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I N S P I R E

Making the Difference. Jobs with the Federal Government. I N S P I R E. T R A N S F O R M. R E A L I Z E. Agenda. Part 1: Opportunities and Benefits A Job for Every Interest Benefits of Government Service Where the Jobs Are. Part 2: Navigating the Process

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I N S P I R E

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  1. Making the Difference Jobs with the Federal Government I N S P I R E T R A N S F O R M R E A L I Z E

  2. Agenda • Part 1: Opportunities and Benefits • A Job for Every Interest • Benefits of Government Service • Where the Jobs Are • Part 2: Navigating the Process • How to Search for a Federal Internship or Job • How to Apply for a Federal Internship or Job • Essays & KSAs • Summary

  3. What Young Feds Say about Their Jobs “I am able to make a big difference by working from within the Government.” (OPM) “I am able to make a big difference by working from within the Government.” (OPM) “Working for the Government offers me a level of experience and substantive knowledge that I could not access in the private sector at this stage of my career.” (STATE) “Working for the Government offers me a level of experience and substantive knowledge that I could not access in the private sector at this stage of my career.” (STATE) “I work on the most important national security and humanitarian issues our country faces today and see real progress towards improving how we respond to crises.” (DOD) “I work on the most important national security and humanitarian issues our country faces today and see real progress towards improving how we respond to crises.” (DOD)

  4. Making the Difference Subhashree Madhavan National Institutes of Health (HHS) Tobin Bradley U.S. Department of State Nicole Nelson-Jean U.S. Department of Energy

  5. Benefits of Government Service • Opportunity to make a difference • Influence the future of our country • Work/life balance

  6. Benefits of Government Service • Student loan repayment assistance • Some agencies may repay up to $10,000 of your student loans per year • In 2006, 34 agencies provided 5,755 employees with $36 million in assistance • The average loan repayment in 2006 was $6,245 • Flexible schedules and generous vacation • Training and professional development • Competitive health and retirement benefits • Excellent advancement opportunities

  7. Federal Pay & Advancement • General Schedule (GS) is the pay scale for many Federal jobs from 1-15. • Varies by geographic location • Each GRADE has 10 steps, allowing for a range of salaries • Within a few years, you can progress through several grades

  8. GS-5 and GS-7 are considered “entry level” General Schedule (GS) Grade Criteria http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp

  9. Selected 2007 Starting Salaries Starting salaries for GS-5, GS-7, and GS-9 https://www.opm.gov/oca/07tables/indexGS.asp

  10. Selected 2007 Starting Salaries Then, 2-3 years later… possible career progression: https://www.opm.gov/oca/07tables/indexGS.asp

  11. Where the Jobs Are: By Location In addition, over 50,000 people work for the U.S. Government abroad!

  12. Where the Jobs Are: By Occupation In FY2006, roughly 36,000 people were hired in the Federal Government at the entry level, GS-5 to GS-7. Here’s how many of those were hired into the following occupations: Source: www.fedscope.opm.gov

  13. Agenda • Part 1: Opportunities and Benefits • A Job for Every Interest • Benefits of Government Service • Where the Jobs Are • Part 2: Navigating the Process • How to Search for a Federal Internship or Job • How to Apply for a Federal Internship or Job • Essays & KSAs • Summary

  14. Getting Started: Student Programs Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) Description: • traditional internship • great program for a summer or short term experience Eligibility: • Any student in enrolled in an accredited degree granting institution. Additional: • typically paid • length of the experience is set by the agency. • not required to be posted on www.USAJobs.gov or www.StudentJobs.gov

  15. STEP Example: State Department

  16. Getting Started: Student Programs Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) Description: • A student works in an area related to what they are studying. Eligibility: • A student in enrolled in an accredited degree granting institution • An agency must form an agreement with the institution the student is attending Additional: • typically paid positions • students work at least 640 hours (or less depending on academic achievement or prior experience) • after experience, students are eligible to be hired into an agency non-competitively • not required to be placed on www.USAJobs.gov or www.StudentJobs.gov

  17. SCEP Example: EPA

  18. Getting Started: Student Programs Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP) Description: • individual comes on board, full time, for 2 years. • the term “Intern” refers to the idea of trying out a position for 2 years Eligibility: • student who has received a degree from an accredited degree granting institution • fulfill the academic and skill based requirements set forth by the agency Additional: • eligible for all salary and benefits of a regular federal employee • not required to be placed on www.USAJobs.gov or www.StudentJobs.gov

  19. FCIP Examples: FAS and EPA

  20. Getting Started: Student Programs Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) Description: • government’s prestigious fellowship program • students complete a 2 year rotation within an agency or between agencies as a full time fellows Eligibility: • student who has just completed a master’s program. • apply during the fall of their final year of graduate school Additional: • A candidate must be nominated by their institution. • For more information: https://www.pmf.opm.gov

  21. Where to Start Your Search Family Friends Professors School Alumni

  22. Tools for Looking • www.makingthedifference.orgSearch the Partnership’s site job seeker site for resources and tools • www.usa.gov The U.S. Government’s official web portal • Where the Jobs AreA Partnership report with government hiring projections through 2009 • www.bestplacestowork.orgThe most comprehensive and authoritative rating of employee satisfaction in the federal government

  23. Where to Look: MakingtheDifference.org • Resources include: • Ten Reasons to Consider a Federal Career • Red, White and Blue Jobs Library: How to Find Great Jobs in the Federal Service • Interest-Specific Career Guides • Internship Database • Agency Profiles • Profiles in Public Service • Security Clearance

  24. Where to Look: USA.gov

  25. Where to Look: USA.gov

  26. Where the Jobs Are • Outlines projected hiring needs through 2009 • Covers 99% of the federal workforce, 34 agencies • 193,000 mission critical jobs • Presented by agency and by occupation Download on: MakingtheDifference.org

  27. Where the Jobs Are

  28. Best Places To Work bestplacestowork.org

  29. Where to Look Your Career Development Center Popular Job/Internship Search Engines www.usajobs.gov The Government’s main job website www.studentjobs.gov Find an internship with the Government Agency websites Visit the websites of agencies whose missions interest you

  30. Where to Look: USAJOBS

  31. Where to Look: STUDENTJOBS

  32. Where to Look: Agency Sites

  33. Where to Look: Agency Sites

  34. Now let’s search…

  35. Launch the Process at USAJOBS

  36. Search by Various topics • Search by: • Keyword • Location • Job Category • Salary Range • Pay Grade

  37. Federal Jobs by College Major

  38. Search by Interest • An example: • Chicago, IL • Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare

  39. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement

  40. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement

  41. A vacancy announcement can represent multiple hires. Don’t forget to follow up. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement Benefits and Other Information Qualifications and Evaluation How to Apply Overview Duties

  42. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement OverviewSummary of organization’s mission and impact, plus a brief description of the job and its key requirements

  43. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement DutiesLists major duties and responsibilities of the position, adding more detail to the brief overview

  44. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement Qualifications and EvaluationIdentifies skills and experience needed for the role and explains how applications will be assessed

  45. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement Benefits and Other InformationDescribes additional elements of the compensation package or perks associated with the job

  46. Anatomy of a Vacancy Announcement How to ApplyProvides step-by-step instructions on how to apply and may include information on when/how applicants can expect to hear from the agency

  47. How to Apply Be careful to follow the “How to Apply” directions closely, since they may differ across agencies

  48. How to Apply

  49. Overview of the Online Process After selecting the job to which you’d like to apply, there are usually several steps in the online application process: • 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

  50. Building a Federal Resume Online

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