Posted under Job Search on May 22nd, 2008
There are three types of public service - government service at the local, state and federal level, non-profit public services, and participation in the political process. I believe public service has gotten a lot of bad press, undeservedly. Public service can be enormously exciting and rewarding, especially for young people starting their professional lives.
Not only are the opportunities vast in terms of diversity, but in many cases the pay is good (rarely great). The fringe benefits; especially in these days of soaring health care costs, are excellent, depending on the sector. Finally, a successful stint in public service can be a good steppingstone to a. career in the private sector.
I would like to look at one area of public service, government service at the federal level. I know that the word “bureaucrat” has a negative connotation, but the federal bureaucracy, the people who administer our laws and regulations, represent a highly talented, hard working, and honest group of people.
For example, the Los Alamos Labs in New Mexico is one of the greatest research facilities in the world. The economists in the Commerce Department do extraordinary work. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures the healthfulness of the medicines we take and the FBI is one of the best law enforcement agencies in the world. Of course, everyone knows about NASA.
No matter what the expertise of course of study, there is likely a federal government agency or department that needs those skills. Federal jobs span every possible area, and vacancy announcements list the specific knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) an agency needs in a candidate.
These KSA factors are extremely important to federal employers. The ability to successfully match a person with a position is essential.
It is estimated that within the next five years, 50 percent of the federal government’s current work force will retire or be eligible for retirement - a situation that will create enormous demand for new talent, and enormous opportunities for college graduates to career changers. Look at www.usajobs.opm.gov. This Web site is packed full of useful information on career opportunities with the federal government. OPM is the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Since, by law, all government agencies must post vacancies open to outside applicants, this is a good place to start. Use it to familiarize yourself with the depth and breadth of employment disciplines.
Check out Web sites such as www.ourpublicservice.org, www.studentjobs.gov and its e-scholar section. Internships are everywhere, including the White House, various cabinet departments, independent agencies, and the Smithsonian Institution.
The Partnership for Public Service (www.ourpublicservice.org) sponsors “A Call to Serve,” an initiative designed to educate people about the importance of a strong civil service, create links between federal agencies and schools and provide information about opportunities regarding careers with the federal government.
For students or recent college grads, several organizations help place internships in federal offices. They include The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Affairs (WCIAA), the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO).
WCIAA places internships with the federal government, private and non-profit employers. Thousands of interns are placed in federal agencies, the White House and congressional offices.
HACU places undergraduate and graduate students in federal agency internships and serves Hispanic, Asian Americans, African Americans and Native Americans in their HACU National Internship Program. .
NAFEO, affiliated with an association of Black Colleges and Universities, places students in a wide range of federal offices, particularly the Departments of health and Human Services and Transportation. Other agencies partnering with NAFEO include the Department of Defense, Labor and Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
I would encourage people to explore these programs and opportunities in depth. There are lots of free resources available and more importantly, here is another option.
Print This Post