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Find out how to pinpoint the government agencies that work on the issues you care most about and are hiring people with your skills and experience.
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How To Find the Right Gov Gig For You
May 11, 2011
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HOW TO FIND THE
RIGHT GOV GIG FOR
YOU
Author, Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service
Presented by
Heather Krasna, MS
The Three Sectors
Private sector79%
Nonprofit sector6%
Federal government
2%
State government 3%
Local government10%
Percent of U.S. Employment
Private sector
Nonprof it sector
Federal government
State government
Local government
Copyright © 2011 Heather Krasna
4
What’s the Main Driver for Your
Career?
Mission or Cause
Environmental policy
Human services
International development, etc.
Job Function/Skills
Policy analysis/research
Outreach and communications, etc.
Values
Work-life balance
Job security, benefits, etc.
5
The Mission-Driven Search6
Federal Agency
Local Gov Agency
City Manager’s Office
Elected Official, Political Party
Judicial System
Legislative Branch
Which branch of government works on
the issues you care about?
State Agency
School Board
International Gov/
Multilateral Agency
Tribal Government
7
Federal Agency Missions
Percent of Federal Civilian Government
Employment by Job Function, Total=2.7 million
Postal Service
27%
National defense
25%
Hospitals & Health
11%
Police, Correct ion,
Judicial/Legal
8%
Natural Resources & Parks
8%
Other & Unallocable
7%
Government Administrat ion
6%
Social Insurance, Public Welfare
3%
Transportat ion
2%
Space Research, Technology
1%
Elementary & Secondary
Education, Libraries
1%
Housing & Community
Development
1%
Postal Service
National defense
Hospitals & Health
Police, Correction, Judicial/Legal
Natural Resources & Parks
Other & Unallocable
Government Administration
Social Insurance, Public Welfare
Transportation
Space Research, Technology
Housing & Community Development
Elementary & Secondary Education,
Libraries
8
State Government Missions
Percent of State Government Employment
by Function, total=5.13 millionSource: U.S. Census, 2006
Higher Education
46%
Police & Fire, Judicial,
Legal, Corrections
12%
Hospitals & Health
12%
Government
Administration
7%
Public Welfare, Social
Insurance
6%
Transportation,
Transit, Infrastructure
6%
Other & Unallocable
4%
Parks & Recreation,
Natural Resources
4% Elementary &
Secondary Education,
Other Ed.
3%
Higher Education
Police & Fire, Judicial, Legal,
Corrections
Hospitals & Health
Government Administration
Public Welfare, Social Insurance
Transportation, Transit,
Infrastructure
Other & Unallocable
Parks & Recreation, Natural
Resources
Elementary & Secondary Education,
Other Ed.
9
Local Government Missions
Local Government Employment
by Function, Total=14.2 millionSource: U.S. Census, 2006
Elementary & Secondary
Education
55%
Police & Fire, Judicial, Legal,
Corrections
14%
Hospitals
4%
Transportation, Transit
4%
Higher Education
4%
Government Administration
4%
Water, Sewer, Utilites
4%
Parks & Recreation, Natural
Resources
3%
Other & Unallocable
2%
Public Welfare
2%
Health
2%
Libraries
1%
Housing & Community
Development
1%
Elementary & Secondary Education
Police & Fire, Judicial, Legal, Corrections
Hospitals
Transportation, Transit
Higher Education
Government Administration
Water, Sew er, Utilites
Parks & Recreation, Natural Resources
Other & Unallocable
Public Welfare
Health
Libraries
Housing & Community Development
10
Research Resources:
Finding the right agencies to pinpoint
Federal: fedscope.opm.gov, usa.gov,
govloop.com, local Federal Executive Board, blue
pages of phone book, Partnership for Public
Service, WheretheJobsAre.org
State: State government websites, agency sites
Local: International City Managers Association
(ICMA), League of Cities, Conference of Mayors,
local city websites, visiting your local
city/county/town hall
Elected officials: Your local political parties;
Washington Post, Poll Call, The Hill, Hillzoo.com,
networking
11
Thinking Outside the Box
Care about the environment? Consider:
Dept. of Interior
Dept. of Agriculture
Dept. of Defense owns significant public land
Your state DNR
Your local Department of Solid Waste or Public Utilities
Care about education or human services?
Dept. of Defense runs its own school system
Social Security Admin
Veteran’s Affairs
Local school board, State Dept. of Education
12
Determining Your Job Function13
Identify Your Skills
political
awareness
policy analysispublic
relations
management
budgets
What skills have you
amassed in your
professional career?grant management
multitasking
What have you been
responsible for
outside of work?
direct serviceconnection
sexpertise
14
The 6-Story Exercise
Write out 6 stories of accomplishments you are most proud of, from work, school, hobbies:
Problem
Action
Result
Parse the stories for skills
Interpersonal
Communication
Research
Technical, etc.
15
Examples of Agency Jobs: “Line
Roles”
“Line Roles”—specific to a mission area:
Social Service (counselor, social worker)
Scientific/technical specialist (biologist, forester, ecologist, research scientist, epidemiologist)
Foreign Service Officer
Intelligence Analyst
Management & program analyst
Policy analysis, research for specific policy areas
Specific training, certification and education often needed
16
Support Roles - cross mission areas:
Budget, contract management
Information Technology
Human resources
Public affairs, constituent relations
Policy analysis, research, performance audit
Campaign work
Easier transition back and forth to private and
nonprofit sectors
Examples of Jobs: “Support Roles”17
Which Agencies Fit Your
Values?19
Which Level of Gov?
Federal Government: 2 million jobs with one employer
Lots of variety, potential for growth
Might have to relocate to advance
Bird’s eye/funder’s view of policy
State Gov: 5 million jobs, 50 employers
Might have to move to state capitol
Local Gov: 14 million jobs (mainly teachers, police and firefighters), 87,000+ employers
See your impact in your own neighborhood
May have limited career growth within 1 small city
20
Elected Officials, Political
Parties, and Legislative Branch
Partisan work (with an elected official, a
political party) vs. nonpartisan work (legislative
research, GAO, Congressional Research
Service etc.)
Executive branch (mayor, governor, president
vs. legislative branch
Issue driven or not (issue-specific committee)
External to government (government relations,
lobbying, advocacy)
21
Researching Employer Culture
Federal: BestPlacestoWork.com
Informational interviews
Glassdoor.com
GovLoop.com
22
Putting it All Together…
And Doing the Research23
Your Ideal Target Position Is….
A policy analyst position working on
government accountability
A program management position in a youth-
services agency
An intelligence analyst role working on
national security issues
An opportunity in city management in Oregon
or Washington
…Having a clear statement helps people help
you!
24
Researching Your Best
Environment: Networking 101
Where?
An alumni association
A neighborhood coalition
A church, synagogue or mosque
A political campaign
A citywide cleanup effort
A local music ensemble
The Junior League
A sports team
A nonprofit board
A parent-teacher association
How?
• Get active in your issue
area
• Find a buddy
• Set benchmarks of success
• Walk in the footsteps of
others
• Don’t discount your
corporate contacts
• Keep detailed notes
• Have a clear and concise
elevator speech
25
Informational Interviews: Do’s &
Don’ts
Do’s
Introduce yourself to someone who may have a job opening in the future.
Learn more about the people who work at this agency.
Receive direction and guidance from someone once in your shoes.
Learn a name to drop in your networking and personal connections.
Audition some preliminary answers to obvious interview questions when a particular job isn’t on the line.
Get tips on the hiring process.
Don’ts
• Ask for a job.
• Disrespect the interviewee’s
time.
• Be unprepared.
• Talk too much.
• Fail to listen.
• Forget to be thankful.
26
Informational Interview Goals
Research
Referrals
Read & Revise your Resume
Be Remembered Positively
--The Savvy Networker, Krannich
27
The Job Search Differs
by Government Type
Federal search: competitive, noncompetitive
State and local: by civil service exam or not
Elected officials: by networking and campaign
work
28
Heather Krasna
Director, Career Services, Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington
Author, Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service
Director, Candidate Services, Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group
www.heatherkrasna.com
Contact Information
Questions and Comments
Today’s Speakers
Kevin DubsYGL Career Services Program ManagerYoung Government Leaders
Heather KrasnaAuthor“Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service”
Andy KrzmarzickCommunity ManagerGovLoop
Thank You!
