Getting Started

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Illustrated onboarding journey with a hiker carrying a red flag partway along a winding path through mountains, forests, and desert landscapes toward a government building in the distance.

Your onboarding journey begins before your first day as you complete the initial steps required to move from candidate to employee.

In this section, you'll learn about your tentative job offer, what to expect after accepting it, and the activities that will help prepare you for the next stage of the hiring process.

Receiving and Accepting Your Tentative Offer

Congratulations on your selection for a position with the U.S. Department of the Interior!

Your onboarding journey officially begins when you receive a tentative job offer email from USA Staffing which will come from an @opm.gov email address. This email will include important details about your position, including your duty station, job title, series, pay grade, and step.

Review your tentative offer carefully and follow the instructions provided in your offer letter to accept or decline the tentative offer and complete any required next steps within the timeframe provided. 

Be sure to monitor both your inbox and spam/junk folders so you do not miss important communications throughout the onboarding process.

What Happens After You Accept Your Tentative Offer?

Once you accept the tentative job offer, it may take 30 to 45  days before you receive your official job offer. During these 30 to 45 days, there are several actions that will need to be completed before you receive the official job offer. These actions include but aren’t limited to the following:

  • You will complete and return new hire forms (OF-306).

  • You will complete a drug test or medical evaluation if required for your position.

  • Human Resources will:

    • Review your new hire forms,

    • Initiate your background investigation, and

    • Work with the hiring manager for your position to secure a date for your first day of employment. 

Once these actions have been successfully completed, you’ll be ready to move onto the next step in the onboarding process.

Back: Employee Onboarding

Next: Official Offer

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Illustrated onboarding journey through mountains, desert, forests, and coastal landscapes toward a government building, with black pins marking the completed first two phases and a red pin marking the current third phase.

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