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Pathways to Careers in Federal Government

 

WHY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

Are you looking for a career that offers excellent benefits, opportunities for advancement, competitive pay, and the opportunity to make a significant difference in your country? There are many great reasons to consider a career in federal government. Check out 10 compelling reasons why federal careers are worth pursuing!

Interesting facts about federal employment:

  1. The federal government is the largest employer in the United States, with an average of over 30,000 jobs listed daily. 
  2. Approximately 88% of all federal employees work outside of the Washington, DC area. 
  3. Positions are available for every academic major at the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral levels. 
  4. Students with a Bachelor’s degree will generally be considered at the GS-5 level (GS-7 with superior academic achievement) and those with a Master’s degree will be considered for GS-9 positions. For current pay ranges, see Federal Pay Scale 2024

FEDERAL RESUME

The format for federal resumes is very different from the format for private industry resumes. IMPORTANT: Your federal resume must include specific information in order to be considered for employment. 

*FEDERAL RESUME EXAMPLE*

 

FEDERAL STUDENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

The federal government offers several pathway programs tailored to college students and recent graduates. There is truly something for everyone. Check out the Federal Career Guides for information on career paths by field of study!

Internship Programs

The federal government offers many exciting job opportunities, but they can be difficult to find, track and navigate, complicated by short application windows and information scattered across hundreds of different webpages. The Gogovernment.org site maintains a Federal Internship Finder that will simplify your search for federal opportunities. It compiles publicly accessible information about professional and academic opportunities in government for students and recent graduates into one centralized place. 

Results can be filtered by:

  • application season
  • career field
  • location
  • agency
  • and more!
Recent Graduates Program

The Recent Graduates Program is a one to two-year developmental program designed for individuals who have received an undergraduate, graduate or advanced degree from a qualifying educational institution or program. 

  • Candidates must apply within two years of receiving their degree, except for veterans who have up to six years to apply due to their military obligations. 
  • Program participants receive at least 40 hours of training and professional development and complete an individual development plan. They are also assigned a mentor they can work with during their time on the program. 
  • If they meet certain requirements, participants may be eligible to convert to full-time federal employment.
Presidential Management Fellowship Program

The Presidential Management Fellows Program is the federal government’s premier leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. Individuals are eligible for this competitive program if they received a qualifying advanced degree within two years of applying. This two-year fellowship includes:

  • 80 hours of training each year
  • a senior-level mentor
  • a mandatory four to six-month developmental assignment
  • optional rotations of one to six-months duration. 

The program is designed to provide challenging work assignments and opportunities to network with other future leaders. The application takes about three hours to complete and consists of a resume, transcript, online assessment and essay. Useful application tips are available on the PMF website.  

Resources for People with Disabilities

The federal government is actively increasing efforts to recruit and hire individuals with disabilities for all levels and occupations. As an individual with a disability, you have access to specific programs and hiring authorities that can assist you in securing federal employment. For more information, see details here.

Resources for Veterans

If you have served our country in a branch of the armed services, your experience and expertise in a military role uniquely qualifies you to work for a federal agency. The government takes your veteran status into consideration when you apply to a federal position, giving you a preference in appointment over other applicants if you qualify for the position. You should use this to your advantage! For more information, see here.

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