Going Public

The federal government remains the nation's single biggest employer. Where could you fit in? A new book provides some strategies.

By Dana Carman
CTW Features

With the private sector a scary place in this market, more and more people are considering federal jobs. The evidence is in the hits. The number of daily visits to the federal government's jobs Web site, USAjobs.gov, increased 45 percent in the first half of 2008, according to Computerworld magazine.

Two big reasons that may be driving the more than 500,000 daily visitors to the government jobs Web site: federal employment is secure (which is nice to hear in these economic times) and baby boomers are retiring, leaving more jobs to fill. But, while the hits keep on coming to the job sites, common wisdom holds that federal jobs are difficult or impossible to get without a big leg up.

Lily Whiteman, author of "How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job," (AMACOM, 2008), disputes this myth. There's never been a better time to look for federal employment, says Whiteman, who is a careers columnist for Federal Times, the weekly news publication for federal managers. As a senior-level federal writer with more than 15 years of experience at six federal agencies, including the U.S. National Science Foundation, Whiteman brings an insider's perspective to the process of landing a government job and getting ahead once you have one. The idea that you need clout to land a government job is just one of many misperceptions Whiteman believes job seekers would do well to set aside.

Federal jobs myth #1: It's all who you know

"One of the big myths is that people see the government as this monolithic mass and no human being is ever going to read their application," Whiteman says. "[They think] every job is pre-wired, rigged and there's no hope. That's completely untrue." In fact, she notes, she got her first federal job and her current role both without knowing anyone. "Federal agencies are bursting at the seams with people who don't know anyone," she says. "I can tell you that it is doable to get a federal job with no connections and most people do."

That's not to say that it isn't worth networking and looking into internship opportunities (see sidebar). Both tactics can give you a leg up, as they would in the private sector. But they're not the only ways people land federal jobs. Whiteman suggests getting involved with your alumni network and professional organizations as networking tools. She emphasizes, however, that it's important to be active in a group, and not just simply sign up for it. Take advantage of opportunities to get involved and demonstrate your skills and reliability, which can pay off down the line.

Federal jobs myth #2:The screening process is impossible

Yes, the application process is rigorous, and can include short-answer questions and essays. However, these are not impossible obstacles, Whiteman says, and there are some things right off the bat you can do to boost your application.

In her book, Whiteman details the ins and outs of the application process thoroughly and offers many suggestions. If you have the option to apply on paper versus online, she says paper is the way to go. The online systems don't allow for proper formatting most of the time; faced with well-presented documents on paper or online applications with pages upon pages of unformatted, hard-to-read text, hiring managers tend to give paper applications more attention. And yes, says Whiteman, a human being will actually review your application.

Online or in print, Whiteman urges job hopefuls to submit applications on time. To do so will put you ahead of the competition, she says. "So many applications are doomed from the start because they miss the deadline," she says. Next, be sure to get rid of typos and careless errors on all of the documents you submit. That way, "You've left another huge percentage of the competition behind," she says. Most important, she says, is to target your application. She likens it to the dating process. "You don't want to start a relationship with someone who is just desperate and wants to be near anybody," she says. "Same thing here. You're starting a professional relationship and managers don't want to hire someone who just wants any job."

Federal jobs myth #3: The government doesn't need my skills

The federal government fills jobs in a mind-boggling array of different fields. "It's safe to say almost any profession hired in the private sector is hired by the government, too," Whiteman says. "It goes from all types of blue-collar workers to pin-stripe suit types."

Not all federal jobs are full-time. Many summer and year-round internships for students, undergrads, grad students, law students and recent grads, are well-paid positions. Federal agencies and Congressional organizations also offer "well-paying fellowship programs for newly minted PhDs and seasoned medical researchers, journalists, economists, policy experts, teachers and other professionals," Whiteman says.

Federal jobs are found all over the country and the world for that matter, not just in Washington, D.C. If you've been purposely leaving federal jobs off your job search because you thought it was too difficult, too far away or just a lost cause, Whiteman and her book offer great incentive to think again.

(c) CTW Features

Where the Jobs Are

The Federal government is a rich source of opportunities for jobseekers. Here are just a few that offer fellowship and internship opportunities to experienced professionals, undergraduates and graduate students, from "How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job," (AMACOM, 2008).

• Centers for Disease Control
http://cdc.gov/phtrain/

• Research Fellowships for K-12 Teachers, Grad Students, Post-Docs, and Professors
http://www.science.gov/internships/index.html

• Smithsonian Institution Fellowships
http://www.si.edu/ofg/fell.htm

• National Gallery of Art
http://www.nga.gov/

• National Institutes of Health Internships
http://www.nih.gov/Training.htm

• National Park Service (NPS)
http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/internships/index.htm

• NPS Seasonal and Temporary Employment Program
http://www.nps.gov/personnel/seasonal.htm

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