Transcript
Page 1: GOVERNMENT CAREERS: Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

GOVERNMENT CAREERS:

Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

The Boston College Career Center Presents

Page 2: GOVERNMENT CAREERS: Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

INTRODUCTION

The federal government is an excellent employer

The process is different from other job searches

Here are tips to help you

Page 3: GOVERNMENT CAREERS: Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

AREAS COVERED

1. Best Resources2. Find the Agency3. Find the Job4. Find the Internship5. The Application: Resume, KSAs, Contact6. Clearance

Page 4: GOVERNMENT CAREERS: Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

BEST RESOURCES

Making the Difference – comprehensive user-friendly site on federal work: http://makingthedifference.org/index.shtml

Gateway to the U.S. government: http://www.usa.gov/ (see Agency A to Z index)

Federal job listing site: http://www.usajobs.gov/

Federal jobs for students: http://www.studentjobs.gov/

Page 5: GOVERNMENT CAREERS: Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

FIND THE JOB

TIP #1: There are more than 160 federal agencies under the Executive Branch. USAjobs.gov and Studentjobs.gov are large databases. Navigate with search/sort functions tailored to your skills and interests. Here’s how:

Resources: www.usa.gov http://www.usajobs.gov/EI23.asp http://www.makingthedifference.org/federalin

ternships/ http://www.studentjobs.gov/e-scholar.asp

Page 6: GOVERNMENT CAREERS: Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

FIND THE INTERNSHIP

TIP #2: There are several different kinds of internships.

STEP (Student Training and Employment Program): Any student, especially 1st years and sophomores, any field; short term paid internship.

SCEP (Student Career Experience Program): Primarily juniors, seniors, and graduate students; must be related to academic studies; most are paid; after completing 640 hours of successful work, you may be appointed to a permanent position without going through the traditional hiring process.

FCIP (Federal Career Intern Program): Not really an internship: 2-year, entry level full time professional development position.

PMF (Presidential Management Fellows Program): For students in final year of graduate study - apply in early fall with your school’s nomination; highly prestigious 2-year position with rotational assignments.

Page 7: GOVERNMENT CAREERS: Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

THE APPLICATIONRESUMEFederal resumes do not have the same structure as resumes

used in other marketplaces.

TIP #3: Understand the resume template prior to applying.

TIP #4: The first application screening step is often electronic. USE KEYWORDS adapted from the job/internship description. No one will see that great resume if it gets stopped at the first screen!

Resources:http://www.makingthedifference.org/federaljobs/

usajobsresume.shtmlhttp://www.usajobs.gov/infocenter/

Page 8: GOVERNMENT CAREERS: Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

THE APPLICATIONKSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) Most postings list a set of position-relevant KSAs. Applicants

create essays describing how they meet these job requirements.

TIP #5: KSAs are critical. Use the recommended CCAR (Context, Challenges, Action, Result) format to compose them.

TIP #6: Be specific, use relevant examples, write in clear language, include KEYWORDS in your text.

Resources: http://www.makingthedifference.org/federaljobs/ksa.shtml http://www.makingthedifference.org/federaljobs/

ksawriting.shtml http://www.usajobs.gov/infocenter/

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THE APPLICATION

CONTACTYou actually can follow up! Wait 10-15 working days, then call

or write. Show patience, enthusiasm, professionalism; do not “stalk” the contact.

TIP #7: Contact information – a person’s name and phone number – is often found at the bottom of the job listing. A “processing center” makes follow-up more difficult but not impossible.

Tip #8: By law all federal jobs must be publicly posted. Short posting periods could (but not always) indicate a strong internal candidate. Longer postings could mean budgetary continuance or a call for a large cadre of new hires over time.

Page 10: GOVERNMENT CAREERS: Top Ten Tips for Finding and Applying to your Federal Dream Job or Internship

CLEARANCE

Most government job offers are not final until the candidate has passed a thorough clearance – or background check – process.

Tip #9: The clearance process can last a few weeks or several months, depending on the position. Have patience, be truthful.

Tip #10: Many federal positions have strict clearance requirements; drug use, criminal activity, or other infractions can be grounds for automatic disqualification. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER. Failing a clearance once makes it extremely unlikely to pass at a later date.


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