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How to Apply for Government Jobs
The federal government is, by its own admission, a huge and complex bureaucracy, if not by design, then certainly by necessity. Simply put, even at the state level, the vast array of functions and responsibilities that are in the hands of government agencies requires large organizational structure and hierarchies that have to be both efficient and fair. That requires a lot of manpower, and a fair amount of judicious oversight and careful enforcement. In other words, it’s complicated. And, the process of applying for government jobs had become so impenetrably complex and convoluted that in 2010 President Obama issued an executive order to improve and reform federal job recruitment and hiring procedures. That order set out guidelines for federal agencies, like, “eliminate any requirement that applicants respond to essay-style questions when submitting their initial application materials for any federal job; allow individuals to apply for federal employment by submitting resumes and cover letters or completing simple, plain language applications, and assess applicants using valid, reliable tools; and provide for selection from among a larger number of qualified applicants by using the ‘category rating’ approach.”
Types of Government Jobs
As we’ve already seen, government sector employment covers an immense array of job descriptions, opportunities and possibilities. In fact, it would be easier to come up with a list of common career options that don’t have a place within the government, than to list all of the employment areas covered under the umbrella of government work. The BLS does provide a useful conceptual breakdown of government employment, using six categories listed in the chart below:
|
CATEGORY
|
Number of Jobs
|
Median Salary
|
|
Administrative
|
724633
|
$85,343.00
|
|
Professional
|
469456
|
$94,583.00
|
|
Technical
|
306983
|
$47,254.00
|
|
Blue Collar
|
172967
|
$52,624.00
|
|
Clerical
|
86138
|
$37,724.00
|
|
Other White Collar and Unspecified
|
71546
|
$55,844.00
|
Beyond that, there are jobs that are unique to state and local government, cities, municipalities, counties and towns. While it would be impossible to list all of these various employment options, we’ll explore some of the possibilities below.
The Perks of Working for the Government
There are a number of tangible benefits the come with working for the federal government, and in many cases this also applies to jobs in state and local government.
It’s where the jobs are.
In spite of the latest projections from the BLS, which anticipate a net loss of 407,500 jobs at the federal level from 2012 through 2022, the government is always hiring. New federal initiatives targeting renewable energy, improved veterans services and care, and technology sector education and growth require new workers at all levels, from technical staff to secretaries and administrators, from data entry to data management. So, while the numbers suggest that the federal government is shedding some jobs, it’s also always adding to its workforce. That’s how an organization like Go Government can boast upwards of 30,000 job openings throughout a calendar year.
Competitive compensation.
Because the government employs so many different kinds of workers at so many different levels, it’s difficult to generalize when it comes to salary expectations. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) estimated the average annual salary for federal workers in 2013 to be $79,000. But that includes workers making far more and far less than that amount. One way to gauge the federal government’s commitment to paying its workers well is through the executive action that President Barak Obama took in January of 2014, raising the hourly minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 for workers on all new government contracts. In addition, most salaried positions in the federal government fall under the Federal Wage System classification system. As the OPM notes, these workers are typically on a salary track that mandates “step increases” every one to three years.
Generous benefits.
Since at least the middle part of the 20th century, the federal government has aimed to lead by example when it comes to using the size of its workforce and the economic clout that comes with that to provide a full array of benefits for its workers, from health and dental insurance, to low-cost life insurance and retirement pensions. For example, the GI Bill, formally known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, offered WWII veterans an array of unprecedented benefits, including low-interest mortgages and business loans, and money for college tuition and living expenses. Along with subsidized medical and dental insurance, most federal jobs include provisions for paid vacation and sick leave. Further, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program in 2007 allows for the reduction and forgiveness of qualifying student loans for graduates who are working full-time for a government entity. For detailed information, visit the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website.
Job security.
Most federal agencies provide services and have programs that are ongoing, from the National Transportation Authority and the National Security Agency, to the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Indeed, the BLS points out that a majority of federal jobs are thought of as “permanent appointments,” and with “career-conditional appointments, workers may be eligible for permanent appointment after three years of continuous service.” In other words, unlike many private sector jobs, which may ultimately feel temporary, jobs with the federal government bring with them the promise of longevity and even permanence.
Working for the public good.
Without going to deeply into a civics lesson, it was Abraham Lincoln who defined the nature of American governance in the Gettysburg Address as, “of the people, by the people, [and] for the people.” In many ways, this is reflected in the nature of government service. Working for the government might mean overseeing USDA inspections that insure the quality of our food supply, conducting scientific research that leads to breakthroughs in science and technology, conducting surveys and analyzing data that creates better social programs for children and families in need. Or, it could mean writing the reports, building the infrastructure, or cooking the meals that support those vital projects. As the BLS’s 2014 Career Outlook Report notes, “One of the biggest draws of federal work is the chance to make a positive difference, which workers say is a source of pride. Satisfaction often comes from knowing that they are helping and serving people in their roles as public employees.”
