| Despite constant calls by politicians and policy | | | | compensation structure is such that salaries |
| makers to reign in government spending, the | | | | typically start low but increase quickly. Every |
| federal government remains the largest employer | | | | federal job has a starting grade and a "full |
| in the United States. According to the U.S. Office | | | | performance" grade. Typically, professional |
| of Personnel Management, there are currently | | | | positions start at grade 7 in the federal pay scale |
| more than 2,700,000 employees working for the | | | | (referred to as General Schedule-7, or GS-7), and |
| federal government in civil service positions. For | | | | increase to GS-9, GS-11 and GS-12 at 1-year |
| nearly every federal job vacancy, the number of | | | | intervals. For an employee in Washington, D.C., |
| applicants exceeds the number of available | | | | that would mean starting with an annual salary of |
| positions by at least tenfold.Why do so many | | | | $35,452 but earning $62,886 after three years of |
| Americans aspire to a federal job? The answers | | | | service (not counting the annual government-wide |
| are diverse. Some consider it a patriotic duty, | | | | salary increases of approximately 3% per year).4. |
| while for others it's an act of enlightened | | | | Consider "trainee" positions. The term has a |
| self-interest. Whatever your motivation, however, | | | | negative connotation, but starting in a designated |
| the benefits are significant. Simply put, Uncle Sam | | | | trainee position can be a great way to get your |
| is an excellent boss.Working for the federal | | | | foot in Uncle Sam's door. These positions, which |
| government offers employment stability that | | | | generally require no specific work experience, are |
| cannot be replicated in the private sector. Once a | | | | typically filled at the GS-5 level ($25,000 - $30,000 |
| new employee completes a predetermined | | | | per year). Because many federal jobs are only |
| probationary period (usually 1 year), lifetime | | | | available to current or former federal employees, |
| employment is nearly guaranteed. Laws and | | | | working as a trainee for a year or two often |
| regulations governing federal personnel practices | | | | opens a lot of doors.5. Read the vacancy |
| make it extremely difficult to fire, lay-off, or | | | | announcement carefully. Procedures for applying |
| forcibly transfer most employees. On the rare | | | | for a federal job have been streamlined in recent |
| occasions when lay-offs do occur, displaced | | | | years, but it's vitally important that your follow |
| employees are given very preferential hiring | | | | the instructions provided to the letter. Unlike their |
| treatment for similar positions that becomes | | | | private sector counterparts, federal hiring |
| available. The result is that very few federal | | | | managers have to abide by standardized |
| employees have ever missed a day of work due | | | | procedures without exception. For instance, they |
| to a lay-off.Fringe benefits, including an excellent | | | | are legally prohibited from considering applications |
| retirement package, are also a major motivating | | | | that arrive after the closing date on the vacancy |
| factor. Health benefits for federal employees are | | | | announcement-even one day late. Likewise, if you |
| generally better than those offered in the private | | | | don't submit the requested documentation on |
| sector, and the government currently picks up | | | | time (transcripts, etc), they can't collect it from |
| more of the premium costs than most private | | | | you later.6. Bulk up your resume. This may be |
| employers. For an employee enrolled in Blue Cross | | | | good advice for any job hunter, but it's particularly |
| Blue Shield's family coverage, for instance, the | | | | important when applying for a federal position |
| government currently pays $578 of the $771 | | | | because of the way initial GS grades (i.e., starting |
| monthly premium. Retirement benefits are based | | | | salaries) are determined. Many vacancy |
| on a complicated formula that incorporates the | | | | announcement can be filled at any of a few |
| employee's salary, years of service and | | | | different GS grades, and the level at which a new |
| retirement age, but independent studies | | | | hire is brought on board is determined by his or |
| consistently determine that the plan is more | | | | her years of pertinent employment history. It is a |
| generous than nearly all private sector | | | | little-known secret that federal hiring managers |
| employers.Federal salaries are competitive as well. | | | | want to start new hires at the highest grade they |
| In 2005, the average salary for all federal | | | | can justify, because by doing so they can |
| workers worldwide is $60,203. Due to the salary | | | | minimize the risk of turnover. Most federal |
| structure and political realities, raises are virtually | | | | employees who leave government service before |
| guaranteed every year. In January 2005, the raise | | | | retirement do so during the first five years of |
| was set at 3.5%. In addition, salary adjustments | | | | their career, because starting salaries in the |
| are made for employees in major metropolitan | | | | private sector are higher.So, how can you help |
| areas.Federal service also provides far more | | | | your new agency pay you more? If you're in a |
| opportunity for advancement than most other | | | | position that makes it difficult to gain work |
| employers. At the senior management level | | | | experience in your desired field, remember that |
| (known as the Senior Executive Service, or SES), | | | | self-employment, if legitimate, counts as |
| salaries range from $107,550 to $162,100. There | | | | employment experience for federal hiring |
| are currently approximately 7,000 SES employees | | | | purposes. For instance, if you're a stay-at-home |
| in federal service.With all of these benefits, it's no | | | | mother with the goal of re-entering the |
| wonder that many job seekers are trying to land | | | | workforce as a writer, working from your home |
| a position with the federal government. While the | | | | as a freelance writer for three years would count |
| competition is fierce, here are some key | | | | as work experience when you apply for that |
| strategies that can help you in your search:1. | | | | federal job. Incidentally, on the date of this article |
| Check the government's official employment web | | | | there are currently 27 writing and editing |
| site ( often. Virtually every federal job vacancy is | | | | vacancies listed on the USA Jobs web site!7. |
| listed there, and it's updated every day. Most | | | | Above all, don't give up. Although the competition |
| vacancy announcement are only open for a | | | | for federal jobs can be tough, the benefits are |
| period of approximately 3 to 4 weeks, and the | | | | well worth the effort. Like any job search, most |
| application process can be detailed, so it's best to | | | | applicants can realistically expect to be turned |
| check frequently so you can start working on | | | | down many times before they are offered a |
| your application as early as possible.2. Avoid | | | | position. Tenacity and a positive attitude are your |
| services that claim to help you land a federal job. | | | | most vital assets.Sean Dunagan is the president |
| Companies that guarantee you a federal job are | | | | of Pinnacle Associates, a web-based resource for |
| scams, and these services can't do anything that | | | | freelance professionals and home-based business |
| you can't do yourself.3. Be willing to accept a pay | | | | owners. |
| cut. While federal salaries are competitive, the | | | | |