Finding Federal Employment:
UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Message from the President
“Public service is not simply
a noble profession, it is an
honorable life. Your service
to your country makes the
ideal of America a daily,
living reality.”
President George W. Bush
Federal Employment Facts
• The Federal government employs 1.84 million workers
• 41.9 percent of Federal employees have a bachelor's degree or higher
• Men comprise 55.5 percent of the Federal workforce
• Minorities represent 31.4 percent of the Federal workforce
• 6.9 percent of Federal employees have disabilities
• 22.4 percent of Federal employees have veterans preference
• 70.8 percent of Federal employees are under the General Schedule
• The average Federal employee ranks a 9.7 on the General Schedule
Why Public Service?
 Numerous Federal career paths and locations
 84% positions outside DC
 Unparalleled career opportunities
 Average Age of Federal Employee: 45.6
 Great benefits and work-life balance
 Service to country
 You truly make a difference!
What mission critical occupations are projected to
have a recruitment emphasis over the next few years?
OCCUPATION
# EMPLOYEES
NEEDED 2005-06
EXAMPLES OF POSITIONS
Security, Enforcement and
Compliance Assistance
37,515
inspectors, investigators (including criminal),
compliance officers, consumer safety officers,
police officers, security/prison guards, airport
screeners
Medical and Public Health
25,756
physicians, nurses, pharmacists, medical
technicians, nursing assistants
Engineering and Sciences
23,806
professionals in engineering disciplines and
biological sciences (microbiologists, botanists,
foresters), physical sciences (physicists, chemists,
astronomers), veterinary medical science
Program
Management/Administrative
17,323
program managers, analysts, administrative staff
Accounting, Budget and Business
12,959
revenue agents, auditors, tax examiners, pay
technicians, budget analysts
Number of employees as of September 2005.
http://www.ourpublicservice.org/usr_doc/FINAL_REPORT.pdf
Federal Compensation Package

Competitive Salary

Annual and Sick Leave

Multiple Health Insurance Options

Life Insurance

Long-term Care Insurance

Thrift Savings Plan (401K) (pre-tax $)

Flexible Spending Accounts (pre-tax $)

Public Transit Subsidy (non-taxable)
Typical 2006 Starting Salaries
City
GS-5
GS-7
GS-9
Atlanta
$28,999
$35,922
$43,939
Chicago
$30,524
$37,810
$46,249
Dallas
$29,324
$36,324
$44,432
New York
$30,982
$38,378
$46,944
San Francisco
$32,421
$40,160
$49,124
Washington, DC
$29,604
$36,671
$44,856
“Government Speak” in Hiring

Job (Vacancy) Announcement

Competitive Service – Excepted Service

Job Series

KSAs

Career ladder

Hiring Certificate (‘the cert’ or ‘BQ’)

Veterans’ Preference

Career Status and Reinstatement
General Advice When Applying

Apply only for positions and job levels for which you
already have the required experience and skills

Answer questions fully

Tailor application to document specific knowledge,
skills and abilities requested

Pay attention to security clearance

Submit all documents, as requested
USAJOBS
USAJOBS cont’d
Search Features

Flexible and user-friendly

Tailor your search to your specific needs:
•
Location
•
Agency
•
Occupation
•
Advanced
•
Keyword
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USAJOBS cont’d
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Student Educational Employment Program
• Provides paid work experience while still in school
• Must be enrolled or accepted as a degree student in an
accredited institution taking at least a ½ time course load
• Appointments are year round, may work full or part time
Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP):
• Positions are for entire student career
• Doesn’t have to be related to academic field being pursued
• Eligible for annual and sick leave
Student Educational Employment, cont’d
Student Career Experience Program (SCEP):
• Directly related to their academic field of study
• Provides formal periods of work/study while in school
• Requires a commitment by you, your school, and the employing
Federal agency (formal contract)
• Eligible for annual and sick leave, retirement, TSP
• May be eligible for health and life insurance coverage
• After meeting all requirements of the program, may be noncompetitively converted to career appointment
SCEP, cont’d
Requirements for Conversion:
• Complete 640 hrs employment prior to degree.
• Recommended by employing Agency to be converted.
• Converted to academic related position.
Career Intern Program
• Students who have completed or will complete their
Bachelor’s or Graduate degree from an accredited college or
university within six months are eligible for participation
• May gain eligibility for conversion to a permanent Federal
position at the end of a successful internship
• Career Interns are hired on a full-time, 2-year appointment to
an excepted service position that may be extended
• Career Interns are paid at the current rate. Pay charts are
available at www.opm.gov
Career Interns, cont’d
• Eligible for vacation and sick leave, Health and Life
Insurance, Federal Employees Retirement, 401K, Promotion,
Public Transit Subsidy and Flexible Work Hours
• Interns will experience challenging opportunities that will
include formal classroom and on-line training, as well as
structured on-the-job developmental assignments
StudentJobs.gov
StudentJobs.gov Features
• Student job search
• Resume builder
• MyStudentJobs account
• Agency information gateway
• E-Scholar
E-Scholar
• Lists educational opportunities offered by the
Federal government
• Cooperative education
• Fellowships
• Grants
• Internships
• Scholarships
• Over 350 programs valued at hundreds of
millions of dollars
E-Scholar
E-Scholar
Additional Resources
• FirstGov Agency Gateway
www.FirstGov.gov
• Library of Congress Agency dictionary
www.loc.gov/rr/news/fedgov.html
• U.S. Government Manual
www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
Additional Resources
• Qualifications Standards
www.opm.gov/fedclass/html/gsseries.asp
• Classification Standards
www.opm.gov/qualifications/
Writing KSAs and Competencies
• Address the breadth and scope of your experience
• Be specific
• Dates
• Coursework levels
• Length of time
• Results of efforts
• Be accurate and truthful
Message from the 26th President
“Far and away the best prize
that life offers is the chance to
work hard at work worth
doing.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
Civil Service Commissioner
1889 - 1895
THANK YOU!
Questions or Comments?