Career Opportunities in Government
Career opportunities in government have never been better but navigating the application process takes some fore-thought. The resources outlined here will help you begin the process of deciding what type of government position may be best for you. Start by first considering the type of government job you are interested in… federal, state, county or city?
Federal
No employer offers more opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of others than our federal government. In fact, as the nation’s largest employer, our federal government offers the most jobs, period. By September 2009, 193,000 positions deemed "mission critical" will need to be filled. Unfortunately, many students are missing out on openings that might be a perfect match for their skills and interests due to a lack of awareness about government jobs and how best to navigate the federal application process.
The information currently on your resume may not be enough to satisfy government employers. OPM's “Applying for a Federal Job” booklet lists all the information an applicant needs to provide for federal employment. You can edit and store up to five federal resumes at usajobs.gov. A resume containing all the required information is called a “federal resume,” although there is no mandated form.
List of federal careers by college major.
State
The first step in getting a state job is to take a State exam for the classification (Job Title) in which you are interested.
The State department conducting the exam will review your application. If you meet the minimum qualifications for the job, the department will contact you with the date, time and place to take the test.
Once you complete the exam, you will receive your Notice of Test Results. This notice will give you a final total score and indicate if Veteran's Preference points were added (if applicable) to your exam score. All persons who pass the test (generally those who achieve an overall score of 70% or more) will be placed on the employment list for the classification.
To be eligible for consideration for a State job, you must be in the highest 3 Ranks (by score) on the employment list.
The application process will vary between states. For more detailed information about working for the State of California click here. For a listing of all states and websites click here.
County
Are you interested in pursing career opportunities at the county level? The first step is to familiarize yourself with the county and the particular agencies that fall within the county in which you wish to work.
Links to the County of Orange, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County can be found here. Take some time to research the agencies in which you wish to work and tailor your resume accordingly.
City
Links to surrounding city websites can he found here to assist you with your city/local job search. As you research opportunities that best fit your needs be sure to tailor your resume to each specific location in which you wish to work and spend some time finding out about the city or agency where you are pursuing job opportunities. The more you know about an agency or city the better prepared you will be to communicate why you are the best fit for the job.