Quicklinks
Federal Job Search
People get jobs and internships with the Federal Government much the same way that they get most jobs in the private sector: by finding openings and submitting a resume or application. However, searching for a Federal jobs or internship can be more complicated than other searches. Your search will be more fruitful if you understand Federal lingo, identify jobs and internships for which you are well qualified, and start with the right resources.
Top Reasons to Work for the Federal Government
- Superb health insurance and retirement benefits
- Student loan repayment assistance
- Enjoy work/life balance through flexible schedules and generous vacation
- Opportunity to transfer to other agencies and expand your horizons
- Training and professional development
Refer to http://www.usajobs.gov/ei/benefits.asp for additional information
| Grade | Qualifying Education |
|---|---|
| GS-5 | 4 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: Class standing (upper third of class) 3.0 or higher GPA; 3.5 or higher GPA in major Honor society membership |
| GS-9 | Master’s degree (or equivalent) |
| GS-11 | Doctorate Degree |
Federal Pay
General Schedule (GS) is the pay scale for many Federal jobs from 1-15. Varies by geographic location.
Refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for additional information
For a pay scale by locality visit: http://www.opm.gov/oca/11tables/index.asp
Federal Resume & KSA Statements
- USAJOBS Info Center
- Making the Difference
- Sample Federal Resume
- Sample Knowledge Skill Ability Statement
- A Guide to KSA Writing
Benefits to Contacting Agencies
- Some agencies, such as the CIA, are not required to use USAJOBS.
- Direct contact will help you understand more about the hiring process for that agency.
- Contact allows you to build a network that can search on your behalf. While www.USAJOBS.gov is a starting place, it’s not the only way to find jobs. Contacts in your network may hear about jobs before they are posted and give you ideas on where to look.
- People already working for the federal government can give you a broader understanding of how you might expand your job search.
Tips On How to Make Contact with Agencies
- Start with who you know (family, alumni, faculty, neighbors, friends of family) to help you identify people who work for the federal government.
- Meet recruiters at career fairs and follow up with them afterwards.
- Do your research (Find agency contacts at the bottom of vacancy announcements).
- For cities in the U.S., check an online directory like www.switchboard.com.
- Visit the agency homepage and locate the state, district, or regional offices.
Remember that federal networking contacts cannot advance your application. However, they can provide much needed advice and great information on how to expand your job search. Click here for a list of Federal agencies in Georgia.
Job Search and Key Websites
- GovLoop Guide: How to Find, Land, Keep and Leap in Your Government Career: GovLoop is the premier online community where more than 50000 public sector professionals connect to advance their careers.
- makingthedifference.org: Search the Partnership’s job seeker site for resources and tools
- USA.gov: The U.S. Government’s official web portal
- Where the Jobs Are: A Partnership report with government hiring projections
- bestplacestowork.org: The most comprehensive and authoritative rating of employee satisfaction in the federal government
- http://www.usajobs.gov: Explore Your Career Opportunities on USAJobs. Click here to learn how to navigate and search for positions on USAJobs.gov
- http://www.opm.gov: U.S. Office of Personnel Management
- http://www.opm.gov/hiringreform/pathways: Pathways Programs framework with three clear excepted-service program paths tailored to recruit, hire, develop, and retain students and recent graduates.
- http://www.pmf.gov: Presidential Management Fellow (PMF)
- http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs041.htm: Bureau of Labor Statistics
- CRS Federal Internship and Job Directory: Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government by Congressional Research Service
- Federal Internship Directory: Congressman Mel Watt’s annual publication of internship opportunities within the federal government for undergraduate, graduate and law students
- Cabinet Departments
- http://www.opajobs.com: Opportunities in Public Affairs is a source of Capitol Hill, Legislative, and Public Affairs and PR jobs in the Washington, DC area
- Independent Agencies and Government Corporations: Independent establishments are created by Congress to address concerns that go beyond the scope of ordinary legislation.
- Washington semester program: The Washington Semester is the University's only DC-based program that is open to undergraduate students in all colleges and schools at UGA, and its only comprehensive program, combining coursework, internships and a residential living environment
- www.nafeo.org: National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. Committed to placing students in all federal agencies where the needs of the students and of the agencies can be most effectively met
- Workforce Recruitment Program: Coordinated by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, WRP provides internship opportunities in federal agencies to college students with disabilities
Red, White & Blue Jobs Directory
- RedWhiteandBlueJobs.pdf
- RWB_BusinessJobs.pdf
- RWB_EngineeringJobs.pdf
- RWB_HomelandSecurityJobs.pdf
- RWB_LiberalArtsJobs.pdf
- RWB_PublicHealthJobs.pdf
Jobs in U.S. Congress
Government News
- http://www.governing.com: "Governing" connects America's leaders by providing intelligence and analysis on management, policy and politics to help guide and inspire innovative leaders across state and local government.
- http://www.govexec.com: GovernmentExecutive.com is government's business news daily and the premier Web site for federal managers and executives.
Where the Jobs Are
Source: Partnership for Public Service