Workforce Recruitment Program

• Bring students with disabilities into the employment process.
• Help college Career Centers and Disability Service Offices connect with their students with disabilities around employment.
• Function as a pipeline to bring new talent into the Federal Government and fill mission-critical jobs.
• Break down attitudinal barriers in the workplace. 

• Registration for Fall 2023-Spring 2024 is now closed.
• Check back in Fall 2024 for updates.

Students and recent graduates can apply to WRP if they:  

• have a disability and are eligible under the Schedule A hiring authority  
• are a U.S. citizen or national (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) 
• are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program on a substantially full-time basis OR have graduated with a degree on or after April 1, 2021. 

New and returning WRP applicants must register and complete an application each year to continue to participate. Please use a computer or tablet to register and apply.

Schedule A is a hiring mechanism for people with disabilities that allows them to be quickly hired into the federal workplace.

• Improves the Federal Government’s ability to hire.
• Helps the Federal Government be a model employer.

Candidates are eligible for Schedule A if they have an intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, or severe physical disability. To be hired, candidates with disabilities must be qualified for the position and provide a Schedule A letter to HR.

Learn more: Schedule A Hiring Authority and How to Obtain a Schedule A Letter

Schedule A Letters

A Schedule A letter is documentation that you are Schedule A eligible. This letter must be on letterhead and signed by:

• A licensed medical professional;
• A licensed rehabilitation professional; or
• Any federal or state agency that issues or provides disability benefits.

This letter does NOT need to detail your specific disability, medical history, or need for accommodation. Follow the sample Schedule A letter language.

WRP & Schedule A

• WRP candidates must certify that they are eligible for Schedule A when they register on WRP.gov. 
• Submit your Schedule A Letter to DRC to be reviewed.
• WRP Employers use Schedule A to hire WRP candidates into internships and jobs at their agencies.
• Candidates must provide a Schedule A letter to the federal agency’s human resources if accepting a WRP opportunity.
• Have your letter on hand by January 2024 to provide to an agency’s HR if requested. Otherwise, you could delay or lose job opportunities and frustrate your potential employer.
• Do not upload your letter to WRP.gov but have it ready!

Registration Steps

To register for the WRP, students will need to visit WRP.gov.

1. Use Chrome or Firefox on a computer (not a mobile device).
2. Select the first purple box saying, “Students Registration Now Open!”
3. Click the green “Students Register Now!” button.
4. Click the registration button, then
5. Complete:
   1. Rules of Behavior,
   2. Agreement, and
   3. Registration forms.
6. Once your School Coordinator approves your registration, you will receive an email with information about how to sign in to your Login.gov account, also used for logging in to WRP.
7. After setting up your login for the first time, you will be directed to your student homepage.
8. Click New Student Application to get started!

Required Information

The WRP student application consists of:

• Identification and contact information
• Resume (*Review with Career Center before uploading*)
• Transcript (official or unofficial)
• Academic information including major, degree, GPA, etc.
• Job and location preferences
• Disability & demographic info (for statistical purposes only, not shown to employers)
• Optional: Cover letter, letter of recommendation, writing sample, etc.

Do not upload information that contains your social security number, date of birth, or other sensitive personally identifiable or health information.

Informational Interviews

WRP applicants can receive an elective informational interview with a WRP Recruiter, who is a Federal Government employee.

• You will have a conversation where you ask for career advice and learn about federal service.
• Recruiter will provide feedback and general suggestions on your resume and application
• This is your chance to learn and seek advice from a federal employee about how to succeed in your future career path.

Preparing for Your Interview

1. Review your resume with Career Services before uploading it to WRP.
2. Create a list of general questions to ask your Recruiter about federal service and career advice, and practice with your Coordinator or a peer.
3. Research federal careers and agencies. Be aware that your Recruiter may be in a different career field, so be flexible in your questions.
4. Be ready to receive resume feedback during your interview.
5. Be prepared to answer questions related to your academic, professional, and extracurricular experiences.
6. Give highlights of your successes and discuss how you solve problems.

After the Interview

• Your application is published to federal employers from December 2022-December 2023.
• Keep your WRP application and contact info up to date all year so employers can contact you! You can edit your application and documents even after submitting.
• Please note: WRP is not a guarantee of employment and we encourage you to pursue other avenues in addition to WRP.

Employer Contact

Employers will contact candidates directly by email or phone. (WRP and your Recruiter do not track this information.) Employers may contact candidates about jobs as early as January, and will continue through June for summer jobs, and up to one year for permanent jobs.

If you are contacted with a job or interview offer ask about:

• the person's contact information,
• location of the position,
• job title,
• and job duties.

If you have further questions, please contact:

• Disability Resource Center - drc@uncw.edu
• Ricky Patterson - pattersonr@uncw.edu 
• Jacqueline Pitone - pitonej@uncw.edu