Resources for Finding a Government Job

In honor of President’s Day today, I thought I’d write a post about working for the federal government. Of course, when George Washington was president, the federal government was a relatively teeny tiny little entity. Today, it’s the nation’s largest employer with over 1.7 million employees.

Working for the federal government comes with a host of benefits, including job stability, competitive salary and generous benefits. Don’t live in Washington, D.C.? No problem. Over 90% of all government jobs are located outside the Beltway, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And with more than 200,000 new federal jobs to be added by 2012, the federal government is a good bet for finding a great job!

So, now that I’ve sold you on a government job, you’re probably wondering where to get started. Here are some great online resources:

• JobMonkey’s section on Federal Government Jobs covers more than a dozen different agencies, with information on salary range, work environment and more. Plus we have a federal job board for those of you ready to actively seek employment, covering federal government jobs, jobs with the U.S. Postal Service, and private governmental contract work.

• The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers data about the salary ranges of a wide range of different federal government jobs.

• The Federal Employees Health Benefits program details health insurance coverage for 8 million federal employees and their families.  This is the same policy coverage that members of Congress get.

• USAJobs.com is the top-ranked search engine for federal government jobs.

• USPS.com’s job search board lists openings for postal service workers.

• The Department of Homeland Security has a page with tips on applying for a job in homeland security. Much of this advice applies to other agencies as well!

• The Federal Career Intern Program (FCIG) is a comprehensive, entry-level employment and career development program. It’s a great way to get your start on a federal government career, if you have completed at least a Bachelor’s Degree. Almost every agency has FCIG internships, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

Have you considered working for Uncle Sam? What online resources have been helpful to you in your job search?