Another common mistake is people end up applying for federal positions they are not “eligible” for. This means they are being screen out immediately and their resumes are never reviewed. There is a difference between “Eligibility vs. Qualifications”, According to OPM “There are several different eligibilities in the Federal Government; we call them “hiring paths”. For example, some jobs are only open to current or former federal employees—this means you must be a current or former federal employee to be eligible.” So “Regardless of your qualifications, if you’re not eligible, the hiring agency will reject your application and you will not be hired for that job.”
This is why it’s so important to know which Eligibilities (hiring paths) you qualify for.
