What are my reinstatement rights if I previously worked for the Federal Government in a career (competitive) position?
You do not have a right (i.e., an entitlement) to be reinstated to a career job. However, if you are eligible for veterans’ preference, if you had career tenure, or if you have not had a break in Federal service of more than 3 years since you left your competitive job, you do have reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service. This means you may apply for jobs open only to status candidates and do not have to compete for employment with candidates from outside the Government. However, agencies do not have to consider reinstatement candidates for any particular job. If you are considered for reinstatement, you will have to compete with other employees and status candidates for any job that is at a higher grade than you held under your last competitive service appointment. If the job is at the same grade as your last competitive career job, the agency may reinstate you without competition, but that would be subject to the agency’s internal merit staffing policy. The agency could r
