|
HERE ARE FIVE TIPS ON HOW TO LAND A GOVERNMENT JOB:
OBAMA talked-up job creation big-time to sell his economic-stimulus package. So where are all the jobs? According to Kiplinger.com . . . they're in GOVERNMENT. But you don't have to move to D.C. to get one, because 85% of them are somewhere else. Here's how to land one:
#1.) HIT THE WEBSITES: First, go to usajobs.gov. It lists over 45,000 openings, and has a link for positions created by the stimulus package. That's kind of overwhelming, so try hitting up the individual websites of federal agencies that interest you.
--The big ones are all at dcjobsource.com/fed.html. They might have positions listed only on their sites, and you'll be competing with fewer people. If you're a student, try to land a Federal internship. There are about 200 internship programs at makingthedifference.org.
#2.) GO TO A JOB FAIR: The State Department, the FBI, the Treasury Department, and the EPA often fill UNADVERTISED positions at job fairs. Here are a couple websites that list the job fairs:
www.govcentral.com/careers/articles/1871
www.fedjobs.com/chat/jobfairs.html
#3.) FIND A GOOD FIT: The most Federal jobs will be in areas the Obama administration listed as priorities: renewable energy, the environment, infrastructure, health care, and education.
--Some of the positions they're looking for include: contracts and grants managers, procurement officers, financial managers and auditors, IT specialists, intelligence experts (???) . . . and people with knowledge of the cultures and languages of the Middle East. (--Know any?)
#4.) BE PATIENT: Applying for a government job can be a long and tedious process. What do you expect from a clumsy bureaucracy? But that's actually a GOOD thing. Because other people are going to get impatient and mess up the application process.
--So don't get frustrated, pay attention to the details, and keep your eyes on that prize: great job security, great benefits, easy hours, and lots of vacation time. Thanks big government!
#5.) TELL PAR STORIES: If and when you DO get an interview . . . do the same stuff you'd do for any job: research the position before, contact the hiring manager to introduce yourself, write a solid resume and cover letter, and follow up. And also . . . tell PAR stories.
--That means a story that demonstrates a PROBLEM you faced . . . how you APPROACHED it . . . and its positive RESOLUTION. Government is about solving problems (--and wasting taxpayer money) so concentrate on your Problem Approach Resolution stories and you're set. (Kiplinger / Yahoo Finance)
|
