Finding a Federal Government Job or Internship

What types of jobs and internships does the Federal Government offer?
With more than 1.7 million jobs and over 400 occupational specialties, the Federal Government has employment options for people of all interests and educational backgrounds. Just a few examples include writers, museum curators, ecologists, engineers and nurses. More than 80 percent of Government jobs are outside of Washington, DC, while about 3 percent of jobs are in foreign nations.

While some of the Federal Government job titles are straightforward, some require interpretation and others are unique to the Federal Government. Job titles are often more broad and not as current as those used by the private sector. A helpful resource for understanding job titles includes www.usajobs.opm.gov, which provides definitions for job titles as well as career quizzes that link your interests to job titles.

Where should I begin the job search?
Begin your search with a visit to USAJOBS website, www.usajobs.opm.gov, which lists nearly every Federal job opening available to the public. You can search for a specific job title using the occupational series function or do a broader search using the occupational group headline. Other options include searching by geographic region or agency or doing a keyword search that matches jobs to your stated interest. Specify your General Schedule (GS) level when looking for jobs that require a certain level of education; most applicants with a bachelor's degree qualify as GS-5, GS-6, or GS-7. You may program the USAJOBS site to automatically repeat your searches and e-mail job results to you on a daily or weekly basis.

Are there other ways to find a Federal job?
You may consider directly contacting Federal Government agencies. This is especially important when applying for jobs in agencies that are not required to post on USAJOBS, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, intelligence services, and the Foreign Service. Agencies can also explain special hiring programs for minorities and applicants with disabilities. Ask about the Outstanding Scholars Program for college graduates with a GPA of at least 3.45 or academic honors. A final option is to attend job fairs. In most cases an employer will simply accept your resume, but some agencies hire applicants on the spot.

How do I apply for a Federal job?
Because of regulations designed to ensure fair hiring practices, expect the application process to be more complicated than other job searches. First, you must read the federal vacancy announcement, which describes the job opening and contains specific application instructions. Read carefully, paying attention to major duties, job descriptions, areas of consideration, qualifications required, and knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs).

To apply, you must submit a resume containing specific information that your existing resume may not have, written KSA statements and any supporting information indicated in the vacancy announcement. Include your name, the title, GS level, vacancy announcement number, your Social Security number and contact information on all forms. You can print an Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612) form, available at www.opm.gov, to help with this process. For additional help, see the many books in the OCD library with instructions on writing a government resume and getting a government job.

What do I need to know about the KSAs?
The KSA is a section on the federal application that stands for "knowledge, skills, and abilities," although the section also goes under the names "desired qualifications," "ranking factors," "selective factors," and "evaluation methods." Whatever the name, this section assesses your qualifications for a job and indicates the criteria that will be used to compare you to other applicants. You should always include KSA statements when they are requested.

KSA statements vary in length, but most are one-half page to one page in length single-spaced. Your goal when completing the KSA section should be to provide specific examples of your best accomplishments and to get to the point quickly. There are many guides to help you write KSAs. See the OCD Binder, "Federal Government: Demystifying the Federal Employment Process" and other resources in the Law/Government section of the OCD Library for tips on writing KSA statements.

How long will I wait until I hear about a job?
It takes longer to hear about the status of a Federal application than one submitted to a private sector job. Although efforts are being made to reduce applicants' waiting time, you could wait several months to receive a response. However, there are some steps you can take. If the agency uses an automated hiring system, you can check your application's status on its employment website. Another option is to call the agency's contact person; do give agencies some time to sort through applications.

How can I find a Federal internship?
Federal agencies are not required to post their student opportunities in one central place. You can get started at the following websites: www.studentjobs.gov (including information on the e-Scholar program) and www.calltoserve.org. If you have an idea of what type of work you are interested in, take a look at the specific department and agency websites or contact the department directly. The Partnership for Public Service at www.ourpublicservice.org also provides extensive information on federal internships.

Interested in a congressional internship? Members of Congress often post internship information on their websites. Barnard students and Columbia undergraduates may also apply for the Columbia University Congressional Internship Program, which offers summer internships in Washington, DC and local district offices. Information sessions are held in the fall and applications must be submitted through the Columbia University Office of Government and Public Affairs.

Barnard students pursuing unpaid internships in public service are eligible for Alumnae and Donor Sponsored Internship Grants, including The Metropolitan Life Foundation/Richard R. Shinn Undergraduate Fellowships in Public Service and the Tow Foundation Public Service Internship Fund. See the Internships section of the OCD website for further information and application procedures.

What other resources are available?
To learn more about the application process visit the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's website at www.opm.gov. Useful tips on navigating the Federal job search process, locating opportunities across agencies and finding internships can be found at the Partnership for Public Service website, www.ourpublicservice.org. You may also wish to speak with alumnae working for the Federal government. The Mentors section of the OCD website includes contact information for alumnae in public service; this information is also available in the Alumnae Contact binders in OCD, 11 Milbank. OCD counselors can help you navigate these resources, review documents, and answer related questions about your job or internship search.

The OCD Library in 11 Milbank has several books and binders in the Law/Government section that provide information about government jobs, including Ten Steps to a Federal Job: Navigating the Federal Job System by Kathryn Kraemer Troutman, How to Get a Job in the Federal Government, an article from Occupational Outlook Quarterly, and Federal Employment: Demystifying the Federal Employment Process.