Raj Chakraborty, Army Veteran, was hired as a Patent Examiner with the USPTO nearly 8 years ago and has continued to progress in his career. He recently joined the podcast to discuss his experience working with the USPTO and why other veterans should consider a career as a Patent Examiner. Additional topics include:
Our veteran employees have a proven track record of success after transitioning from the military into federal service. Veterans contribute to our mission in the areas of science and engineering, information technology, contracts, procurement, finance, administration, project and program management and customer support.
Most positions within the USPTO are in the competitive service, and may be applied for under currently open vacancy announcements that are listed on the USAJOBS website. However, depending on dates of service and other factors, veterans may be eligible to apply for positions listed as being open to status candidates or current federal employees, and eligible individuals under the Veteran Opportunity Employment Act (VEOA) , in addition to those open to the public or all U. S. citizens.
When applying for jobs, you must provide a DD-214, Member-4 copy reflecting that you have been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions (5-point veteran preference). Additionally, applicants requesting 10-point veteran preference (veterans with service-connected disability rating) must submit an SF-15 and a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) letter certifying the percentage of the service-connected disability.
We use special hiring authorities to appoint veterans when the following conditions are met:
VEOA - Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, as amended (VEOA) is an appointing authority that can be used when filling permanent positions. It allows veterans to apply to announcements that are open to individuals outside of USPTO only if they are "status" candidates, which normally means "current or former permanent federal employees."
To be eligible for a VEOA appointment:
A. Your latest discharge must be issued under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge), and
B. You must be either:
VRA - Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) is an authority that allows agencies to appoint eligible veterans without competition.
You are VRA eligible if you are:
You can be appointed under this authority on a temporary, term, or permanent basis at any grade level up to and including a GS-11, and the position may have further promotion potential.
30% or more disabled veteran - This authority allows agencies to appoint eligible veterans on a temporary or term basis and to convert them to a permanent appointment without competition.
You are eligible if you:
Military spouse - The military spouse authority allows agencies to appoint a military spouse without competition. We do not require a vacancy announcement when using this authority. Agencies can choose to use this authority when filling positions on a temporary (not to exceed 1 year), term (more than 1 year but not more than 4 years), or permanent basis.
As a military spouse you are eligible under this authority if your active duty military spouse:
Schedule A Appointing Authority
Though not specifically for veterans, the Schedule A authority for people with disabilities, 5 CFR 213.3102(u), is an excepted authority that agencies can use to appoint eligible veterans who have a severe physical, psychological, or intellectual disability.
To be eligible, you must:
More information can be found on the Feds Hire Vets special hiring authorities for veterans page or OPM's Veterans Services VET GUIDE
The USPTO has a Veteran Hiring Program (VHP) managed by Veteran Employment Program Coordinators. The VHP is designed to utilize veteran hiring authorities in order to efficiently hire qualified veterans non-competitively:
In addition to the Veteran Hiring Program the USPTO offers the following opportunity:
Operation Warfighter Program (OWF)
The USPTO proudly takes part in the Operation Warfighter (OWF) program. OWF is a federal internship program developed by the Department of Defense for active duty service members who are recovering at military treatment facilities and seeking to transition back to the military or civilian workplace. The program is open to the Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve components and designed to provide training that will help the recovering service personnel find employment after discharge. OWF is a great opportunity for service members on medical hold to build their resumes, explore employment interests, develop job skills, and gain valuable federal government work experience that will help prepare them for their adjustment to the workplace.
Program Eligibility
Program Elements
While there is no guarantee of employment following the completion of an OWF assignment, service members released from medical hold status are considered potential candidates for full time employment with USPTO, pending separation from the military.
Military servicemembers engage in acts of heroism every day in defense of our country. Thanks to their sacrifices, we enjoy inalienable rights and freedoms of expression. We are free to explore and try new things, and we are free to dream of ways to improve lives and advance humanity. As America's Innovation Agency, fulfilling dreams happens to be what the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) does best. Read these stories of veteran success at the USPTO below and join us!
Twyler H.
Supervisory Patent Examiner
Anhtuan N.
Supervisory Patent Examiner
Eric E.
Patent Examiner
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