Veterans' Preference and Guaranteed Interviews: How Public Sector Hiring Works in the US and UK

Veterans' preference works in two different ways in the two countries. In the US federal service it adds 5 or 10 points to a qualified veteran's score, and veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more go to the top of the list for most jobs. In the UK there are no points. The Civil Service's Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme moves a veteran who meets the minimum criteria to the next stage of selection, usually an interview or test, and the appointment is then made on merit. This guide sets out each scheme, who qualifies, the documents you need and how to apply.

US: Veterans' Preference in federal hiring

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sets the rules. Preference applies to most competitive service jobs and to most excepted service jobs. Points are added to a passing score or rating, so you must first qualify for the role (OPM, Vet Guide for HR Professionals).

How preference changes your ranking

Under category rating, preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. For most jobs, CP and CPS veterans are listed at the top of the register in order of their ratings. The exception is scientific and professional posts at GS-9 or higher, where applicants are listed by score including any points. If an agency wants to pass over a veteran with a disability of 30% or more, it must notify OPM and the veteran, and OPM decides on physical ability (OPM).

Retired officers at the rank of major, lieutenant commander or higher do not receive preference in appointment unless they are disabled veterans.

Special hiring authorities

Agencies can also appoint veterans without open competition under four routes (OPM FedsHireVets, special hiring authorities):

Documents you need

• DD-214 showing your service dates and characterisation of discharge. OPM prefers the Member 4 copy for VRA, 30% and VEOA appointments.
• SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, for any 10-point claim.
• VA disability letter, available online, by phone or from a VA regional office.
• Statement of service if you have not yet left. Under the VOW to Hire Heroes Act you can apply within 120 days of discharge using written certification of expected honourable discharge (OPM FedsHireVets, veterans).

UK: guaranteed interview schemes

UK schemes guarantee progress to a stage of selection. They do not add marks, and every appointment is made on merit.

Civil Service: Great Place to Work for Veterans

The scheme began on 5 October 2020 in the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, Cabinet Office and Home Office, including Border Force, and was announced with no time limit after leaving service (GOV.UK, 2020). It now covers roles at various grades across the Civil Service. On Civil Service Jobs you are asked whether you are eligible, and you confirm that you served in the armed forces. If you meet the minimum criteria, you progress to the next stage for most vacancies (Civil Service Careers). The current page says "most vacancies", so check the advert for each role.

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE)

GFiE places veterans and service leavers in their resettlement period, and spouses and partners of serving personnel or of those discharged in the last 12 months, into Civil Service roles (Valour campaign, public sector careers). Roles run from entry level to first line management, mostly as fixed-term appointments of up to 24 months that may become permanent. Vacancies appear on the Career Transition Partnership site, and you can join the candidate bank by emailing a CV and referral form to GFIE@cabinetoffice.gov.uk (GFiE blog).

Advance into Justice

The Advance into Justice scheme recruits veterans, reservists, service leavers due to leave within 18 months, and spouses or civil partners where the service member is still serving or left within 12 months. Roles include prison officer, youth justice worker, operational support grade, probation service officer and community payback supervisor. Appointments start as a 2-year fixed term, with conversion to permanent possible after 12 months, and you can defer your start date to match your exit.

Local councils and the NHS

Every council has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, and some run their own guaranteed interview schemes (Valour campaign). Westmorland and Furness Council, for example, guarantees an interview to military personnel and veterans who meet a role's essential criteria (Westmorland and Furness Council, 2025). Search your council's website for "Armed Forces Covenant" or "guaranteed interview". In health, NHS Employers runs Step into Health, which connects the armed forces community with pledged NHS organisations in England and Wales.

UK and US side by side

Using your advantage well

In the US, the points and the direct hiring routes can decide who gets an offer, so the paperwork matters as much as the application. Upload every document with each application and claim the correct category. In the UK, the scheme gets you into the room and the interview decides the result. Civil Service interviews use Success Profiles, so prepare examples for each behaviour named in the advert. Our guide to translating military experience at interview covers how to do this. For protections that apply once you are employed, see the Armed Forces Covenant and VA benefits compared.