Overview
Most people think that working in the federal government means working in Washington, D.C., but that's hardly the case. In fact, 84 percent of federal jobs are located outside the greater Washington, D.C. area!
Percentage of Federal Jobs by Region
Source: Fedscope 2007
States with Most Entry-Level New Hires
State |
Number of New Hires at Entry Level (GS-5, GS-6, GS-7) for Fiscal Year 2007 |
|
|---|---|---|
1 |
California |
6,425 |
2 |
Texas |
5,866 |
3 |
Washington, D.C. |
3,069 |
4 |
Virginia |
2,957 |
5 |
New York |
2,555 |
Source: Fedscope 2007
Federal jobs span every possible area of interest, so before you begin your search for a job with the federal government, check out our interest-specific career guides to view jobs that match your interests and college major.
In addition, to help find a job that's right for you it's important to familiarize yourself with the missions of the various cabinet departments and federal agencies.
Getting Started: Finding Federal Job Postings
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is a good place to start your search. By law, most government agencies must post any vacancies open to outside applicants on their Web site—USAJOBS.gov. Because not all government jobs are posted on USAJOBS, however, it's also important to visit the Web sites of those agencies with which you might like to work. Here are some tips on using USAJOBS.
Need to find a job in your region? There are a few ways to determine which agencies are in your region:
- USAjobs.gov
- The Blue Pages of your phone book
- Contacting the Federal Executive Office that coordinates federal offices for your region
- Use Fedscope to research which agencies are in your state and whether they hire people with your background by clicking on "employment" and the most recent data (month/year) on the federal workforce
Getting Started: The Application Process
After selecting the job to which you’d like to apply, we encourage you to consider the following tips:
Plan ahead
The application process itself can take time; to improve your chances of getting a job, be sure to allow plenty of time to thoroughly complete your application.
Select carefully
Applications tailored for specific jobs that are a good match for your skills and talents will be more successful than sending out a standard resume for many jobs. Make sure to read about building your federal resume and KSA writing before you apply.
Prepare for a wait
It can take weeks to months before you will hear back about an application and there may be little or no communication from the agency. Every federal job requires a background check before being offered the position. If the position is related to national security, you will be instructed to complete the security clearance process once you receive an offer. This can prolong this time period. Apply for positions without security clearances about four months prior to your start date and six to eight months in advance for national security related positions.
Follow-up with the agency
Contact the identified representative to learn the status of an application or to find out more about a job about a month after the closing date or if the closing date is extended, about a month after you turned in your application.
The Application
To apply, you must usually submit:
- A resume
- A description of relevant knowledge
- Your knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) essays, other essays or online questionnaire (depending on what the application asks for)
- Additional supporting information called for in the vacancy announcement
The information currently on your resume may not be enough to satisfy government employers. OPM's “Applying for a Federal Job” booklet lists all the information an applicant needs to provide for federal employment. You can edit and store up to five federal resumes at usajobs.gov. A resume containing all the required information is called a “federal resume,” although there is no mandated form. Federal resumes require more detail than standard resumes. A recent graduate's federal resume can be two to three pages long! Essentials include:
- Information about the opening
- Your personal information
- Education and coursework levels
- Work experience
(including dates of employment, number of hours worked per week, location of position and a supervisor's contact information) - Other qualifications
Agencies also request eligibility information including:
- Past or current federal employment
- Veteran qualifications
- Non-competitive appointment: Peace Corps and AmeriCorps