Jobs in the Military: Becoming a U.S. Army Engineer

The process of meeting with a recruiter is similar to a job interview. You should prepare to answer basic questions regarding your education, criminal history, marital status, age, and your physical fitness. You must also complete a mini-ASVAB exam. You may access practice exams on the Army’s website.

The ASVAB test measures current abilities and aims to predict your future academic and occupational success in the military. It is required for all enlistees, and scores are valid for two years. It covers basic subject areas such as science, arithmetic reasoning, English, reading comprehension, and assembling objects. Your score determines which jobs you qualify for.

The physical exam must be taken at your nearest Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). You will undergo a thorough medical evaluation and your body composition will be measured to determine your physical fitness. Many roles in the Army require officers to be physically fit to traverse difficult terrain or handle harsh conditions. To pass, you must meet the height and weight measurements for your age group.

After completing preliminary examinations, you will meet with a service liaison counselor to learn about careers available to you and review the enlistment agreement. The enlistment agreement is a contract between you and the Army. It requires you to meet certain obligations for the duration of your contract. Failure to comply may result in criminal or civil penalties against you.

The final step is to prepare for basic combat training. The training lasts 10 weeks and is broken down into four phases: the red, white, blue, and graduation phase. The red phase focuses on field exercises and developing teamwork skills. During the white phase you learn marksmanship and repelling. The blue phase continues your weapons training and includes night infiltration training. The final phase is graduation which marks your successful completion of training and eligibility to enter Advanced Individual Training (AIT).

You must first create a USAJOBS account, which requires an email address, username, and password. To create your job profile you must enter contact information, citizenship status, and work experience. You may also upload your resume and cover letter to easily apply to available jobs.

Searching for jobs is simple. Type in the job type, agency, and location in the USAJOBS search bar, and you’ll get a list of results matched to your query.

Before applying, you should ensure you meet both eligibility and qualification requirements. Eligibility does not entail your work experience, but typically refers to basic requirements such as needing to be a current or former federal employee to qualify for a role. Other eligibility requirements may require you to be a current student or recent graduate. Qualifications refer to your work experience, education level, and your overall knowledge or expertise in your field.

Once you review a job’s eligibility and qualification requirements and determine you meet them, you must begin your application. To create an application, first log in to your USAJOBS account and ensure your profile is complete. Then upload your resume, any required documents, and answer any applicable questions associated with the job posting. These may vary depending on the agency you apply with so it’s important to review job postings carefully.

Before submitting your application, you must certify that all information is complete, true, and made in good faith by checking the box and then click to continue to the agency’s site. Depending on the agency or position you’re applying for, you may need to complete additional steps in the application process.

If your resume meets the agency’s eligibility and qualification requirements, they may request an interview. Each agency may use a different process, but it is common for hiring managers to first conduct a preliminary phone or video interview. If you pass this step you may be called in for an in-person interview with the hiring manager or an interview with a panel. It may take a few weeks to hear back, but it depends on the agency and whether they require any additional information from you.

If the agency decides to offer you the job they will extend a tentative job offer. If you accept the offer you must undergo a thorough background check. This entails providing previous addresses, employers, schools attended, and any military or police records. You must also be fingerprinted if you’ve never worked for the federal government. If you pass this process, the agency will extend a final offer for acceptance and provide a start date.