Federal Employment Opportunites
Federal Employment Is A Great Choice
Many people believe that Federal Employment presents a more stable work environment than
the private sector, and they are right. Although most government hiring does not happen
as quickly as in the private sector, layoffs there don't happen as often or as quickly.
In addition, many government jobs are represented by a union which adds another layer of protection
and potential benefits in stormy economic times.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Government Employment overall
(not including employment in public education and hospital) is expected to increase by 4.8 percent
through 2016. State and County Government are expected to grow by 7.7 percent as the Federal Government
continues to shift responsibility and funding directly to them.
Federal Hiring Trends
Federal Government employment is expected to decrease by 3.8 percent through 2016.
Even though there is a projected decrease, there are still many openings across the United States and
throughout Europe.
Federal Employment even in Farm Country
I'll use where I live for an example. I live in a rural, pastoral setting in the
Southern Tier of New York State. We are primarily known as wine and farming county and have a fair
amount of tourist traffic in the summer to enjoy our beautiful lakes, hills, and wineries.
Employment is somewhat limited here all the time.
Tucked away in this rural area is a Veteran's Administration Center. Veterans come from all over the
United States to the hospital and rehabilitation center. The VA is an excellent source of Federal employment
for our area, for both veterans and non-veterans. The Federal pay scale is nearly double what the prevailing wage is for
our area at other hospitals and in industry here. Starting out in this rural setting, one can establish their
work record here and then can transfer to other positions all over the United States.
Find Work in Your Area
If you are interested in Federal employment in your area, I recommend that you search the
USAJobs.opm.gov website for every
position that you can qualify for. A good strategy is to apply for a variety of positions, even some beneath
what you would normally qualify for in level and pay. Once you are in the Federal System, you will have access to
many internal postings and opportunities to advance.
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Tips on Federal Applications
Once you've found the position you are interested in applying for, USAJobs.opm.gov
will guide you through the application process online.
The Open Period
Pay close attention to the "Open Period" listed on the job announcement;
you must complete and submit all of the parts of the application along with any supporting documents
required before the close date.
Application Questions
You will answer a series of questions that will allow the Federal
System to evaluate your qualifications for a particular position. Allow yourself plenty of time to complete
the application, as it can be quite long and involved.
Rated and Ranked
Your answers will be rated and ranked based on how well you are able to demonstrate your experience for a
particular position. In order to score high enough for an interview, you need to utilize the exact wording
from the application question when you are answering the question. Your application
will be screened for those key words and if you do not use the exact wording and phrases in your descriptions
of how you qualify, you probably will not score high enough to qualify for an interview.
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