Starting a career in government means that you have job security and benefits that are hard to get at a civilian job. The challenge is to land a government job. Most government employees retire after 20 to 30 years. This makes positions relatively hard to come by.

Consider the following government jobs basics to help you land your dream government job:

1. Think about the specific government job opportunities you would like to make a career.

2. Find out the requirements for the jobs in which you are interested.

3. Increase the chance of getting the government job you want by tailoring your resume to the job for which you are applying.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine the type of government employment best fits your interests

There are numerous types of government jobs, including local, state and federal jobs. Each of these types of governments offer various positions, such as administrative assistants, case workers and environmental services. Deciding what type of career in government you want ensures that you can have a lengthy career that you will enjoy.

I recommend: USAJOBS is a website maintained by the federal government. This website offers a wealth of information concerning choosing government jobs, including job trends and jobs for people with disabilities. GovtJobs.com offers up to date information about government jobs, including trends in local, state and federal hiring practices.

Check requirements for the careers in government in which you are interested

Most of the careers in government require at least a high school diploma. Some jobs require various levels of higher education, including a Master or Associate Degree. Many jobs also require some job experience. When you are searching for government job opportunities, compare the requirements for each position prior to applying.

I recommend: Government Jobs has a listing of available government jobs, which includes local government jobs, state government jobs and federal government jobs. Clicking on a job title allows you to read specifics of the job, including basic requirements. USA.gov offers job descriptions, complete with minimal requirement information, for numerous federal, state and local positions.

Make the best impression when apply for a government job

The applicant pool for most government jobs consists of a large number of applicants. In order to have the best chance of landing a job, especially if you are applying for US government jobs, you and our application should stand out from the rest.

I recommend: Federal Jobs Net offers information on how to land a federal government job. You will find resume building help, interview tips and other job advice on this website. FederalTimes.com offers a wealth of information to help you learn what it takes to land a government job.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider applying for a student internship while you are in college. Doing so could put you at the top of the list for other government jobs after graduation since you will have government experience.

Many people want government jobs because of the level of security they can afford. The government rarely downsizes US government jobs and these jobs may offer additional benefits, such as a pension, that a private company does not.

Careers in government don't always require you to live in the Washington D.C. area. There are many jobs that exist outside of the DC area, some even in foreign countries.

If you are interested in government job opportunities:

1. Start as early as possible. With a US government job, you may be able to get a better position with experience, so the earlier you start, the further up the ladder you can climb.

2. Know that they will do a background check. In most cases, government employment will require a background and drug check before you can start working.

3. Arrange an informational interview if you are not sure which area of government employment suits you best. This will allow you to learn more about the different positions and decide what is right for you.

Action Steps
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Start your career with state government jobs

Usually, there's less competition for state government jobs, so they can be a great way to get your foot in the door. While you can find most jobs around the state's capital, there are still plenty of opportunities in the outlying counties.

I recommend: The Internet Job Source has a variety of resources available to those who want state and local government jobs. Simply click on the state that interests you. Govtjobs.com conveniently lists job opportunities by sector. This is great if the type of job you have is more important than where you live.

Increase your experience with federal government jobs

Federal government jobs often have more responsibilities than state government jobs. This makes them ideal for people looking for a greater challenge and more responsibility.

I recommend: You can search for jobs at GovernmentJobs through a variety of different criteria, such as location and industry. You can also specify a minimum salary. Work for America, a division of Career Builder, offers several resources for those who want a federal government job. They allow you to upload your resume, have job news delivered to your email and even help you perfect your resume.

See the world with international government employment

There are government positions available in just about any country you want to live in. If you are looking for international employment, and don't want to teach English, then a government job may be what you need.

I recommend: Careers in Government allows you to search for jobs in other countries. In order to see all of the opportunities available, make sure to select all job categories. The US Department of State also has several positions available.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A professional resume writer, especially one who has experience in writing resumes for government jobs, may give you an edge over other applicants.

Local, federal and state governments are major employers, and careers in government are highly prized for their stability, growth potential and salaries. Determining what government jobs education and training you require for your career can be challenging, however, since different jobs with the government require very different training. An engineer hired by a city and a diplomat may both work for the government, but their training will be quite different.

Understanding government jobs education and training means learning about KSA, which stands for “knowledge, skills and abilities.” Virtually all US government jobs require you to fill out a form of KSAs, that outline exactly the training and education you have that qualifies you for a specific government job. When developing what you can write, consider:

1. Get the education and training you need to bolster your KSAs.
2. Prepare for the exams required for many federal government jobs and local government jobs.
3. Seek out internships that pave the way for a career in government.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hone in on the training and education you need for government employment

Understanding the KSAs you will need for a specific government job is your first step to a good government career. The KSAs for positions vary widely and change often, so it is useful to look at current vacancies or at career guides to determine which skills you need to hone and which degrees (if any) you need for a specific career path.

I recommend: The Career Guide to Government describes in detail the qualifications and education needed for some of the more popular jobs. Bio Career Center describes how to best delineate your skills and education in an application.

Prepare for government job testing in order to qualify for many jobs

For about 20% of entry-level government jobs and jobs in law enforcement, postal service, administrative work and other positions, you will need to pass a written exam. Since competition for government positions tends to be high, simply passing a test may not be adequate to secure a job. It is a good idea to study and to get the best possible score so that you can remain competitive.

I recommend: PSE-NET offers a useful page of information about the tests required for jobs in law enforcement, postal work and other government agencies. FederalJobs.net has useful information about the testing procedure for various state government jobs and federal positions.

Seek internships that provide you with US government job experience

The government has a number of student internship programs that help qualified candidates get the experience and skills needed for government positions. Government job internships make securing a government position much simpler, so apply for any internships you may qualify for.

I recommend: StudentJobs.gov lists all the government agencies that have programs for students. Stanford University maintains a list of links to internships that lead to US government job opportunities.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider taking extra language courses. At many local government jobs and federal jobs, a knowledge of Spanish and other languages is highly desirable and knowing additional languages can make you qualified for promotion and advancement. Knowledge of additional languages also makes you qualified for international employment with the government.

Working for the government can be a rewarding career. In addition to great benefits, substantial retirement packages and more holidays than the average employee, the various options for career paths seem to never end. There is a government career path available, whether you have an interest in law enforcement, mathematics, the environment, engineering, sociology or working with families. This article consists of just a few of the available options.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

FBI agent

A Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agent is a law enforcement officer at one of the highest levels. FBI agents are responsible for investigating incidents related to national security and non-compliance with federal laws and statutes. They also assist other law enforcement agencies on the municipal and state levels.

I recommend: Visit Degrees for more information on requirements for becoming an FBI Agent. The Federal Bureau of Investigation website lists more than 200 areas over which agents have jurisdiction.

ATF inspector

ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) inspectors investigate the usage of products falling under those three categories and make sure that distribution and taxation of these items meet state and federal regulations.

I recommend: CopCareer provides more details about a career as an ATF inspector. Street Law provides descriptions of many other law enforcement positions.

Internal revenue officer

An internal revenue officer (or IRS officer) is responsible for collecting delinquent state and federal taxes as well as attempting to find individuals and businesses that failed to pay taxes.

I recommend: Visit USAJobs for a list of requirements to become an IRS officer. Read the tax examiner job description on QandAs if you want to work for the IRS but don't want to deal with delinquent or unpaid taxes.

ECO

Environmental conservation officers (ECO) are employed by state governments and administer state and federal regulations meant to protect the environment and natural resources.

I recommend: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission provide detailed job descriptions for an ECO.

Consumer safety officer

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) employs consumer safety officers to make sure that any product it regulates meets government standards to ensure the safety of consumers. Included among the many duties of a consumer safety officer are investigating consumer complaints about a product and informing manufacturers of product regulations.

I recommend: Learn more about the duties of a consumer safety officer on the Federal Drug Administration website.

Social worker

There are many facets of social worker duties. Most of us are familiar with social workers who assist families with counseling, protect child welfare or administer aid programs such as WIC and food stamps.

I recommend: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains the many possibilities for social worker employment. Visit the USAJobs Career Interest Guide to explore other types of government jobs.