Veterans keep advantages in federal job market.

Since the Civil War, retirees and other veterans have enjoyed some degree of preference in hiring for jobs with the federal government. In recognition of the sacrifices made by those in uniform, these laws protect veterans seeking federal employment from being penalized because of their time in service. The goal isn’t to place a veteran in every vacant federal job. But these policies do provide a way to give special consideration to qualified veterans. The Obama administration has focused attention on this issue. For example, President Obama established the President’s Council on Veterans Employment, made up of 24 Cabinet-level and other independent agencies. The effort seems to be paying off. The council recently reported that the number of veterans hired for federal jobs in fiscal 2011 was the highest in 20 years.
But like any such system, it works best when you know how to use it — and the rules are complex. Here are the two most basic things to know: • There are a number of specified periods of service that qualify a veteran to have five additional points added to a passing examination score or rating for federal employment, including service during any war. • Veterans can have 10 points added to their score if they received a Purple Heart; have a service-connected disability; or are receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or a pension from the military or Veterans Affairs Department. There also is a defined process for veterans who believe they have been discriminated against in applying for federal employment. They can file a complaint with the Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service, which has developed an “expert system” to help veterans receive preferences to which they are entitled. Two versions of this system are available; both help veterans determine the type of preference they’re entitled to, the benefits associated with those preferences, and how to file a complaint if a federal agency fails to provide those benefits. All veterans preference rules and policies fall under the Office of Personnel Management, which covers every aspect of this issue at this webpage. With the economy still struggling, veterans in the job market need every edge they can get. These hiring preference rules can give you a big edge.