Jobs Available at Federal Employers
Federal civil service laws, regulations, and executive orders govern government jobs. The flexibility of agencies to provide competitive rewards and compensation packages is an important feature.
Administrative employees manage operations such as payroll, training and developing standard operating procedures. They work in government buildings and offices, as well as at remote locations.
Administrative
The government agencies require employees to complete a variety of administrative tasks, which range from data collection and analysis to specific research. Certain positions require a bachelor's degree while others require only the high school diploma or GED certificate. No matter what the position, it's important to follow the directions in the job advertisement carefully to ensure that your application is complete and satisfies all required elements.
Title VII and civil service laws ensure that Federal employees from discrimination in the workplace based on gender, race or religion. These laws apply to all aspects of employment, such as hiring and firing pay, compensation, assignments, classification promotion, transfer, and layoff. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces these laws.
Another benefit of working for the Federal government is that the government will bend over backwards to find you an alternative job if your current one is cut off as part of a budget reduction or a merger of departments and offices. However, this doesn't mean that you cannot be fired due to reasons like poor performance or disciplinary action.
Many federal employers provide good health insurance and retirement benefits, which include a defined benefit pension. Additionally, federal employees are eligible to take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that helps pay off loans for education. Most agencies have a Employee Assistance Program, staffed by trained professionals to assist employees with stress, depression and drug abuse. The programs also provide support for elderly or children. They can also assist with financial concerns such as the balance of a checkbook or completing tax returns. Additionally, the federal government offers flexible work opportunities such as telework, compressed work schedules and alternative work locations.
Professionals
Federal workers have a wide selection of opportunities to get meaningful work. They can assist in the development of vaccines, combat discrimination on the basis of race and gender and tackle climate change issues. They also receive top compensation and benefits, such as low-cost life insurance and flexible schedules, including telecommuting. They also enjoy generous vacation and sick leaves. Many organizations offer assistance with education including financial aid for graduate degrees.
The job can be difficult and demanding, but many employees find it satisfying and rewarding. They believe that their work is purpose-driven and makes a difference to the general public. This is the reason why many of the top jobs on the annual "Best places to work" lists are provided by the federal government.
USAJobs is the best site for federal job seekers to explore their options for careers and apply. The site has a variety of resources for exploring careers and applying for jobs, including tips on navigating the long and complicated federal application process.
A common misconception is that you have to know someone in the federal government in order to get an opportunity. In reality, a majority of jobs are accessible to all. All applications are scrutinized by human resources professionals and those who are most qualified are then referred to hiring managers. The site also provides a helpful resource for identifying jobs that are available to your specific educational or background.
Technical
The federal government offers many technical jobs for candidates to make use of their talents and knowledge. Tech jobs in the federal government are usually more lucrative than those in private industries and provide competitive benefits. The average salary is higher in the federal sector than the private and nonprofit sectors, and pension and health insurance plans are higher than those offered by the majority of private companies.
The number of federal jobs has risen by 22% on Handshake since last year according to a report published in January. In turn, the number of applicants to these positions has increased by 55%. The greater job security, benefits and work-life balance that comes when working for the government draw those who are interested.
People who are interested in a career in the field of technology in the federal government may select from a range of careers which include those in national security, medicine and science. Federal agencies require workers to design buildings, conduct medical research and ensure security of planes. There are also opportunities for people with a background in technology like managing and supporting computer systems.
fela settlements for these roles may vary according to the agency, but they generally include an individual's educational background and relevant work experience. For instance computer jobs may require a bachelor's degree in information technology or a related field, in addition to experience with databases. Candidates may also require an understanding of the flow of information from its source to its destination and the best way to build and maintain a system. Some computer-related jobs in the government sector include web administrators and digital forensics analysts. These jobs aren't as common in the federal government as are those that have a military orientation however, they are still present in some organizations, including the Department of Defense and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Blue-Collar
Federal employees can pick from a range of blue-collar positions. These jobs are usually manual labor jobs that include plumbers, welders, as well as electricians and construction workers. A lot of these jobs require special training and apprenticeships. These jobs pay a salary-based or hourly wage, and often come with the benefits of a labor union.
Blue-collar work is more physically demanding than white-collar jobs, but it also gives you a sense of security. Workers in blue-collar jobs are always required to provide the expertise and services they offer. Toilet pipes can break, wires can be burned, and packages need to be delivered. Work-life balance is difficult, but there are many ways to achieve the balance of work and family.
Similar to their counterparts in the private sector federal workers are also involved in a broad range of valuable and vital tasks, from developing vaccines for deadly diseases, to combating racial and sexual discrimination and tackling climate change. Many people choose to work for the federal government because of security in their jobs, as well as the chance to serve their country in a capacity that is distinct and significant.
If a job announcement says that it is open to “Agency Employees," this means that current Federal employees of the Department that announced the vacancy are eligible to apply. However, it is advisable to read the "Area of Examination" or "Who could apply" section with care as some announcements do not specify that temporary (also known as time-limited) and student Federal employees are excluded.
Contacting professionals in the field is an excellent way to locate federal jobs that are blue-collar. Don't be afraid of reaching out to your friends and family to find out if they know anyone who works in a field you are interested in.
Clerical
Clerical work, also referred to as administrative or office support jobs, focuses on the details and tasks of an organisation. The most frequent clerical jobs include answering phones, managing customer or office requests and keeping company records and information. They may also perform office machines tasks, such as operating photocopiers, voicemail systems and scanners. Office clerks are also responsible to communicate with clients or colleagues to respond to questions, take messages or respond to complaints from customers. Other clerical jobs that are common to office clerks include the compilation and updating of mailing database systems and taking care of delivering or collecting mail that is outgoing and inbound packages, documents, and documents.
Office clerks work in a variety of sectors and government agencies. For instance a medical billing clerk records and files health insurance claims and manages incoming or outgoing mail for a health facility. A receptionist at a hospital handles front desk telephones, directs patients or visitors to the patient rooms and maintains the records of patients and outpatients.
The qualifications that are most relevant for clerical positions depend on the job and industry. In general, computer skills are essential and having a high school diploma or equivalent is required for many entry-level clerical jobs. The ability to work under pressure and pay attention to detail are also desirable qualifications for clerical jobs. Since many clerical jobs involve working with numbers in some capacity, being adept at math is also a plus. The best candidates have a professional manner and are proficient in proper telephone manners as well as email protocol. They will also have a great deal of experience in customer service. It can be useful to give examples of how they have shown strong customer service or problem-solving skills in previous jobs.