Navigating the Federal Job Market

James MacDonald

Economic Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Presentation for the Session on “Finding a Job at the ASSA Meetings”

AAEA Annual Meeting, Seattle, August 14, 2012

Applying for Federal Jobs

• Dual/Parallel Processes– Traditional “academic style” Process• Ads in JOE, AAEA newsletter, etc• Interviews at AAEA, ASSA• Visits to agency

– Official Federal hiring policies and procedures• WWW.USAJOBS.GOV• http://www.ers.usda.gov/AboutERS/Employment/

– Follow them both

ASSA is the Primary Job Market

• Enormous, alienating, and efficient– Check for AAEA functions

• Most federal agencies have adjusted– Some ag econ departments have not

–We want vita and job market paper well before• We do cold interviews, but not many

Once You Get an ASSA Interview

• Learn about the agency first– Go to the website; ask faculty & friends– Try to envision the nature of the work

• At your interview– Be prepared to discuss your JMP– Ask about the work• How would a month be spent? How do assignments get

chosen? How is success measured & promotion attained?– Your goals: what do you want to work on?

• After your dissertation• In five years

After Your ASSA Interview

• Normal agency timing...– Two weeks, and then staggered, for visits• Most visits will be like academic—seminar/interviews

– But, uncertainty abounds

– Don’t be afraid to call

– Don’t burn bridges

– Do have your “official” procedure completed

Top 10 Reasons To Work at ERS

• 1. Influence on Policy • 2. The ERS Team• 3. Modern Facilities• 4. State-of-the-Art Support• 5. Location, Location, Location -- The Capital City• 6. Publish and Flourish• 7. Seminars Abound• 8. Career Building• 9. Competitive Salaries and Benefits• 10. Work-life balance

But is That What You Want?What’s Not at ERS?

• Make, and advise on, policy decisions

• Manage federal programs

• Super-competitive salaries

• Free choice of research projects– ERS is food, farm, rural, resource

– You’re constrained within them

Here’s where “career-building” comes in

Start Early & Be Prepared!

• Contact informationJames MacDonald

Chief, Agricultural Structure & Productivity Branch

USDA Economic Research Service

202-694-5610

macdonal@ers.usda.gov