GENERAL INFORMATION

You may apply for most Federal jobs with a resume, the attached Optional Application for Federal Employment or other written format. If your resume or application does not provide all the information requested on this form and in the job vacancy announcement, you may lose consideration for a job. Type or print clearly in dark ink. Help speed the selection process by keeping your application brief and sending only the requested information. If essential to attach additional pages, include your name and Social Security Number on each page.

	For information on Federal employment, including job lists, alternative formats for persons with disabilities, and veterans’ preference, call the U.S. Office of Personnel Management at 912-757-3000, TDD 912-744-2299, by computer modem 912-757-3100, or via the Internet (Telnet only) at FJOB.MAIL.OPM.GOV.

	If you served on active duty in the United States Military and were separated under honorable conditions, you may be eligible for veterans’ preference. To receive preference if your service began after October 15, 1976, you must have a Campaign Badge, Expeditionary Medal, or a service-connected disability. Veterans’ preference is not a factor for Senior Executive Service jobs or when competition is limited to status candidates (current or former career or career-conditional Federal employees.)

	Most Federal jobs require United States citizenship and also that males over age 18 born after December 31, 1959, have registered with the Selective Service System or have an exemption.

	The law prohibits public officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending their relatives.

	Federal annuitants (military and civilian) may have their salaries or annuities reduced. All employees must pay any valid delinquent debts or the agency may garnish their salary.

	Send you application to the office announcing the vacancy. If you have questions, contact that office.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

	The Office of Personnel Management and other Federal agencies rate applicants for Federal jobs under the authority of sections 1104, 1302, 3301, 3304, 3320, 3361, 3393, and 3394 of title 5 of the United States Code. We need the information requested in this form and in the associated vacancy announcements to evaluate your qualifications. Other laws require us to ask about citizenship, military service, etc.

	We request your Social Security Number (SSN) under the authority of Executive Order 9397 in order to keep your records straight; other people may have the same name. As allowed by law or Presidential directive, we use your SSN to seek information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who know you. Your SSN may also be used in studies and computer matching with other Government files, for example, files on unpaid student loans.

	If you do not give us your SSN or any other information requested, we cannot process your application, which is the first step in getting a job. Also, incomplete addresses and ZIP Codes will slow processing.

	We may give information from your records to: training facilities; organizations deciding claims for retirement, insurance, unemployment or health benefits; officials in litigation or administrative proceedings where the Government is a party; law enforcement agencies concerning violations of law or regulation; Federal agencies for statistical reports and studies; officials of labor organizations recognized by law in connection with representing employees; Federal agencies or other sources requesting information for Federal agencies in connection with hiring or retaining, security clearances, security or suitability investigations, classifying jobs, contracting, or issuing licenses, grants, or other benefits; public and private organizations including news media that grant or publicize employee recognition and awards; and the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Office of Special Counsel, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the National Archives, the Federal Acquisition Institute, and congressional offices in connection with their official functions.

	We may also give information from your records to: prospective nonfederal employers concerning tenure of employment, civil service status, length of service, and date and nature of action for separation as shown on personnel action forms of specifically identified individuals; requesting organizations or individuals concerning the home address and other relevant information on those who might have contracted an illness or been exposed to a health hazard; authorized Federal and nonfederal agencies for use in computer matching; spouses or dependent children asking whether the employee has changed from self-and-family to self-only health benefits enrollment; individuals working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement or job for the Federal Government; non-agency members of an agency's performance or other panel; and agency- appointed representatives of employees concerning information issued to the employee about fitness-for-duty or agency-filed disability retirement procedures.

	We estimate the public reporting burden for this collection will vary from 20 to 240 minutes with an average of 40 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering data, and completing and reviewing the information. You may send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Reports and Forms Management Officer, Washington, DC 20415-0001.

	Send your application to the agency announcing the vacancy.

Form Approved

OMB No. 3206-0219

OPTIONAL APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT - OF 612

You may apply for most jobs with a resume, this form, or other written format. If your resume or application does not provide all the information requested on this form and in the job vacancy announcement, you may lose consideration for a job.

1	Job title in announcement	2	Grade(s) applying for	3	Announcement number
4	Last name	First and middle names	5	Social Security Number
- -
6	Mailing address	7	Phone numbers (include area code)
Daytime	( )
City	State	ZIP Code
-
Evening	( )

WORK EXPERIENCE

8	Describe your paid and nonpaid work experience related to the job for which you are applying. Do not attach job descriptions.
Job title (if Federal, include series and grade)
1)
From (MM/YY)	To (MM/YY)	Salary	per	Hours per week
$
Employer’s name and address	Supervisor’s name and phone number
( )
Describe your duties and accomplishments
Job title (if Federal, include series and grade)
2)
From (MM/YY)	To (MM/YY)	Salary	per	Hours per week
$
Employer’s name and address	Supervisor’s name and phone number
( )
Describe your duties and accomplishments

9	May we contact your current supervisor?
YES	NO	If we need to contact your current supervisor before making an offer, we will contact you first.

EDUCATION

10	Mark highest level completed.	Some HS	HS/GED	Associate	Bachelor	Master	Doctoral

11	Last high school (HS) or GED school. Give the school’s name, city, State, ZIP Code (if known), and year diploma or GED received.
12	Colleges and universities attended. Do not attach a copy of your transcript unless requested.
Name	Total Credits Earned	Major(s)	Degree -	Year
1)	Semester	Quarter
(if any)	Received
City	State	ZIP Code
-
2)
-
3)
-

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

13	Job-related training courses (give title and year). Job-related skills (other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc. Job-related certificates and licenses (current only). Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments(publications, memberships in professional/honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, and performance awards.) Give dates, but do not send documents unless requested.
GENERAL

14	Are you a U.S. citizen?	YES
NO
Give the country of your citizenship.
15	Do you claim veterans’ preference?	NO
YES
Mark your claim of 5 or 10 points below.
5 points
Attach your DD 214 or other proof.	10 points
Attach an Application for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference (SF 15) and proof required.
16	Were you ever a Federal civilian employee?
Series	Grade	From (MM/YY)	To (MM/YY)
NO
YES
For highest civilian grade give:
17	Are you eligible for reinstatement based on career or career-conditional Federal status?
NO
YES
If requested, attach SF 50 proof.

APPLICANT CERTIFICATION

18	I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information on and attached to this application is true, correct, complete and made in good faith. I understand that false or fraudulent information on or attached to this application may be grounds for not hiring me or firing me after I begin work, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment. I understand that any information I give may be investigated.

SIGNATURE	DATE SIGNED

50612-101	NSN 7540-01-351-9178	Optional Form 612 (September 1994)

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Form Approved

Linda M. Hurt

2002-06-10

Jimmy Stewart

USDA / ARS / OCIO