Why
a Federal Job Is a Terrific Deal
By: Lily Whiteman
While many other employers lay off employees, the federal
government—the nation's largest employer—will fill more
than 200,000 dynamic, well-paying jobs annually during
the coming years. The federal hiring wave, which will
continue no matter how bad the economy may get, is being
generated by record numbers of retiring baby boomers.
The federal government hires all types of professionals
at all levels of their careers—from students to seasoned
executives. And federal jobs are based all over the
United States and overseas. (Only about 15 percent of
federal jobs are based in Washington, D.C.)
Federal
jobs are desirable because they provide:
1. Opportunities to be a do-gooder:
No matter what job you choose as a federal employee,
you will impact large numbers of people and vast resources.
And the ultimate aim of most federal jobs is to, in
one way or another, better the world.
2. Excellent salaries: Contrary to
popular belief, federal salaries are not low. In fact,
the salaries of most feds meet or beat those of their
private sector counterparts. Plus, some federal jobs
pay up to $60,000 in student loan repayments.
3. Terrific bennies: Feds choose from
the nation's best health insurance, dental insurance,
long-term care, and life insurance programs.
4. Unbeatable job security: Feds are
rarely laid off, and it is much harder to fire federal
employees than private sector employees.
5. Quick advancement: Federal employees
receive annual cost-of-living increases, regularly scheduled
promotions, and merit-based promotions. In addition,
the ongoing retirement wave is creating unprecedented
opportunities for professionals to quickly climb the
federal career ladder.
6. Safe pensions: As corporate scandals
and cutbacks erode private sector pensions, feds remain
covered by secure pensions.
7. Generous vacations: Employees of
the federal government enjoy 10 paid holidays and up
to 26 days of vacation each year.
8. Flexible schedules: Flexible work
schedules and telecommuting options are currently freeing
large proportions of feds from the straightjacket of
9-to-5 schedules.
Copyright © National Association of Colleges and Employers
__________________________________________________________
Where
to Find Your Job in the Federal Government
There is one nationwide employer that will continue
to fill hundreds of thousands of high-paying, secure,
dynamic jobs annually. Who is this employer? The federal
government. Annually, the government will hire more
than 200,000 new employees throughout the United States,
including tens of thousands of interns and recent graduates.
The massive federal hiring wave will continue in spite
of the ongoing national recession. What's more, U.S.
News & World Report described government
jobs as a terrific deal and included "government
manager" on its list of best careers—and that was
even before various factors converged to make federal
jobs particularly hot, hot properties. These factors
include:
- A hiring wave in the federal government—the nation's
largest employer—generated by record numbers of retiring
baby boomers.
- Spiking unemployment rates in the private sector,
which have increased the appeal of secure federal
jobs. (Feds are rarely laid off and rarely fired.)
- Increased appreciation for public service, which
began after 9/11.
If you want to start a federal career, here's how to
find federal openings:
Regularly surf http://www.USAJOBS.gov:
Every day, tens of thousands of openings are advertised
on this website—the main website for federal jobs.
Check
the career sections of agency websites: Every
federal agency has its own website, and every agency
website has an employment section. These employment
sections frequently advertise job openings, internships,
and special recruitment programs that are never advertised
on http://www.USAJOBS.gov.
A link to an A-to-Z directory of agency websites appears
under "Government Agencies" at http://www.firstgov.gov.
Attend job fairs: Many federal agencies
use job fairs to fill unadvertised openings – sometimes
through fast-track hiring procedures or even on-the-spot
offers. Some federal agencies sponsor their own job
fairs at college campuses and other locations; other
federal agencies co-sponsor job fairs that are also
attended by private sector employers.
You can find job fairs that are sponsored or co-sponsored
by federal agencies by looking for ads in the media
and by checking agency websites. In particular, be sure
to check the career sites of agencies that regularly
sponsor job fairs, which include agencies in the intelligence
community (intelligence.gov),
the U.S. State Department (state.gov),
the FBI (FBI.gov)
and some agencies that address banking and corporate
finance, including the FDIC and agencies in the U.S.
Treasury Department (treasury.gov).
Join the Foreign Service: The Foreign
Service, which represents the United States' interests
overseas—is composed of employees from four federal
agencies:
1. the U.S. Department of State (state.gov);
2. the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA.gov);
3. the International Trade Administration (trade.gov);
and
4. the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID.gov).
Check each foreign service agency's website for its
requirements for applying to its branch of the foreign
service.
Apply for temporary jobs and contract jobs:
Temporary jobs in federal agencies and federal
contracting jobs often segue almost seamlessly into
permanent federal jobs and generate experience and contacts
that may lead to permanent jobs.
Because temp agencies and contractors frequently hire
faster than federal agencies do, working for federal
contactors or temp agencies are particularly good options
for unemployed job hunters who need to start working
quickly and for job seekers who want to work part time
during their job searches.
You may find federal contract jobs by surfing through
the websites of federal contractors; a list of the nation's
top 100 contractors is posted at http://www.usaspending.gov.
You may find temporary agencies that help federal agencies
staff up by surfing through the list of temp agencies
posted at http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/c21666.htm.
Land a federal internship: Federal
employers have recently rolled out dozens and dozens
of new, well-paying internship programs for students
and special fast-track management training programs
for recent grads. Some of these programs are recruiting
young professionals of all backgrounds and some of these
programs are specially recruiting minorities, women,
and people with disabilities.
Contact selective placement coordinators at
federal agencies: Each agency has a selective
placement coordinator who provides information to job
seekers about unadvertised openings for people with
disabilities and for veterans. A directory of selective
placement coordinators is posted at http://www.apps.opm.gov/sppc_directory.
Copyright © National Association of Colleges and Employers
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