Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified time periods or military campaigns, are entitled to receive preference in hiring for Federal government jobs. Regardless of when they served, veterans who have compensable, service-connected disabilities are also entitled to Veterans' Preference in hiring. Once hired, all qualified veterans are granted retention preference during Federal workforce reductions.

Under certain circumstances, spouses, widows, widowers, or mothers of veterans are also entitled to Veterans' Preference.

To receive Veterans' Preference, a veteran must have been separated from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces with an honorable or general discharge. For hiring, individuals qualified for Veterans' Preference will be awarded five or ten extra points added to their civil service exam passing scores. If there are no exams, five or ten points will be added to their ratings, which are determined by evaluations of their experience and education.

When applying for a government job, the agency at which you're applying will likely ask if you are eligible for Veterans' Preference and where you stand in the point system. You may find out right now, through the Department of Labor's Veterans' Preference Advisor.

For more information about Federal Veterans' Preference, click the links under Elsewhere on the Web in the sidebar.

Some states also grant Veterans' Preference for state government jobs.

Programs vary by state. To find out if your state has a Veterans' Preference program, start by contacting your state's labor office or browsing its Website.