Finding Federal Employment:

UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

“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

Message from the President

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

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!

What mission critical occupations are projected to have a recruitment emphasis over the next few years?

OCCUPATION # EMPLOYEES NEEDED 2005-06

EXAMPLES OF POSITIONS

Security, Enforcement and Compliance Assistance

37,515 inspectors, investigators (including criminal), compliance officers, consumer safety officers, police officers, security/prison guards, airport screeners

Medical and Public Health 25,756 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, medical technicians, nursing assistants

Engineering and Sciences 23,806 professionals in engineering disciplines and biological sciences (microbiologists, botanists, foresters), physical sciences (physicists, chemists, astronomers), veterinary medical science

Program Management/Administrative

17,323 program managers, analysts, administrative staff

Accounting, Budget and Business 12,959 revenue agents, auditors, tax examiners, pay

technicians, budget analysts

Number of employees as of September 2005.http://www.ourpublicservice.org/usr_doc/FINAL_REPORT.pdf

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)

Typical 2006 Starting Salaries

City GS-5 GS-7 GS-9

Atlanta $28,999 $35,922 $43,939

Chicago $30,524 $37,810 $46,249

Dallas $29,324 $36,324 $44,432

New York $30,982 $38,378 $46,944

San Francisco $32,421 $40,160 $49,124

Washington, DC $29,604 $36,671 $44,856

“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

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

USAJOBS

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Search Features

Flexible and user-friendly

Tailor your search to your specific needs:

• Location

• Agency

• Occupation

• Advanced

• Keyword

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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

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

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.

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

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

StudentJobs.gov

StudentJobs.gov Features

• Student job search

• Resume builder

• MyStudentJobs account

• Agency information gateway

• E-Scholar

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

E-Scholar

E-Scholar

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

Additional Resources

• Qualifications Standards

www.opm.gov/fedclass/html/gsseries.asp

• Classification Standards

www.opm.gov/qualifications/

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

“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

-Theodore RooseveltCivil Service Commissioner

1889 - 1895

Message from the 26th President

THANK YOU!

Questions or Comments?