sign in to your USAJOBS account before doing a job search. USAJOBS uses your profile information to better mold your job search results to your needs. In addition, you can use filters such as location, salary, work schedule or agency to narrow your results. Review Job Announcements: Each job announcement includes qualifications and eligibility requirements you must meet and include in your application. Since these qualifications and eligibility requirements may differ from job-to-job and agency-to-agency, it is important to read the job announcement completely and carefully. Prepare your application in USAJOBS: Each job announcement will include a “How to Apply” section you should read before starting the application process. To start your application, click “Apply” in the job announcement and USAJOBS will guide through the process during which you’ll attach your resume and any required documents. As you work through the application process you can review, edit, delete and update your information. USAJOBS automatically saves your work as you go. Submit your application to the agency: When your application is finished, USAJOBS sends it to the agency’s application system where can submit your application. The agency may ask you to complete other agency-specific steps such as filling out an online questionnaire or uploading additional documents. Once your application has been submitted, you can check its status anytime by accessing your USAJOBS account.

If You Have a Disability

Persons with disabilities can learn about alternate methods of applying for federal jobs by calling the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) at 703-724-1850. If you have a hearing disability, call TDD 978-461-8404. Both lines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a federal job.

What to Include with Your Application

Although the federal government does not require a standard application form for most jobs, they do need certain information to evaluate your qualifications and determine if you meet legal requirements for federal employment. If your resume or application does not provide all the information requested in the job vacancy announcement, you may lose consideration for the job. Help speed the selection process by keeping your resume or application brief and by sending only the requested material. Type or print clearly in dark ink.

In addition to specific information requested in the job vacancy announcement, your resume or application must contain: