Seeking Non-Federal Employment

18 U.S.C. § 208 and 5 C.F.R. §§ 2635.601-.607

The "seeking employment" rules are more restrictive than most Federal employees realize. The financial interests of any entity with which you are negotiating or have an arrangement concerning future employment are deemed to be the same as your own for purposes of the criminal conflict of interest rules. There may be criminal or administrative penalties if you participate in any DOI matters that affect the financial interests of a prospective employer. Furthermore, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) interprets most forms of communication regarding prospective employment with a non-Federal source (other than requesting a job application) to be seeking employment. You must receive a written authorization or waiver before you participate in any particular matter at DOI that affects the financial interests of a prospective employer. Such authorizations or waivers are only granted in limited circumstances.

You are no longer seeking employment when either you or the prospective employer rejects the possibility of employment and all discussions regarding possible employment have terminated. You are also no longer seeking employment if two months pass after you send an unsolicited résumé or employment proposal and you receive no indication of interest. Any response to a prospective employer that defers discussions until the foreseeable future does not terminate employment discussions.

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (STOCK Act) requires Public Financial Disclosure report (OGE Form 278e) filers to file a statement notifying their agency ethics official of any negotiation for, or agreement of, future employment or compensation with a non-Federal entity within three business days after commencement of the negotiation or agreement.  An employee who files such a notification statement also must file with the agency's ethics official a recusal statement whenever there is a conflict of interest or appearance of a conflict of interest with the entity. (18 U.S.C. § 208 and 5 C.F.R. §§ 2635.601-607).

Ethics Seeking And Post Government Employment Presentation [pdf]

Ethics Quick Guide On Seeking And Negotiating Webversion [pdf]

Materials for Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278e) filers only: 

STOCK Act NOTIFICATION OF POST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT OR COMPENSATION NEGOTIATION OR AGREEMENT AND RECUSAL STATEMENT [pdf] Ethics Quick Guide On Termination Financial Disclosure [pdf]

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