Federal Employment Nearly 60% of the federal civilian work force will be eligible for retirement in the next 10 years. This is good news for you AND your career search. From alternative schedules and telecommuting to recruitment and retention incentives, the federal government has a lot to offer to today’s college graduates.
Finding Opportunities With the Federal Government
Full-Time Positions: www.usajobs.gov--the U.S. Federal Government’s official website Individuals with Disabilities: www.usajobs.gov/individualswithdisabilities.asp Veterans: www.fedshirevets.gov/ Senior Executives: www.usajobs.gov/seniorexecutives.asp Internships: www.usajobs.gov/studentjobs/
Many jobs in the federal government require some sort of security clearance for employees once they are hired. A security clearance is a license issued by the government to authorize an employee to handle classified or top secret information that relates to national security. A consequence of this fact is that takes a long time (often a year or longer) to obtain some positions, especially in intelligence.
Important Notes:
Certain agencies of the federal government are exempt from posting their positions on www.usajobs.gov; those departments fall under the legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government, the U.S. Postal Service, and any intelligence agencies (CIA, FBI, NSA, etc.) General pay information can be found at:
Searching on these respective websites can be a quicker way to identify opportunities. The Federal Government is made up of a myriad of agencies and departments. For a complete list of those agencies, go to: www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml
http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/articles/37
Interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724-1850 to access the same information on the USA Jobs site For hearing impaired customers, TDD line can be accessed at (978) 461-8404
Steps to Finding a Federal Opportunity 1. Open “my account” at www.usajobs.gov 2. Create a search agent to begin receiving job openings and to become familiar with key terminology and skills requested in your field 3. Create your profile 4. Apply for specific openings by creating your resume using the terminology from the job announcement Match your experience to the qualifications listed--use key words 5. Pay special attention to: Knowledge/skills/abilities and qualifications Social Security Number (SSN), citizenship, and the vacancy announcement number Closing dates and instructions Other required application materials
The federal government has established a Pathways Program aimed at recruiting, hiring, developing, and retaining students and recent graduates. The three program paths are:
An Internship Program that replaces the existing Student Career Experience Program (SCEP/STEP). A Recent Graduates Program that targets the hiring of recent graduates into twoyear career development programs. A Presidential Management Fellows Program which is a premiere leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. More information can be found at: www.opm.gov/hiringreform/pathways