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Federal
Jobs: Working for Uncle Sam
So
you want to work for the federal government? You are not
alone. Uncle Sam employs approximately 1.8 million civilian
workers worldwide. Federal employees receive a generous
benefits package, and as of 2006 they earn an average salary
of $63,125. As the largest employer in the U.S., the federal
government offers a variety of career opportunities unparalleled
in the private sector. No matter what your degree or level
of experience, there is a job for you with the feds. Federal
employees work with (and create) cutting-edge technology.
They create policy, programs and services that impact the
health, safety and welfare of millions of people in the
U.S. and abroad. But with these benefits come bureaucracy.
If you do not like working within a system and following
a defined chain of command, a federal job might not be for
you. This bureaucracy is evident in the hiring process as
well. Federal agencies follow strict hiring procedures,
and applicants who do not conform to these procedures are
left by the wayside. Typically, the federal hiring process
can stretch on for months. In fact, many career professionals
recommend that students applying for federal jobs begin
the process at least two semesters before their graduation
date.
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| Types
of Federal Jobs |
Federal
jobs are separated into two classes: competitive service
and excepted service positions. Competitive service jobs,
which include the majority of federal positions, are subject
to civil service laws passed by Congress. Job applications
for competitive service positions are rated on a numerical
system in which applications are awarded points based on
education, experience and other predetermined job qualification
standards. Hiring managers then fill the position from a
pool of candidates with the highest point totals. Hiring
managers for excepted service agencies are not required
to follow civil service hiring procedures or pick from a
pool of candidates who have been rated on a points system.
Instead, these agencies set their own qualifications requirements,
as occurs in private industry. However, both competitive
service and excepted service positions must give preference
to veterans who were either disabled or who served in combat
areas during certain periods of time. The Federal Reserve,
the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security
Agency are examples of some excepted service agencies. (For
a complete list, visit www.usajobs.opm.gov/EI6.asp.)
It's important to note that even agencies that are not strictly
excepted service agencies can have excepted service positions
available within them.
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| OPM
and USAJOBS |
The
U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) acts as the federal
government's human resources agency. OPM's Web site (www.opm.gov)
is expansive and contains a wealth of information for anyone
interested in federal jobs, including federal employment
trends, salary ranges, benefits, retirement statistics and
enough links to publications and resources to keep a research
librarian busy for days. Linked to the OPM site is the recently
launched USAJOBS site (www.usajobs.opm.gov),
which has its own set of tools and resources. Of particular
interest to job applicants is "The Career Interest
Center" page, which contains tools to help applicants
find jobs that match their education, skills and interests.
More importantly, USAJOBS acts as a portal for federal employment
with thousands of job listings at any one time.
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| Searching
for Federal Jobs |
Federal
agencies now fill their jobs like private industry by allowing
applicants to contact the agency directly for job information
and applications. However, most of these positions can be
accessed through the USAJOBS site. All competitive service
positions must be posted on the USAJOBS site, and although
agencies are not required to post their excepted service
positions on USAJOBS, many do. Registered visitors to USAJOBS
can create and post up to five resumes, which can be made
searchable, allowing recruiters from federal agencies to
find resumes during applicant searches.
Applicants can also use these resumes to apply directly
to jobs that have an online application option. In addition,
job applicants can create as many as ten "search agents,"
which search for job openings using certain criteria (such
as location, job type, agency, salary requirements), and
email matching postings directly to their inbox. Applicants
can also search for jobs directly using the "search
jobs" button on the USAJOBS homepage. Remember, excepted
service positions are not required to be posted on the USAJOBS
site. If you are interested in employment with an excepted
service agency, be sure to visit the recruitment section
of its Web sites for postings that may not have made it
onto the USAJOBS site. It is often worthwhile to look at
the sites of agencies that you do not associate with your
field of study. "If students are interested in the
environment, they should definitely visit the EPA's Web
site," says Briane K. Carter, M.S., Director of Career
Services at the University of Texas, El Paso. "But
they should also make sure to visit the Web sites of other
agencies that they don't associate with their major. It's
not unusual for biology major, for example, to find a job
with Homeland Security or the Department of Defense."
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| How
to Apply |
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There
is no general way to submit an application to OPM or to
individual federal agencies. Instead, students should
refer to each job posting for specific directions. Whether
for competitive service or excepted service positions,
federal job postings can be intimidating. Atypical posting
can run over 2,000 words and include sections on eligibility
requirements, educational requirements, necessary experience,
salary range, job duties and even a description of how
applicants are evaluated.
Most importantly, all federal job postings include a section
titled "How to Apply." Instead of letting this
avalanche of information overwhelm you, use it as a resource
to help you put together the best application possible,
paying particularly close attention to the "How to
Apply" section. If you do not follow the instructions
and procedures closely, your application may not be processed.
"I would emphasize that applicants should carefully
read the 'fine print' of all printed and online materials
and applications," says Dr. Richard White, Director
of Career Services at Rutgers University. "Applicants
who dot all their i's and cross all their t's gain a competitive
advantage and rise to the top of the application pool."
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| The
OPM created an "Optional Application for Federal Employment
Form-OF 612," which applicants can fill out instead
of submitting a resume for many positions. However, the
OPM Web site states that resumes are preferred in most instances.
As with all jobs, make sure to create a tailored resume
for any federal job that you apply for. Federal agencies
require specific information on your resume before it can
be processed.
The
OF 612 form and the specific job posting can be used together
to ensure that your resume has all the sections and information
necessary for your resume to be considered.
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| Written
by Chris Enstrom, a career counselor at the Career Resource
Center of Brown County in Nashville, Ind. |
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have questions?
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the Career Knight
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Rutgers
University - CAREER SERVICES - New Brunswick
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