U.S. Government Jobs Key Terms

Keep these terms in mind when searching and applying for U.S. government jobs

By M. Krasniak, Freelance Writer/Editor

The U.S. government is the largest employer in the country, with thousands of jobs in just about every field you can imagine. It’s no wonder that they are a very desirable employer. There are a few things to keep in mind when looking into U.S. government jobs, however. You should be prepared for the application process and be aware of items such as the KSAs or Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities portion of the application and the requirements for a security clearance. Here are a few key terms to keep in mind when you are applying for U.S. government jobs.

KSAs

KSAs, or Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, is a very important part of finding, and applying for and U.S. government job. These questions presented to you demonstrate your understanding of the position (knowledge,) your ability to manipulate data or things manually, verbally or mentally (skills,) and whether or not you are able to perform the required job at that time (abilities.)
Try: The Center for Disease Control (CDC), a federal agency, had a helpful page dedicated to explaining the KSAs required for all government jobs.

Series and grade

Series and grades are levels of employment within the U.S. government. Each refers to a specific category or definition of a job; where you start out depends on your education and experience. There are 10 levels in each grade of position in the government and a rise in a level means an increase in salary.
Try: The explanation of series and grades in the FAQ page on the USAJOBS website is sure to be very helpful.

Security clearance

A security clearance is the level given to you when you begin to work for the government. The process of getting a security clearance gets longer and more complicated the higher the clearance you are applying for. These clearances include background checks and interviews of close family and friends. The higher your security clearance, the more sensitive information you have access to.
Try: The discussion of security clearances on TAOnline.com is comprehensive.

CTAP and ICTAP

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) are federal government programs set up to assist current government employees with job placement services and educational pursuits if their jobs were ever to be eliminated. CTAP is for Department of Interior (DOI) employees and ICTAP is for all other government agencies.
Try: The US Fish and Wildlife Service has a very clear definition of the CTAP and ICTAP programs on their FAQ page. This specific discussion is under the “Staff and Employment heading, which is letter D on the page. The definition is #24.

Career tenure

You receive career tenure after you complete a mandatory three-year probationary period working for the U.S. government. After this conditional period is up and the employee receives career tenure, the employee may have a better chance at surviving downsizing or may be at the front of the line if a new position comes about.
Try: The first term in the glossary section of Workforamerica.com is a clear definition of career tenure.

OPM

The OPM, or Office of Personnel Management, is a federal civilian recruitment organization that ensures that only qualified workers get jobs with the U.S. government. The OPM acts as recruiter, job portal for job seekers and an HR department.
Try: You will find a plethora of information regarding working for the U.S. government on the OPM website.