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GOVERNMENT
JOBS OVERVIEW
Government Jobs / Federal Jobs / Post
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Government
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Government Job
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INTRODUCTION
Consider
the numbers. Uncle Sam employs over 2,704,000 workers and hires an average of 300,000
new employees each year to replace workers that transfer to other federal or private jobs,
retire, or stop working for other reasons. Average annual salary of all full-time
employees exceeded $67,000 as of January
2007. The U.S Government is the largest employer in the United States, hiring 2 percent of
the nation’s civilian work force.
Job hunters will find it considerably less difficult today to locate job vacancies and
to apply for federal jobs. Significant changes were implemented over the past 5 years to
streamline the hiring process, including:
- Resumes and new simplified optional forms replaced the six-page SF-171 Federal
Application.
- Many Federal registers, lists of rated job applicants, were abolished. Job seekers can
now apply direct to most agencies.
- Civil service tests were thrown out for 110 professional and administrative occupations.
- Uncle Sam launched USAJOBS, an interactive career and employment web site, touch screen
computers at many federal buildings, electronic bulletin boards, and 24 hour-a-day
telephone job vacancy request lines.
- Student employment was consolidated and streamlined into two programs: the Student
Temporary Employment Program and the Student Career Experience Program.
You need to know how to take advantage of the federal hiring system and recent changes
to successfully land the job you want in government.
The Book of
U.S. Government Jobs provides this
information and includes easy to use check lists to help you through the process.
Tremendous job opportunities are available for those who know how to tap this lucrative
job market. All government hiring is based on performance and qualifications regardless of
your sex, race, color, creed, religion, disability, or national origin. Where else can you
apply for a high paying entry-level job that offers employment at thousands of locations
internationally, excellent career advancement opportunities, plus careers in hundreds of
occupations?
Currently, over 34% of the all federal employees, approximately 919,683, are eligible for retirement
and within the next year 50%, 1,352,475 workers, will be eligible for
regular or early retirement. When employees bid on retirement vacancies, entry level jobs are
created.
NATURE OF
FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT
The Federal Government of the United States affects the lives of Americans everywhere.
It defends Americans from foreign aggressors, represents American interests abroad,
provides important public services, creates and enforces laws, and administers social
programs. Americans are aware of the Federal Government when they pay their income taxes
each year, but they are often unaware of government's influence when they watch a daily
weather forecast, purchase fresh and uncontaminated groceries, travel on highways or by
aircraft, or make a deposit in a bank. Workers employed by the Federal Government play a
vital role in these and many other facets of American life.
The Constitution of the United States divides the Federal Government into the
legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The executive is by far the largest of the
branches, but each is equally vital in running the country. Appendix C of
The Book of U.S. Government Jobs provides detailed information
for all branches of government including internet web site addresses, personnel office
phone numbers, agency description, and the largest occupations for that office. The 8th
edition of this just released updated edition completely describes career opportunities in
civilian jobs of the Federal Government including career opportunities in the U.S. Postal
Service (an independent agency of the Federal Government). Armed Forces career
opportunities are described in the 2004-2005 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Almost every working condition found in the private sector can also be
found in the federal government. Most white-collar employees work in office buildings,
hospitals, or laboratories, while blue-collar employees generally work in factories,
warehouses, shipyards, air bases, or construction sites. Others spend much of their time
outdoors, such as those employed in national parks and forests. Work environments can
range from very controlled and relatively relaxed environments, while other environments
are quite hazardous and stressful - such as those of law enforcement officers, astronauts,
or air traffic controllers.
Many federal workers' duties require travel away from their duty station to attend
meetings, complete training, or perform inspections while others - such as auditors,
instructors, field engineering crews, and safety investigators - may require extensive
travel for weeks or months at a time. Some employees are on continuous travel and receive
lump sum payments to cover travel costs. Alternative work schedules are available to many
workers through negotiated union contracts that permit flextime or compressed work
schedules. Some agencies are experimenting with flexiplace or telecommuting which allow
workers to perform some job duties at home and many larger federal workplaces now offer
child care facilities for working parents.
Over sixty percent of all agencies recently surveyed have some form of Quality of Work
Life (QWL) or Employee Involvement (EI) program implemented throughout their workforce.
These programs encourage employee participation at all levels to improve overall
efficiency, productivity, and working conditions.
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