Where You Should Look for Work In These Tough Economic Times

From the Brooklyn Eagle | Sept 7, 2010 

By Prof. Patrick O’Halloran
New York City College of Technology

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — The nation’s unemployment level still hovers at 10 percent. Non-union wages have been stagnant for more than a decade. Consumer confidence is also at a very low ebb.

There is a way to find employment where many of the positions are unionized, with the nation’s largest and most dependable employer. You can even begin your job search from your home. The nation’s largest and most dependable employer is the federal government. The federal government has 1.8 million employees, and this does not include the U.S. military and the U.S. Postal Service.

As the nation’s largest employer, the federal government plans to hire 550,000 people by the end of 2012. A large percentage of the hiring being done is to replace government employees who are retiring. Usually the process of being hired for a government job is tedious and time-consuming. Recently President Obama directed government agencies to streamline the hiring process.

USAJOBS.gov is the web site to find federal employment. Once you find what types of positions are available, you may visit the web site of the agency that has the openings that are of interest to you. The website tells you how to apply for these positions and gives you a choice of geographical locations.

Usajobs.gov allows you to search for employment by agency, occupation and location. The site also allows you to view which positions are in demand and how to apply directly to the federal agencies.

Usajobs.gov has a section that thoroughly explains the federal hiring process. There is also a section that helps one find special government hiring programs. There are sections devoted to senior executives, veterans, people with disabilities and students.

Recently there were 933 job openings listed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There were more than 1,000 open positions at the Department of Homeland Security, such as baggage screening positions at local airports. The Department of the Interior had more than 500 positions listed, including electricians ($35/hr), electrical assistants ($15/hr), and maintenance workers ($22/hr).

Another resource for finding employment with the Federal Government is the Partnership for Public Service. This is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. The website is ourpublicservice.org. There is a wealth of valuable information available regarding employment with the federal government on this site. See the top federal agencies to work for at their site.

One of the most dismal areas for employment right now is for recent college graduates. There is still hope for college graduates in finding federal government employment. According to the organization’s research, the Federal Government will fill more than 50,000 entry level positions in the next 12 months, along with approximately 60,000 paid internships. These positions are available in all 50 states and worldwide.

The Partnership for Public Service has an easy-to-read and inexpensive book available that provides advice and “insider tips” for job seekers.

Government employment may not have some of the pizzazz of the private sector but it does provide competitive pay and excellent benefits. Government employment offers job security and the opportunity to advance.

Professor Patrick O’Halloran teaches at New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn. His latest book is titled Detailed Job Descriptions in the Hospitality Industry. His e-mail address is pohalloran@citytech.cuny.edu.

New York City College of Technology (City Tech) of the City University of New York (CUNY) is the largest public college of technology in New York State. Located at 300 Jay Street in downtown Brooklyn, the college enrolls more than 14,000 students in 60 baccalaureate, associate and specialized certificate programs. An additional 15, 000 annually enroll in Continuing Education and Workforce Development Programs.