9 Steps to Getting a Job with the Federal Government

From GovCentral

You're interested in working for the US government, but you're not
exactly sure what to do first. Maybe you're having difficulty figuring
out what type of government job would best match the skills that you
have. What are the major branches of the Government? How many jobs are
available? What agencies will be hiring rapidly over the next few
years? Find out the essential information about a career for the
government here.

Ten Steps to a Government Job is a comprehensive guide which will
walk you through the path you should follow - from choosing a
department, to understanding the ins and outs of the special benefits
government employees receive - as you leverage your skills in order to
get hired.

This FREE guide is available exclusively
to GovCentral members. Follow these 10 steps to make your government
job search more manageable.

Step 1: Learn About Government Careers

Many people have a preconceived notion of what it's like to work for
the government based on sensational clips from the news and Hollywood
movies. But what is it really like as an employee of the US Government?
How many employees work for the recently created Homeland Security
Department? What degree do you need to be highly qualified for the
Department of Energy?

There are hundreds of career paths within government work; we're here to help you discover the right one for you.

Here's a taste of what you'll find:

● Types of agencies: an overview of the major federal departments,
the executive branches of the Department of Defense, and independent
agencies

● What they do: a quick look at the missions and job functions of each major component

● Where they are: a closer look at the environment and culture of each different department.

● Who they are hiring: a break-down of what specialists are currently needed.

Federal Department Overview

Provides a detailed summary of each of the 15 executive Cabinet
departments, including labor statistics, a breakdown of popular careers
, and information on current job trends

Independent Agency Overview

The independent agencies of the Government are just as important as the executive departments. Learn more about each one.

Overview of Federal Wage System

Our walk through of the Federal Wage System will help you understand
the vicissitudes of government payouts. Read on to clue yourself into
what type of pay you can expect, and how increased experience will
fatten your wallet.

Largest Departments + Independents

Check out profiles for the five largest federal departments here.

Top Ranked Federal Agencies to Work For

Finding out which federal agencies make their employees the happiest.
Here you'll find a list of the top ranked federal agencies as compiled
by the Partnership for Public Service & Institute for the Study of
Public Policy Implementation

Considering Uncle Sam Discussion Forums

Got more specific questions about government agencies, or how you can
position yourself most strategically for getting hired? You'll gets
answers to your questions here.

Step 2: Become Familiar with the Hiring Process

Many Federal agencies fill their jobs like private industry by
allowing applicants to contact the agency directly for job information
and application processing. But, while the process is similar, there
are significant differences due to the many laws, executive orders, and
regulations that govern Federal employment.

Many years ago, applicants who passed the civil service test were
placed on standing registers of eligibles maintained by the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM). In addition, applicants had to complete a standard Federal employment application form, the SF-171, to apply for all jobs.

Competitive and Excepted Service

There are two classes of jobs in the Federal Government:

Competitive Service jobs are under OPM's jurisdiction

These jobs are subject to the civil service laws passed by Congress.
These laws ensure that applicants and employees receive fair and equal
treatment in the hiring process. They give selecting officials broad
authority to review more than one applicant source before determining
the best-qualified candidate based on job-related criteria. A basic
principle of Federal employment is that all candidates must meet the
qualification requirements for the position for which they receive an
appointment.

Excepted Service agencies are allowed to set their own qualification requirements

These agencies are not subject to the appointment, pay, and
classification rules in Title 5, United States Code. However, they are
subject to veterans' preference. Some Federal agencies, such as the
Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA),
have only excepted service positions. Other agencies, may have some
divisions or even specific jobs that may be excepted from civil service
procedures. Positions may be in the excepted service by law, by
executive order, or by action of OPM.

Agencies in the competitive service are required by law and OPM regulation to post vacancies with OPM
whenever they are seeking candidates from outside their own workforce
for positions lasting more than 120 days. (Agency, in this context,
means the parent agency - i.e., Treasury, not the Internal Revenue
Service.)

Who is Eligible

In filling competitive service jobs, agencies can generally choose from among (3) groups of candidates:

A competitive list of eligibles. This record lists the applicants (in rank order) who meet the qualification requirements for a specific vacancy announcement.

A list of eligibles who have civil service status. This
list consists of applicants who are eligible for noncompetitive
movement within the competitive service. These individuals presently or
previously served under career-type appointments in the competitive
service. They are selected under agency merit promotion procedures and
can receive an appointment by promotion, reassignment, transfer, or
reinstatement.

A list of eligibles that qualify for a special noncompetitive appointing authority established by law or executive order. Examples of special noncompetitive appointing authorities include the Veterans' Readjustment Appointment (VRA), the special authority for 30% or more disabled veterans, and the Peace Corps.

Area of Consideration

The area of consideration, listed on the vacancy announcement, is
the source from which the agency will consider candidates. The agency
may designate whatever area of consideration it considers appropriate.
A candidate who is outside the area of consideration will not be
considered.

Veterans Preference

Veterans' preference recognizes the economic loss suffered by
citizens who have served their country in uniform in times of strife,
restores veterans to a favorable competitive position for Government
employment, and acknowledges the larger obligation owed to disabled
veterans. Historically, Congress has reserved preference for those who
were either disabled, who served in combat areas or during certain
periods of time.

For more information on veterans' preference, please check out the Veteran's Preference Guide.

Step 3: Decide if You're Ready

Will you fit in with other government workers? Why are you
interested in joining? Are you old enough to get the job you're looking
for? Do you have a criminal record? Are you a US citizen?

Take the time to carefully consider questions such as these. The
more you educate yourself on the basic requirements you must meet to
succeed as a US government worker, the better you'll do when you apply.
Here's what you can learn:

● Basic Eligibility Requirements

● Reasons to Join

● Benefits Overview

● Government Worker vs. Civilian Comparison

● Learn about the Federal Hiring Process

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirement can vary from department to department. You
should always talk with a recruiter from the specific agencies you want
to apply with to ensure you know their requirements. However, our eligibility guide will get you started.

First, ask yourself: do you meet the following qualifiers? If so, you're probably ready to proceed with your job search:

● 18 years of age

● No history of drug use

● No felony criminal history

● Be of sound mental condition

● Be of good moral character

● Ability to pass a written exam

● Ability to pass a background investigation

Become a Government Employee

If you're considering a government career, but unsure about whether
you have enough expertise to make the cut, you will want to take a
serious look at your educational background. Would another degree
help you reinvent yourself as a stronger, more professional worker?
When it comes to increasing your chances of getting hired, nothing is
more helpful than a formal education in a government related field.
Visit GovCentral's Degree Center for advice about which degree to pursue.

Reasons to Join

There are thousands of reasons to work for the US government. Many
federal employees will tell you that they chose their career in order
to answer their calling, or to fulfill civic duties - not because of
the benefits, or the pay. Here's a list of a few good reasons to get a
government job:

● Answering the call to serve your country

● Personal satisfaction and pride

● Educational and monetary benefits that can last a lifetime

● Family tradition

● Devotion to a field

● Full-time employment

● Job security

● Personal improvement

Whatever you decide, when you decide to join, be sure you have a good reason to do so.

Benefits Overview

Benefits vary greatly from state to state and city to city. However,
all will likely have at least the basic benefits packages available to
full time employees:

● Excellent health care coverage

● Competitive Retirement and saving plans

● Paid vacations as well as paid sick days

● Paid holidays

● Travel opportunities (paid for by the government)

● Tuition reimbursement and education funding

Government vs. Civilian Comparison

A government career is like a civilian career in many ways: for the
most part, you work a regular job while attempting to keep your life,
family, bills, housing, car, etc. in order. You will work with other
people, have a boss, and have to exhibit initiative if you want to get
ahead.

There are also many unique aspects of working for the government.
The work that you do directly effects the well-being of fellow
citizens, as well as the United States as a nation. Considering that
you are a representative of the US government, you must consistently
live up to working and presentation standards, and demonstrate
exemplary ethics. Take a look at some of the differences between a career as a government worker and other careers

Step 4: Which Agency is Right for You?

There are thousands of different government jobs to choose from, and
an infinite amount of paths to take as you embark upon your career in
government work. Would you like to work for the Department of Defense?
The Department of Veteran Affairs? The Environmental Protection Agency?
Do you want to focus your talents on highly specialized work, or
provide more general services?

This article provides information about the following GovCentral services:

● Find federal jobs for your major

● Top Ten Agencies to find federal jobs

● Largest federal departments

● Search all states for federal jobs

Find Federal Jobs for your Major

To help you choose the right career field, we have created
cross-listed government jobs with an index of the most popular academic
majors.

Keep in mind that many government jobs do not actually require a
specific academic degree - the purpose of this guide is to inspire you
to think about the skills you have, and to begin thinking about what
government careers are right for you.

Check out your major or interest to see a list of corresponding federal government positions.

Top Ranked Federal Agencies to Work For

To find out which federal agencies ranks highest, the Partnership
for Public Service & Institute for the Study of Public Policy
Implementation analyze surveys filled out by thousands of federal
employees every two years. The Best Places
rankings show which agencies use their employees talents to their
fullest and also how managers encourage employees to bring added value
to the organziation.

The Ten Largest Federal Departments

When looking for employment, it makes sense to concentrate your
efforts in areas that have the greatest opportunities. The Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) reports that the
five largest departments employ close to half of the 2.7 million
federal civilian workers, with opportunities for everyone from janitors
to judges.

Check out profiles for the five largest federal departments below:

Department of Defense: 611,658

Department of Veterans Affairs: 205,542

Department of Homeland Security: 128,791

Department of the Justice: 103,479

Department of the Treasury: 101,146

Search All States for Federal Jobs

Searching for a job in your home state can be a heavy task. Often
times your career field or agency interests don't coincide with what's
available in your specific locale. The fifty state profiles
featured on GovCentral provide short summaries of what federal
departments and agencies dominate the federal employment scene in each
state, and link to specific federal job searches for major cities.

To check out which agencies dominate federal employment in your neck of the woods, click here.

10 Cities in Desperate Need of Government Employees

Step 5: Network for Success

Networking is one of the most important aspects of the work you will
do as you search for a government job - in fact, about 60 percent of
all applicants will find their job through networking. And yet, it is
often overlooked by applicants.

This guide will help you learn how to leverage GovCentral's
resources in order to become an expert at networking. Whether you're
interested in contacting agency officials, making a big splash at job
fairs, or getting career-specific questions answered on GovCentral,
we're here to help you get it done.

Here's a taste of what you will find in this section of the guide:

- Six Steps for Career Networking

- Learn the Lingo

- GovCentral's Discussion Boards

- Create a USAJOBS Account

- Meeting a Recruiter

Six Steps for Career Networking

Whether from formal professional networking groups or casual
friend-of-a-friend connections, 60 percent of government job seekers
will find a job through networking. Other savvy professionals use their
networks for finding answers, advice or leads.

Learn how to get the most out of your networking efforts.

GovCentral's Career Network
provides a great opportunity to make contacts within a specific agency
or department. Recruiters will always pay more attention to a candidate
who has earned recommendations from government workers serving within
their department. The Career Network
provides a tremendous opportunity for newcomers to government careers
and transfer applicants to reach out to others from the area to learn
about the agencies they work for.

Learn the Government Lingo

Before you apply for a federal job, you have to learn a new
language: Government-speak. Are you familiar enough with the acronyms,
abbreviations, and slang terminology used by government recruiters and
staff members to make a strong first impression?

As an example, the Department of Veteran Affairs often posts job
openings for "contact representatives". In the private sector, this job
would be very similar to a "customer service representative" - if you
weren't aware of this as you walked into a job interview, you could end
up in an embarrassing situation, or not prepared for the interview.

Find out how to speak like the Fed's here.

See a glossary of Federal Terms.

GovCentral Discussion Boards

Were you unable to find what you were looking for in the GovCentral
Career network? Try posting a message on our discussion boards, which
have recently been upgrades with added functionality and ease-of-use.

Government employees and applicants throughout the country read and
post messages on the discussion boards. Maybe your question has already
been answered - search our forums to find out. If not, post your question in a new thread, and get some answers.

Learn more about the updates to our forum pages here.

Create a USAJOBS Account

Becoming a USAJOBS member
allows for government job seekers to filter job searches based on their
personal information. Furthermore, you can upload your resume to USAJOBS, thus making it more accessible to federal recruiters and retrievable by the agencies that you are applying to.

The most critical aspect of using USAJOBS
is creating an account, and paying attention to when and where federal
vacancies are opening. Use GovCentral to learn more about federal
career fields and what agencies and cities are hiring the most
government workers.

Click here to see a list of the top job searches on USAJOBS (updated monthly).

Meeting a Recruiter

Talking to recruiters can be an excellent way to test your
interviewing skills, and to learn a lot more about working for the
federal government. Read our 10 tips for visiting a recruiter, which includes a list of questions you might consider asking your recruiter.

Step 6: Getting Ready for the Exams

If you're serious about working for the government, it's time to get
serious about your performance on civil service exams, entrance exams, KSA ratings, and other methods of assessment used by government employers.

Although not every government agency will administer written exams,
all agencies are interested in assessing each applicant's profile
before an actual interview takes place. In the agency's opinion, the
sooner they can determine whether or not an applicant is actually
qualified and eligible for a position in demand, the better.

Your resume, as well as your responses to the core and
self-assessment questions, are integral in determining your basic and
specialized qualifications for the position at hand.

What to Expect from Self-Assessments

Just when you got those pesky knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) statements under your belt when applying to federal government jobs, a new trend has emerged: Self-assessment questions.

Also called job-specific questions, self-assessment questions are
found in increasing numbers of government agencies' applications. They
will be new to some federal job seekers, but don't be put off. These
questions are intended to simplify the federal application process by
replacing KSA job-element statements.

Familiarize yourself with their format to ensure you answer them to your best advantage.

Step 7: Write Your KSAs and Cover Letter

What are KSA's?

"KSA" is an abbreviation for knowledge, skills, and abilities. KSAs
are attributes required to perform a job and which are generally
demonstrated through qualifying experience, education, or training.

KSAs are used as part of a rating process to determine which
candidates are best qualified for a given position. Choose from the
articles below to learn more about KSA's:

● What are KSA's?

● Resume and KSA Tips

● KSA Discussion Boards

Pay Attention to Keywords

Whether you're writing your first resume, updating an existing one,
or answering a position's Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's),
stop and think about which keywords you need to add. You could be the
most qualified person for the position, but you could be lost in a sea
of applicants without the right keywords.

A Single Keyword Communicates Multiple Skills and Qualifications

When a recruiter reads the keyword "analyst," he or she might assume
you have experience in collecting data, evaluating effectiveness, and
researching and developing new processes. Just one keyword can have
tremendous power and deliver a huge message.

Study Job Announcements

This is the best way to determine important keywords. Review several
job announcements and their questions for your ideal position. The jobs
don't have to be in your geographic target area. The idea is to find
skills, experience, education and other credentials important in your
field. You will probably find keywords frequently mentioned by
different agencies. Focus on the "requirements," "skills" or
"qualifications" sections of job ads, and look for "buzzwords" and
desirable credentials

Be Concise

Don't confuse telling your story with creating your autobiography.
Recruiters are inundated with applications and are faced with weeding
out the good from the bad. The first step involves quickly skimming
through submissions and eliminating candidates who clearly are not
qualified. Therefore, your application needs to pass the skim test.
Look at your resume and/or KSA's and ask yourself:

1) Can a hiring manager see my main credentials within 10 to 15 seconds?

2) Does critical information jump off the page?

3) Do I effectively sell myself on the top quarter of the first page?

The Sales Pitch

Because applications are quickly skimmed during the first pass, it
is crucial your resume and KSA's get right to work selling your
credentials. Your key selling points need to be prominently displayed
at the top of the first page of the resume and directly address each
question asked in the KSA section. For
example, if an advanced degree is an important qualification, it
shouldn't be buried at the end of a four-page resume. If a KSA question asks about your writing ability, immediately detail your experience instead of enjoyment of it.

Use an Editor's Eye

Many workers are proud of their careers and feel the information on
a resume should reflect everything they've accomplished. However, a
resume shouldn't contain every detail and KSA's should only address the
question at hand. So be judicious. If your college days are far behind
you, does it really matter that you pledged a fraternity or delivered
pizza? The editing step will be difficult if you are holding on to your
past for emotional reasons.

If you were a recruiter looking at a resume or an answer to a KSA, which of the following entries would impress you more:

- "Wrote news releases."

- "Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines."

Clearly the second statement carries more weight. Why? Because it
uses numbers to quantify the writer's accomplishment, giving it a
context that helps the interviewer understand the degree of difficulty
involved in the task. Numbers are powerful resume tools that will help
your accomplishments draw the attention they deserve from prospective
employers. With just a little thought, you can find effective ways to
quantify your successes on your resume.

Use Numbers to Highlight Your Accomplishments

Think Money

For-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations alike are and
always will be concerned about money. So as you contemplate your
accomplishments and prepare to present them on your resume or in your
KSA's, think about ways you've saved money, earned money, or managed
money in your internships, part-time jobs and extracurricular
activities so far. A few possibilities that might appear on a typical
college student's resume:

1) Identified, researched and recommended a new Internet Service Provider,
cutting the company's online costs by 15 percent.

2) Wrote prospect letter that has brought in more than $25,000 in donations to date.

3) Managed a student organization budget of more than $7,000.

Think Time

You've heard the old saying, "Time is money," and it's true.
Companies and organizations are constantly looking for ways to save
time and do things more efficiently. They're also necessarily concerned
about meeting deadlines, both internal and external. So whatever you
can do on your resume or in your KSA's to show that you can save time,
make time or manage time will grab your reader's immediate attention.
Here are some time-oriented entries that might appear on a typical
college student's resume:

1) Assisted with twice-monthly payroll activities, ensuring employees were
paid as expected and on time.

2) Attended high school basketball games, interviewed players and coaches afterward,
and composed 750-word articles by an 11 p.m. deadline.

3) Suggested procedures that decreased average order-processing time from 10 minutes
to five minutes.

Related Articles:

● Federal Hiring 101: Learn What to Expect from Self-Assessments

● What Are KSAs?

Step 8: Time to Apply

You've done the preliminary research, and you're finally ready to
apply to one or several of the 193,000+ positions the U.S. Government
will be looking to fill over the next two years.

Read these tips to make sure you've covered all bases: if you miss
some required information, or neglect an important aspect of your
application, you will cost yourself a valuable activity and a good deal
of time.

Resumes and Application Procedure

Government resumes are slightly different from other resumes,
because they are often examined as if they were applications - if you
don't clearly specify your qualifications, your entire profile as a
potential profile is likely to be disregarded. The upshot is that some
hiring managers don't even require interviews - if your resume is good
enough, they'll hire you based on your resume alone.

You can apply to most federal jobs with a resume, or the ‘Optional Application for Federal Employment' (form OF-612).
Depending on the department you apply to, you might have more
flexibility in the written format you choose, and whether you apply on
paper or using an online job application.

Find out more about how to structure your resume with GovCentral's database of expert resume advice:

● Federal Employment Forms

● Keywords that Work

● How Are Federal Resumes Different?

● KSA's in the Resume

● Military to Federal Resume Tips

● How to Manage Your Online Federal Application

Make USAJOBS Work for You

It is important to realize that using USAJOBS
to your advantage is not merely an option, but often a necessity. Even
job seekers who have networked with federal managers or have completed
a government internship are required to go through the process. While
some agencies have started working outside the USAJOBS
portal, and either use third party hosts or their own websites to post
some vacancies, the processes they use are usually similar. Knowing the
USAJOBS portal inside and out before you begin searching is likely to benefit you either way. Start here to make the most of the time you spend on USAJOBS.

Get the Best Job You Possibly Can

Do you qualify for several jobs? Will the city or area you apply at
greatly affect your pay? If these questions ring true, make sure you're
taking the time to get the best job you possibly can. After all,
accepting a new job is a serious decisions, and may define a large part
of your life for years to come.

● Top Federal Career Fields: Which is Right for You?

● 2008: Hottest Government Job Searches

● Highest Paying State Government Careers

● 25 Federal Agencies Hiring the Fastest

● Highest Paying Federal Careers for 2008

● Top Metros for Government Jobs

Other Important Information

If you're looking for more specific advice, see if any of the following articles are helpful to you:

Learn how to leverage your Veteran status Here.

Students

Students and recent graduates can visit StudentJobs.gov to search
for summer jobs, co-op positions, temporary work and federal
internships for college graduates. Read tips about applying while still
in school here.

Step 9: Taking the Oath: Security, Confidentiality, and Ethics

Getting sworn into office is a major accomplishment, and signifies
that you have met all of your agency's high standards to become an
employee of the U.S. government. Taking the oath and beginning your
work for the government represents a transition into a position with
more responsibility, integrity, and pride than many other career paths
can offer.

As a civil servant, you must swear to support and defend the
Constitution of the United States, which actually defines the work of
federal employees: "to establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty."

Here is some of the ethics you are expected to uphold as a government worker.

The Oath Itself

If you are required to swear by an oath, this is what it is likely to be:

I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and
defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,
foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the
same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental
reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully
discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So
help me God.

Security Clearances

Some jobs require you gain security clearance shortly after getting
hired. There are three basic levels of security clearence:
Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. Keep in mind that this is largely
a process which affects your employer, and not you. You should never
have to pay any hidden fee's in the process of becoming cleared.

Although this process can be time-consuming, the government is
making large strides towards making the process much more efficient.
For more information about how to obtain a security clearance, check
out these guides:

● How to Obtain a Security Clearance

● Security Clearances 101: How to Maximize Your Earnings

Confidentiality and the Internet

You should be aware that, as an internet user, you must be careful
about what information you are willing to share with the general
public, and how you share it.

Join the Homeland Security group here.

Conclusion: Are You Successful? Can You Advance?

Congratulations! Now that you're settling into your government job,
you're starting to reap the benefits of an aspiring career, with all of
the responsibility and hard work that comes with it. How should you
proceed?

Avoid the 10 Worst Government Job Blunders

Now that you've landed yourself a sweet government job, you've got
to worry about your performance. We've all heard stories of employees
which are qualified for the work that they do, but just don't have
enough composure or self-discipline to deliver quality work,
consistently. Read on.

What to Expect in Your First Few Weeks

It is likely that you'll enter into a probationary period that will
last anywhere from 6 to 12 months following the date of your being
hired. In many agencies you are not protected from termination until
your probationary period ends, so you want to be sure you do everything
right. Here are some things to keep in mind:

● Your higher-ups will watch you closer than they may watch other employees

● You may get stuck with less than desirable assignments; it is part of the learning process

● Always be courteous and don't overstep your bounds

● You still don't know everything, so don't act like it

● Reputations rub off easily - choose the right employees to associate with

● SLOW DOWN! Taking an extra 30 seconds to organize yourself is almost always worth it.