Employee Onboarding, Phase 1: Tentative Selection
WARNING: This is NOT an official job offer
Do not quit your current job, start moving, or make major life changes yet. You must wait until you receive an Official Job Offer email.
Next Steps and Timeline
Timeline: This phase usually takes 30 to 45 days.
Check your email: We will send you a Tentative Selection Notification email. Your local unit and our automated system will also send updates.
Review details: Check your notification email to verify your job title, pay grade, work location, and rules.
Act quickly: Send all required forms before your deadlines or you may lose the job offer.
Required Tasks for All New Hires
1. Form OF-306: Declaration for Federal Employment
This background form helps us check if you are suitable to work for the federal government.
Note: You do not need to fill this out if you are a current federal employee with a matching background check.
Watch our Forest Service Background Check Process Video (opens in a new window)
2. Fingerprints and Background Check
Most new hires must pass an FBI criminal history check. If you are a permanent hire, you must also fill out an online background questionnaire.
Your action: Follow the instructions in your email to schedule a fingerprint appointment with Fieldprint USA.
Permanent hires: A case manager will contact you to complete a deeper background investigation.
3. Cybersecurity Training
You must take and pass the USDA Information Security Awareness training course before your first day of work.
How to log in: Open the training link in your onboarding email and log in using your application email address.
Next step: Send your completion certificate to your manager as soon as you finish.
Requirements for Specific Jobs
Check your onboarding paperwork to see if any of these extra rules apply to your job:
Drug Testing: Required if your job involves public health, safety, law enforcement, or national security. You must pass a drug test before you get an official offer. If you fail, we will cancel your offer and you cannot work for us for at least 6 months.
Commercial Driver's License (CDL): If your job requires a commercial license, you must register as a driver with the Department of Transportation Clearinghouse system.
School Transcripts: Required only if your job requires a specific college degree, or if you applied through a student or recent graduate program.
Age Limits: Some public safety jobs like wildland firefighting and law enforcement have maximum entry ages. Your case manager will tell you if you need an age waiver.
Medical Exam: If your field job requires a physical exam, your case manager will tell you how to schedule it.
Pay, Benefits, and Incentives
Your Pay: Pay rates track federal scales and change based on your work location. Review the pay grade in your tentative selection notice.
Transferring from Another Federal Agency: If you currently work for another federal agency, our HR team will transfer your paperwork directly from your current employer.
Asking for Higher Pay or Extra Leave: If you have high private-sector pay history or unique skills, tell your hiring supervisor immediately. Important: We must review and approve these requests before your official start date.
Moving Money (Relocation Bonuses): Some hard-to-fill jobs offer money to help pay for your move. If you accept this money, you must sign an agreement promising to work for us for a set amount of time. If you leave early, you must pay the money back.
Benefits: Your insurance and retirement options depend on your job type. Review your onboarding site or ask your HR manager for details.
Finished reviewing your Phase 1 requirements?