Let your military service work for you through the Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment (VRA).
As one of several hiring paths available to Veterans, VRA offers those who have served our country a chance to bring their qualifications to the forefront of the hiring process.
Special hiring authorities
Special hiring authorities allow agencies to appoint specific groups of qualified individuals to positions in the federal government, bypassing the competitive hiring process.
Through these authorities, hiring agencies like VA can better recruit a diverse group of candidates on our team and fill vacancies more quickly.
Using VRA, we can appoint a qualified, eligible Veteran to any position, and at any grade level up to and including a GS-11 or equivalent, as long as the candidate is qualified.
Some Veterans hired through VRA also will be able to join the competitive service after two years of satisfactory service in a regular position.
Qualifying for VRA
There are several ways for a Veteran to qualify for appointment under VRA.
- If you receive a campaign badge for service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition.
- If you are a disabled Veteran.
- If you receive an Armed Forces Service Medal for participation in a military operation.
- If you left the military within the last three years under honorable conditions.
Tailoring your job search
Authorities like VRA are, as the name implies, designed specifically for Veterans, so knowing how to recognize these authorities and identifying your eligibility can enhance your job search.
Begin, as always, by searching for a position. If a job is part of VRA, it will be clearly stated in the “This job is open to…” section of the announcement.
To focus your search, you can apply the “Veterans” filter under the “Hiring Path” drop down menu. You can also add the “Special Authorities” filter, found further down the list, to help narrow the options.
Finally, you can directly search for “VRA” in the search bar, which will list all the jobs that mention VRA in their announcements. However, some positions require experience with VRA, so don’t be confused when they come up in your search.
The fine print
Remember that Veterans are not entitled to appointment under VRA. Use of VRA or any other special hiring authority is entirely discretionary. However, knowing that an agency intends to consider candidates under VRA may improve your chances.
Also, there is no limit to the number of times you can apply to jobs under VRA, as long as you meet the definition of a covered Veteran.
Work at VA
VRA offers a great opportunity for qualifying Veterans to join our VA team. Start your search today.
- LEARN about special hiring authorities and VRA.
- READ more job search tips on VAntage Point.
- SEARCH for a VA career opportunity at VACareers.va.gov.
How to Get Hired at the VA (Video)
We were joined by Terrance “Terry” Anderson, Zelda Davis, and Mary Beard from the Department of Veteran Affairs for the G.I. Jobs Get Hired Workshop in March. During the event, we talked resumes, interviews, and how you can get hired!
Watch the recorded discussion to learn their tips to get hired after the military.