Job Hunter's Checklist

Government Expansion

The federal sector is growing at its fastest pace in decades. Over the past two years total federal civil service employment has increased 10%, an additional 182,629 workers. Jobs are available nationwide and overseas and additional growth is projected due to recent legislation. 

The new health care legislation calls for the formation of 150 new regulatory agencies and commissions and many more federal regulators are needed to manage failed banks and the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds.

The federal government now owns 60% of General Motors, all of Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac plus they took over 100% of the student loan program recently! There are many more jobs projected and those who start the process early will have a better chance of success.

Government Jobs / Federal Jobs / Civil Service Jobs / Post Office Jobs

  Online degrees or Certificates can lead to higher pay & promotions

Checklist Menu

• What to do NOW
• What's Available
• Applying For Federal Jobs
• Results
• Interviews

What To Do Now

• Career Exploration:
• Visit agency web sites to explore career opportunities
• Review major occupations by job series and title
• Conduct informational interviews with hiring agency personnel. Talk with agency personnel offices and request job announcements and information on special hiring programs
  • Obtain government office phone numbers from your phone directory. Look under "U.S. Government" in the Blue Pages
• Visit Federal Executive Board websites to explore what is going on in the federal sector in your area
• Qualification Standards for all occupations - Review the qualification standards for occupations of interest
• The Occupational Outlook Handbook - The DOL's Career exploration handbook
  
• Review these areas if applicable:
  • Civil Service Exams - Entrance tests if applicable
    • Occupations that require civil service exams
  • Job opportunities for the disabled
  • Law enforcement Jobs
• Overseas Jobs
• Postal Service jobs
• Student Hiring Programs
  • Student loan payoff incentives
• Veteran's hiring programs
  • VRA program
    
• Locate the following list of items for your application:
  • High school and college transcripts
  • Military records, DD 214
• Past employment history (For all companies or agencies that you worked for)
  • Company name and address
  • Salary
• Immediate supervisor and phone number
• Dates employed (from-to)
• Other qualifications
  • Job related skills
  • Languages
  • Computer proficiency
  • Licenses and certifications
  • Honors, awards
  • Special accomplishments
  • Publications
  • Public speaking
  • Performance awards

What's Available

• Find job vacancy announcements:
  • Government Jobs - Job listings by occupation (Thousands of job vacancies)
  • Federal government agency jobs - Agency job listings
• Health care jobs
• Post Office jobs
• State Government Jobs Listings - All 50 States & U.S. Territories
• Clearance Jobs Center - Security clearance jobs
• Environmental, Safety & Health Jobs
• Call local agencies listed in the phone directory.
  • Request informational interviews
  • Research agencies in your area
• Explore 141 federal agencies web sites

Applying For Jobs

• Review the application process
• Tailor your application (federal style resume) to the job Announcement - For most jobs, you will be able to apply immediately online. Some agencies, such as the VA, do required faxed or emailed applications for certain occupational groups such as health care providers.
  • Suggestion - Draft your application offline!
• Completing your Federal Style Resume
  • Required application information
• Apply for the jobs you identified under "What's Available."
• Chapter Six of The Book of U.S. Government Jobs provides resume examples with formatting techniques and step-by-step instructions on how to tailor your application to the job announcement.
• Federal Resume Writing Service

• If you were unable to locate a sufficient number of job vacancies visit individual agency recruiting web sites to find job vacancies.
  • Sign up on USAJOBS to receive notification when jobs in your occupation are announced.
  • Visit Federal Career Opportunities at http://www.fedjobs.com/ - Another job listing service option
• Complete and sign ALL application forms. Most applications are now submitted online without signature.
• Retain a copy of each job announcement and print out a copy of your resume that you submitted with your package. You may need to review them prior to the interview.
• Note the contact information on each job announcement and retain this information to follow-up with the agency if you don't hear back from them in a reasonable period of time.
• Submit your application online if possible. Always follow the application submission instructions on the job announcement. 

Results

Your application will be processed and results returned to you within several weeks. In most cases you will receive a Notice of Rating or Notice of Results informing you of your eligibility by mail. If rated eligible, your name will be placed on the Federal register list for that position along with all other eligible applicants. Your name and application will be forwarded to a selecting official as positions become available.

Interviews

Prepare for the interview

Government Jobs / Federal Jobs / Civil Service Jobs / Post Office Jobs

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