Have You Ever Considered Working for the Government?

“We need the brightest and the best...” These are the words written on the home page of USAJOBS, the official job site of the United States Federal Government. It is a rather general, though resonant, statement, which says it all without revealing too much. The idea is clear though and the message easy to figure out. Beyond any doubt, the standards are pretty high and the competition tough. However, for those interested in a federal job, there are a few more aspects to consider before deciding whether to go on or not. Here are some facts that could give those interested an idea of what the Government really expects from their employees, as well as some of its current needs. 

Like any other employer, the Federal Government has to make sure that the people who work for them are well qualified for their position and that they will complete their assigned tasks in a professional and dedicated manner. As far as qualifications are concerned, requirements vary in accordance to the specific jobs. For some occupations (e.g. clerical and assistant positions), a high school diploma or as little as 3 months of general (non-specialized) work experience is acceptable. Other positions might require a baccalaureate degree in any field, a college degree with a certain major field of study, academic courses or specialized work experience. Some occupations involve on-the-job training courses. The minimum qualification requirements are clearly specified in the description of each job. 

A Master’s Degree qualifies you for a GS-9 grade (or equivalent) level position, while a doctoral degree qualifies you for the GS-11 grade (or equivalent) level. All college level courses must have been completed at an accredited college or university. For jobs at GS-7 grade (or equivalent) level and higher, specialized job-related experience is required. To qualify for a higher grade in the Federal Service, you need at least 1 year of specialized experience in the next lower grade. 

Most of the positions no longer require written tests. The selecting process involves an assessment of your level of education, work experience and professional accomplishments, followed by comparing them against the requirements of the job you are applying for. Based on the results, you will be given a score or a ranking. The higher the rank, the more chances you have to be selected for the job. 

Currently, there are over 15,000 vacancies listed on the Federal Government official job site. The fields with the largest number of job listings are Public Health, Management and Office Services, Engineering and Architecture, Business, Industry and Procurement, Social Science, Psychology and Welfare. Other available jobs include accountants and financial experts, education and training specialists, mathematicians and statisticians, human resources assistants, engineers, architects, technicians, photographers, writers and editors, ecologists, librarians and archive specialists, attorneys, IT specialists, pilots, tradesmen, and more. 

The official USAJOBS site tries to make things as easy as possible and offer the maximum of support to the people looking for a job with the American Government. They offer advanced searching tools based on relevant criteria such as location, occupation, series number or agency. The series number is a 4 digits unique identification number assigned to each individual job. If you are not sure which position is more suitable for you or which job gives you the opportunity to make the best of your skills and qualifications, you can find out by completing their online questionnaire. If you’re still in doubt, you have the option to talk to the Human Resources staff at the agency advertising the job and they will establish whether you meet the basic eligibility requirements or not.