Is it possible for a veteran to get a DoD civilian job without having a bachelors degree?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 21:28:54 -0400

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 10:51 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 22:51:10 -0400

Yes. Just depends on the job.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 11:03 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 23:03:07 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Absolutely. Look at the job postings to find out what the education requirements are.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 11:40 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 23:40:35 -0400

Thank you for the input. I am aware of job fairs that they have here in Fort Hood. Does anyone know if they have job fairs for those type of jobs? Or is it something you have to look online for?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2018 9:27 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 09:27:28 -0400

Are the benefits as a GS similiar to the benefits I have now as an Active Duty service member?

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 9 at 2018 9:56 AM

SGT David T. — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 09:56:41 -0400

It is possible but you are operating at a disadvantage. Degrees have a significant amount of weight on a hiring matrix (all the ones ive seen), but it wont exclude you in many cases. If your experience is sufficient you can overcome it.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Aug 9 at 2018 1:32 PM

SGT Tony Clifford — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 13:32:05 -0400

Just go to usajobs.com. They have listings for every job that the federal government is trying to fill. There are plenty of DoD jobs that don't require degrees. Check them out and apply for them. Additionally, your status as a veteran will give you an advantage in the hiring process. Some positions can skip competitive hiring if they are authorized to hire veterans directly. If you want to use your GI bill, it will help you get hired on at a higher GS level, which means better pay.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Aug 9 at 2018 3:21 PM

PO1 Don Gulizia — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 15:21:47 -0400

Yes. However, with experience and a degree, you could start at a higher grade. Good luck.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 9 at 2018 4:43 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:43:47 -0400

There are many Federal positions that do not require a degree. For the most part it is easier to advance beyond junior pay grades. Now if you seek Federal Law Enforcement Border Patrol, Customs, ICE, Secret Service, Park Police etc no degree required, I know many at GS15 with little or no college. Hmm. Thank you for your service.

Response by Scott Raether made Aug 10 at 2018 8:09 PM

Scott Raether — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 20:09:58 -0400

100% yes. They base it on experience just as much as education. As a matter of fact. I am just short of my Bachelors Degree and I have a GS-11 position. Reach out to me if you want some guidance.

Response by Arthur Panick made Aug 15 at 2018 2:48 PM

Arthur Panick — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 14:48:45 -0400

I am an AF Vet. I currently hold a GS-12 position at an Army HQ. If you can prove your qualifications during an interview you can get up to a GS-13 without a Bachelor's degree. My advice is that if you see a job you think your qualifications meet, apply and let them tell you no. Keep applying until you get something. Good luck to anyone trying to get a Fed. Job.

Response by William Drummond made Mar 30 at 2019 11:31 AM

William Drummond — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 11:31:34 -0400

In nearly every job posting you will find a statement similar to "experience may be substituted for education." If it is not on the actual posting, it is still something that HR factors when qualifying an application. The reason is simple, would you rather have a newly minted degree holder making decisions on mission readiness or a retired or separated NCO who worked the military equivalent of the same job for 4, 8, 12 or more years? Suddenly, experience is the equivalent of a master's degree.

Besides, if it is a from the street hire, veterans always get preference over non-veterans. The civil service (especially within DOD) was formed to allow former military to continue to serve the country after their military service. Can a non-veteran still beat out a veteran? Yes, if they have the experience and the degree.

Tweak your resumé after each position you do not get. Call the HR person and ask for tips on where to tweak. That has the added benefit of demonstrating your enthusiasm for the job. It also puts name familiarity into play. HR does not make the final decision, but their input carries a lot of weight. It can also tip the scale when assigning points to qualifications. If they are teetering between a lower and higher value, having established a professional relationship could tip the scale in your favor. It is not cheating, it is not unethical, it is survival of the fittest. It also works.

If you are getting hired off the street into a position that you have on point experience, you can also ask that your step on the payscale be increased. Do that after the job is offered. You can ask for up to 5 steps if the hiring authority agrees. HR can give up to 3 without the hiring authority. An example would be a nurse with 15 years civilian experience being hired as a nurse at a military clinic. That nurse should be paid at a higher rate than a nurse being hired with just the one year minimum experience. WG jobs can do something similar except there are only 5 steps instead of the 10 on the GS scale.