Report Tile

Finding and Applying for Jobs in the Federal

Government

United States Office of Personnel Management

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Benefits of Government Service

• Opportunity to make a difference

• Influence the future of our country

• Work/Life balance

• Flexible work schedules and generous annual and sick leave

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• Competitive health and retirement benefits

• Excellent advancement opportunities

• Student loan repayment assistance

• Training and professional development

Benefits of Government Service

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Federal Pay & Advancement

• Federal pay is generally competitive across a wide range of occupations

• General Schedule (GS) is the pay scale for many Federal jobs from Grades 1-15

• Varies by geographic location (the base salary for GS grades does not change)

• Can progress through several grades within a few years

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Grade Qualifying Education

GS-54 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree OR a bachelor’s degree

GS-7

Bachelor’s degree with one of the following:

1) Class standing (upper third of class)

2) 3.0 or higher GPA; 3.5 or higher GPA in major

3) Honor society membership

GS-9 Master’s degree (or equivalent)

General Schedule (GS) Grade Criteria

http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp

Grade Qualifying Education

GS-54 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree OR a bachelor’s degree

GS-7

Bachelor’s degree with one of the following:

1) Class standing (upper third of class)

2) 3.0 or higher GPA; 3.5 or higher GPA in major

3) Honor society membership

GS-9 Master’s degree (or equivalent)GS-5 and GS-7 are considered

“entry level”

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City GS-5 GS-7 GS-9 GS-11

Atlanta $32,039 $39,687 $48,545 $58,734

Chicago $33,639 $41,669 $50,969 $61,667

Dallas $32,418 $40,156 $49,118 $59,428

New York City $34,582 $42,837 $52,398 $63,397

San Francisco $36,309 $44,976 $55,015 $66,562

Washington, DC $33,269 $41,210 $50,408 $60,989

Selected 2009 Starting Salaries

https://www.opm.gov/oca/07tables/indexGS.asp

Starting salaries for GS-5, 7, 9 and 11

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Federal Jobs By Location

In addition, over 50,000 people work for the U.S. Government in foreign countries!

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OCCUPATION # EMPLOYEES

Medical and Public Health 54,114

Security and Protection 52,077

Compliance and Enforcement 31,276

Legal 23,596

Administration/Program Management 17,287

Accounting and Budget 16,664

Information Technology 11,549

By the fall of 2012, the Federal Government is projected to hire 273,000 new workers for mission-critical jobs including the following number of people in the occupations listed.

Source: Partnership for Public Service

Projected Federal Hiring

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Where to Look

•www.studentjobs.gov – Find student employment opportunities within the Federal Government

•Agency Web sites – Visit the Web sites of agencies whose missions interest you

•Your university’s career development center

•www.usajobs.gov – the Federal Government’s main job information website

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Where to Look: STUDENTJOBS.gov

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Where to Look: Agency Sites

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FOR ALL STUDENTS

• Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) & Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) www.usajobs.opm.gov/STUDENTS.asp

Where to Look: Special Hiring Programs

FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

• Presidential Management Fellows Program www.pmf.opm.gov

OTHER PROGRAMS

• Federal Career Intern Program http://www.opm.gov/careerintern/index.asp

• Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

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Special Hiring Programs: For All Students

Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)

• Temporarily work for a Federal agency while in school

• Schedule determined jointly by student and agency

• Terminates upon graduation

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Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)

• Work for a Federal agency until graduation

• Work related to academic goals

• All requirements/expectations spelled out in agreement with school/student/agency

• May be offered permanent position after graduation if all requirements are met

Special Hiring Programs: For All Students

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Special Hiring Programs: For Graduate Students

Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF)

• For Graduate Students

• 2-Yr Full-Time Developmental Program

• Appointed at the GS-9/11/12

• May be offered a permanent position program

• Recruitment once a year

• Targets students in last year of grad school

• Must be nominated by school

• Rigorous assessment process

• Fellows selected in March/April

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Other Programs: Federal Career Intern Program

Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)• 2-Yr Full-Time Training/Development Program

• Appointed at the GS-5/7/9

• May be offered permanent position after successful completion of program

• Agencies determine design of programs

• May or may not be named FCIP

• Agency specific recruitment/application

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Other Programs:Student Volunteers and Internships

Student Volunteers

• May work in Federal agencies as volunteers

• Designed to give students work experience

• Must be coordinated with the student’s school

Internships

• Agency unique programs

• May or may not be paid

• Short and long term

• Look on Agency websites for specific programs

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Summary Tips to Help with the Job Search

• Network: Talk to knowledgeable sources — family, friends, alumni, career services offices, and current or former Feds

• Consider student employment opportunities

• Search through www.USAJOBS.gov and by agency/location, etc. — be flexible

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What to Expect During the Process

• Applying for a Federal job requires time and special attention to detail -- but the rewards are worth it

• Procedures vary across Federal agencies

• Federal jobs are highly desirable and as a result, are often competitive

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Where to Look: USAJOBS.gov

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Search by Interests

An example:

• Chicago, IL

• Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare

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Anatomy of a Job Announcement

23Overview Duties

Qualifications and Evaluation

How to Apply

Benefits and Other

Information

Anatomy of a Job Announcement

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Anatomy of a Job Announcement

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Overview of the Online Process

After selecting the job for which you would like to apply, there are usually several steps in the online application process for you to follow:

• Create your Federal resume

• Answer the questions posed online

• Submit the complete application package by the stated deadline

• Follow up with the appropriate agency contact to inquire about progress in hiring for the position

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Building a Federal Resume Online

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Building a Federal Resume Online

Sections:

• Candidate Info.

• Work Experience

• Education

• References

• Affiliations

• Desired Locations

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• Can be extremely important in the evaluation process in sorting out the best qualified candidates

• Vary depending on the job, but examples include: skill in written and oral communications; demonstrated technical ability; knowledge of specific subject matter areas

• Are similar to interview questions; answers should provide concrete examples (coursework and volunteer experience count), particularly to demonstrate quantifiable results, complexity, or leadership

• Should be a narrative written in first person and about 1-2 pages each

Agencies commonly require essays as part of the application to address characteristics they seek

Application Essays

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• Knowledge: The foundation upon which skills and abilities are builtExamples: Federal regulations and directives, operating systems andprocedures, budget and accounting principles, engineering practices

• Skills: The observable demonstration of proficiency to do a taskExamples: computer software proficiency, second language proficiency

• Ability: The capacity to perform a job functionExamples: organize and plan work, analyze situations, communicate orally and in writing, coach and mentor others

KSA is an acronym for “Knowledge, Skills and Abilities”

What is a KSA (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)?

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• Ability to communicate orally. • Ability to communicate in writing. • Ability to work with data on a computer. • Ability to organize the work flow of clerical

and administrative support functions.

Note: Specifically address each KSA in your application, providing examples of how your experience prepares you for this role

KSA Example

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Summary Tips for the KSA Section

• Address key words/phrases mentioned in the position description

• Tie experiences to each KSA

• Use illustrative examples

• Focus on outcomes to which you directly contributed

• Use plain language, without acronyms

• Review answers to ensure they are succinct, easy to read, and grammatically correct

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Applicant Eligibility

When submitting an application, agencies request eligibility information including:• Past or current Federal employment

• Veteran qualifications: http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetsInfo.asp

• Disability Status

• Non-competitive appointment – Peace Corps and AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers have 1 year of non-

competitive eligibility– http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whyvol.profben#adv,

http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/alumni/opportunities.asp

2009 USAJOBS Enhancements

• Applicant Notification – applicants receive the following updates on their application status:

- Application received

- Application assessed for qualifications

- Applicant referred to selecting official (or not)

- Applicant selected (or not)

• Proactive Notification

• Resume Upload

• No Resume Apply (November)

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Summary Tips for Applying

• Plan ahead- allow plenty of time to thoroughly complete your application

• Select carefully- always consider using a tailored application for each vacancy you apply

• Follow-up with an agency- contact the identified representative to learn the status of an application or find out more about a job

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What Happens Next

• After the closing date for applications, the agency evaluates candidate qualifications

• From this assessment, the agency produces a list of qualified candidates

• From the list of qualified applicants, agencies select candidates for interviews

• At this point, agencies are like other organizations

– They conduct interviews and select the best candidate(s) for the job

– Some jobs require security clearance

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A Note About Security Clearances

• Applying for jobs that require a security clearance is a two-stage process:

1) Get the job offer

2) Go through a background investigation

• Most individuals selected for Federal positions undergo a basic background investigation (Executive Order 10450) - 90% of Background Investigations are completed in an average of 37 days

• Jobs that include access to classified information require a security clearance, which requires a more intensive background investigation (Executive Order 12968) - the average time to complete a Top Secret clearance investigation is 72 days

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• Federal agencies hire the best and the brightest, and getting a Federal job is often very competitive

• Increase chances of being hired by following a few clear steps

–Research potential opportunities

–Consider various employment avenues

– Search on job websites and specific agencies

– Follow application directions carefully

Summary

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Thank You

For additional information on these topics, please visit:

www.opm.gov

www.usajobs.gov

United States Office of Personnel Management

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Questions?

Contact Information:

David Herman

OPM Project Manager

Call to Serve Initiative

David.Herman@opm.gov