Life After PC

Non Competitive Eligibility  

So you're wondering about the mystery known as NCE? Glossed over by your recruiter, spoken of in hushed whispers during PST, and forgotten to the mists of time during service; NCE is actually a great way to get your foot in the door working for the federal government. Peace Corps defines the benefit as "a special hiring status (or benefit) that allows eligible RPCVs, PCVRs, and Peace Corps Staff (who have been granted NCE) the opportunity to apply for and compete for jobs that are open to ONLY Federal Employees." 

Your NCE status begins on your COS date. You will receive a signed letter from the country director and your status will also be stated in your DOS (description of service letter). Make copies of both. You will also want to register with the Peace Corps' NCE roster at: 

• https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/523129300

Unlike the Coverdell Fellowship program (which never expires), your noncompetitive eligibility will expire a year after it was granted. This, coupled with the fact that you can't start applying to NCE-participating jobs until you have COS'ed, requires you to move fairly quickly f you're planning on taking advantage of this benefit. Some, but not all agencies, will extend your NCE status if you return to school after COS. Read more about NCE at the Peace Corps' site:

• https://www.peacecorps.gov/returned-volunteers/careers/noncompetitive-eligibility/

A Thailand RPCV explains:

NCE is real and it is glorious. I received extensions since I did PC Response and then went to grad school, but I wasn't sure if my NCE status was still active when I went looking for federal jobs. Our group's staff didn't do a very good job of explaining NCE or emphasizing just how AMAZING it is, so I didn't look into it seriously until much later. Too late, unfortunately. It turned out my NCE status had expired, but due to the extensions this wasn't obvious to me or federal agencies. So I went through the application process for several agencies and know how it works. (Before officially hiring me they'd send my docs to HR to confirm that I was still NCE eligible and it was at this point where things would fall apart.) Here's what I did to apply: I went to the PC Career Link website. As you probably know there's a box you can click to only show NCE positions which is really convenient. The application "process" is incredibly informal and quick. Typically they ask you to email them your resume, DOS and maybe a cover letter/transcripts. You do not apply directly through USAJOBS which is fantastic because USAJOBS is a black hole where dreams of federal employment go to die (more on this later). Agencies got back to me within a week or two to set up interviews, which, again, is incredible because it can take months on USAJOBS.

If you're at all interested in working for the federal government, use your NCE! If you're on the fence about going to grad school or trying to leverage your NCE, I would strongly suggest you do the latter because 1) depending on your timeline you may lose your NCE status even after an extension, 2) you can always do grad school later and your Coverdell eligibility, unlike NCE, never expires, and 3) because of the way federal career ladders work a grad degree does not confer an advantage (in the two years it would take you to finish a degree you could move up from a GS-7 to a GS-11 -- to give you perspective, those with Master's degrees start out at GS-9). 

I ended up getting a job with the General Services Administration by applying the normal way on USAJOBS. However...I filled out probably 30+ applications on USAJOBS and received only one interview, for GSA (which luckily happened to be my first choice). This is why NCE is literally like a golden ticket. Because it is virtually impossible to get a job the normal route through USAJOBS *unless* you're applying through a special pathway. I received an interview at GSA only because I applied through their Recent Graduates pathway, which significantly narrowed down their applicant pool. This was pure luck as it is completely at their own discretion that agencies decide whether or not to post a vacancy under a special pathway. Many decide not to. Meanwhile, I know several people who got their jobs through NCE and they were all blown away that something like NCE exists and by how much of an advantage it gave them. 

By the way, quick shoutout to my agency, GSA is a fantastic place to work and they really like RPCVs! On that note, I would really recommend people looking at federal opportunities to check out the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government website. Culture, effectiveness and benefits can vary dramatically from agency to agency, and this is a well-respected and, from what I can tell, fairly accurate ranking of all the different agencies and subcomponents. Before you accept an offer, look up the hiring office to make sure the next few years of your life won't be a nightmare! Well worth the minute or two it takes to look up. Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!