Finding Federal Employment:

1. Finding Federal Employment: UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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!

5. What mission critical occupations are projected to have a recruitment emphasis over the next few years? Number of employees as of September 2005. http://www.ourpublicservice.org/usr_doc/FINAL_REPORT.pdf

6. 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)

7. Typical 2006 Starting Salaries

8. “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

9. 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

10. USAJOBS

11. 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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22. 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

23. 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 non-competitively converted to career appointment

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 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

27. StudentJobs.gov

28. StudentJobs.gov Features • Student job search • Resume builder • MyStudentJobs account • Agency information gateway • E-Scholar

29. 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

30. E-Scholar

31. E-Scholar

32. 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

33. Additional Resources • Qualifications Standards www.opm.gov/fedclass/html/gsseries.asp • Classification Standards www.opm.gov/qualifications/

34. 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

35. 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

36. THANK YOU! Questions or Comments?