Our Country, Our Responsibility: Working in Government

Best Places to Work in the Federal Government

2009-09-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Today I stumbled across the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government in 2009. I can't say that I was suprised by the results. It is a wide known fact that the Government Accountability Office is always one of the best places to work- it ranked 2nd this year with an improvement of 6.9% since 2007. Below, I have listed this year's results.

2009 Overall Index Scores

1-Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2-Government Accountability Office
3-National Aeronautics and Space Administration
4-Intelligence Community
5-Department of State
6-Environmental Protection Agency
7-Department of Justice
8-General Services Administration
9-Social Security Administration
10-Department of Commerce

2009 represents the 4th time these ranking have come out. Other years are 2003, 2005, and 2007.

So perhaps, when looking for a job in the government, you should pay extra attention to these 10 agencies. And please take a few moments to visit the Web site as it breaks down these results even more. It labels them as Best in Class scores and breaks them down in demographic. This is a very interesting site that can be a great resource when looking for a job in the Federal Government.

Networking Groups

2009-08-31T06:27:00.000-07:00

OK, so I know everyone always stresses the importance of networking. And networking is a very, very good thing to do. However, if you have just moved to a new city and people aren't asking you to go to happy hours of Capitol Hill receptions with them after work, you probably are trying to figure out exactly how to network.

The best way to network is by joining an organization. If you are living in a more populous area (ex: Washington, D.C.) there are literally hundreds of organizations you can join. Here are some examples of organizations you can join:

A casual sports team: I know a LOT of people who play kickball on the national mall weeknights after work or on Sundays.

State Societies: Most states have a state society in Washington, D.C. These organizations are designed to link people with others from their home state, and people often find new jobs through these networks.

Alumni Associations: Most schools have some sort of alumni organization in most areas of the United States. It is always nice to get in touch with people you may or may not have known while in college.
Volunteer: There are all kinds of different things to volunteer for. You can volunteer to help with a walk for a cause, at an orphanage, or Habitat for Humanity.
Professional Organizations: It is also fairly simple to look online for an organization for people in your professional focus. Some examples are Young Nonprofit Professionals, Women's Information Network (which leads you to endless other organizations), and the Public Relations Society of America. Here is a list of professional associations to check out!

If you are nervous about joining one of these organizations on your own, see if one of your friends or colleagues will join with you! Chances are you will have a lot of fun doing it!

Washington, D.C.

2009-08-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

This weekend I travelled to New York City. And as I was taking my $10 bus ride back to D.C. I realized just how great the location is for our Capitol City.

It is technically considered to be a "southern city." So, basically that means it does not get too bad of winter weather and when it does snow, we get the day off work. Summer days do get hot, and we have "code red" heat days. And some days the humidy is pretty bad, but nothing too intense.

The location, as far as the eastern seaboard goes, is amazing. You are close to the beach, close to Maryland Crabs, a bus ride from New York City, and there are THREE airports to choose from when flying out on vacation (think $99 direct flights to the Bahamas).

But, also, Washington, D.C. has a lot to offer in the city itself. There are multiple monuments and museums (which are free to the public), great communities that are rich in culture and have great night life.

Working in Your Own Back Yard

2009-08-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

Working in the government doesn't mean moving to Washington, D.C. and becoming a polititian on the Federal level.

It doesn't even mean you need to leave the state, maybe not even the county.

There are plenty of jobs available on the local and state level. For example, if you are interested in a career in emerency preparedness, you might be interested in working for FEMA. But, did you know that each individual state, county, and city has it's own similar agency?

While searching online today, I came across this Web site geared to helping people find jobs in local government. It is a very easy to navigate Web site, and I encourage all of you to go and check it out.

Government Internships

2009-07-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

So I was online this morning, looking at the news and seeing waht was going on in the realm of government jobs, and I stumbled across this Web site: http://www.studentjobs.gov/.

Studentjobs.gov offers students the chance to look for jobs and internships for the Federal Government whether they are in high school, college or graduate school.

When you are a new member to the site, you are given the opportunity to create a resume and apply to any and all jobs that interest you. Currently, there are 13,956 student employment opportunities on the Web site. With a number that high, I'd say there is probably an opportunity for everyone who is looking for something.

Interning or working for the Federal Government while in school is a great opportunity if you want to get jump started on your career, make contacts, or maybe you don't know for sure what you want to do.

So take some time today and check out http://www.studentjobs.gov/!

Welcome back, everyone!

2009-07-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone! It is summer in Washington. That means it is really hot and humid and Congress is rushing around so they can leave for summer recess.

After spending more than a year working closely in the government in Washington, D.C., I have come to realize that when Congress isn't in session, the whole city slows down. Restaurants have less people in them, the metro isn't as crowded (well, except when there is a large influx of tourists), and even if your job isn't in the government chances are it is still a little bit slower.

Now, I think part of this is because it is really hot, and really humid in D.C. (the city was built on a swamp, so it only makes sense). And I think the other part is because when Congress is in session, not only are the Members of Congress adding to the number of people here, they are also the reason most people visit Washington, D.C.

Moral of the story, most jobs in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas are at least in some way affected by Congress. And that is why working in the government is very important.

Can't find a job in government?

2009-05-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

It's graduation time!! If you are anything like me when I graduated, you probably went from being really excited to graduate one day, to unemployed the next.

With the economy falling and unemployment rates at an all-time high, more and more recent grads do not have jobs lined up when they graduate- even a lot of last year's graduates do not have jobs.

One of my roommates has been struggling to find a job and recently was introduced to PoliTemps.

According to their Web site, PoliTemps provides quality personnel who, in addition to administrative and computer skills, possess an understanding of the political, legislative, and public relations processes in this city. PoliTemps has the targeting and focus of a public relations firm, the goals and mission of a staffing service, and the enthusiasm of a political campaign.

This looks to me like a great way to try out working in government and gain experience while..... NETWORKING. And networking is what ultimately leads to jobs.

So if you are looking for a job and wanting to get into government, I recommend checking it out!

Get Linked In!

2009-04-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

I've talked many, many, many times about the importance of networking. It doesn't matter what industry you are in, networking is going to be part of the job description. But networking isn't just going to events and handing out your business card. There is a new kind of networking in town- social networking. OK, so maybe it isn't new. It has been around quite a few years now.

Social networking can be done a variety of different ways, through a variety of different Web sites. Some of the most-used sites are MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn.

According to its entry on Wikipedia, LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site that is mainly used for professional networking. As of February 2009 it had more than 35 million registered users, spanning 170 industries.

LinkedIn is not place to post pictures of your friends and write notes about your recent vacation. It has a more professional feel to it and employers even have the opportunity to post jobs and search for interview candidates based on their profiles.

I encourage everyone out there who is looking for a job or internship to create a LinkedIn profile and start making connections!!

Spring is in the air!

2009-04-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend in Washington was sunny and warm. Tulips are in full bloom- and they are everywhere.

Along with spring comes the end of the semester. Once spring has sprung, it is time to go into panic mode if you don't have a summer job or internship lined up. At least that is how it always was for me. But, don't worry. It's not too late!

I suggest that everyone take a look at the job and internship board at Experience's Home Page. The Experience job board offers multiple different searches and lets you be very specific about what you are looking for in a job.

However, Experience isn't the only place out there to look for summer employment. One of your most important resources when looking for a job in the government is USAJobs.gov. USAJobs.gov is one of the only ways to apply for jobs in the government. It is a complicated process to apply for jobs through the Web site, and it is often very tedious. It is also a very rewarding process and will make you appreciate your interview once you land one (and yes, you will).

It is also important to remember that another very important process to looking for a job is networking. Let everyone you know (family members, professors, etc.) know that you are looking for a job and exactly what you are looking for in a job. You never know how well connected these people are!

In closing I just want to say, good luck, happy job hunting, and enjoy the nice weather!

Keeping Yourself Current

2009-04-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

So you have a degree in journalism... And you've recently discovered that you want to work in the government. Well, good news for you!

Anyone thinking about getting a job related to government, should probably be very well educated in current affairs. There are entire agencies devoted to media monitoring that put out reports every morning that outline the news on a specific topic to send to government agencies and other influencial people. One example of this type of agency is Bulletin News, based out of Herndon, Virginia- just minutes from DC.

The way I look at it, journalism is the universal degree. Now, I might just be saying that because my degree is in journalism, but I really think it is true! At least when it comes to government jobs.

For example, most jobs require you to be good at communicating and writing. Guess, what journalists have spent the past 4 years learning how to write and be good at communicating. They have spent many months learning about specific things to write good, informative news articles and along the way have learned many, valuable things! Now, I'm not saying having a journalism degree makes you any better or more marketable than people with other degrees, but I think it makes you more versatile, depending on your internship path or work experience of course.

Ok, so maybe I don't know what I am talking about when it comes to this. I could be totally wrong. But one thing I do know is that keeping up with the news, whether it by listening to NPR every morning, reading the front page of the paper or getting news on the internet, keeping up with what is happening around the world is very imporant. Especially when working for the government.

Spring is almost here!

2009-03-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I planted an herb garden (in a flower box of course, as living in Washington does not provide much in the way of back yards) and I noticed yesterday that the herbs were starting to emerge. That can only mean one thing! Spring is in the air. I noticed today when I was taking a walk that there are flowers popping up everywhere and people are out playing in the parks with their children and dogs. It was beautiful outside today.

Spring always means one thing, school is almost out for the summer! That means there is also a new batch of recent graduates with dreams of changing the world. And to these people I have a few words of advice. Now, everything I am going to tell you isn't scientific. And it hasn't been proven. And, I could be totally wrong. It's just what I've learned in the past year.

If 10 months from now you are still working an unpaid internship and waiting tables to pay rent, you're not alone. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune last November, entry-level hiring has dropped about 8%.
Don't be afraid to take an internship, even after you have your B.A. or B.S. Most people I graduated with in May were still working an internship until last fall- some still are. But it gives you invaluable experience, and will make you more marketable in the long run.
If you are graduating and really weren't sure if Grad school is right for you, don't go just yet. Wait until you know exactly what you want to do. Sometimes you need work experience to know you are (or in some cases are not) getting into the right field.
Learn how to make bread. It is relaxing and kneading the dough will help relieve stress. This is one of my favorite Web sites for finding bread recipes.
And, lastly, if you think of something you want to do. Like for instance work on an organic farm in Hawaii for one year- DO IT. You will regret it if you don't.

So, have a great spring, and enjoy graduating!

Preparing for your Future

2009-03-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

Today when I visited Experience's Homepage, I read a testimonial from a girl named Charity at Sacred Heart University that was:

"I applied and was accepted for a one year internship program in London, England. I found out about this opportunity through an email that Experience sent out and am very excited about the opportunity."

Then I started reminising about my study abroad experience. It was the best decision I have ever made. EVER. The study abroad progam I did was in Geneva, Switzerland and through Kent State University. However, I was amazed to find out that only on fifth of the students participating in the program were from Kent State. There were students from Boston College, University of Illinois, Mary Washington University, Tufts and many others. So when looking for a study abroad program or internship program don't just look as far as your school. The opportunities are endless.

I know a lot of people say they can't study abraod because they want to graduate on time. That is a legitimate concern, but there are hundreds of internship and study abroad opportunities that just last the summer months or are for a few weeks over winter break.

There are many different ways to go about studying/interning abroad. And I do understand that it isn't for everyone. But at least check it out. Go to experience.com and check it out!

Healthcare Government

2009-03-03T17:48:00.000-08:00

So today I was compiling a list of health reform opinion and thought leaders in the executive branch of the Federal Government, and I was shocked at the number of people who work in healthcare related fields of the government.

These days, all we are hearing about is the economy. But, surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, healthcare and health reform keeps popping up in every stimulus conversation and economy mention.

In the President’s FY10 budget, he allots $630 billion over 10 years to go toward Health care reform. You know what that translates, right? Jobs. Public health professionals are needed to work on preventative health, the Health and Human Services Department, and even public policy organizations. Yet, sadly, only 20% of the nation’s almost 500,000 public health professionals have the proper training and education they need to do their jobs efficiently. People with a Masters Degree of Public Health are in high demand right now! Not just in Washington, but also in your home town.

Health professionals working in the government doesn’t jut stop with the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Department of Defense that offers healthcare to the military;
The Department of Veterans Affairs deals with veterans and their health needs;
The Department of Transportation deals with preventative measures to keep Americans safe on our sidewalks and roads and all sorts of other infrastructure;
The United States Environmental Protection Agency also works to keep Americans safe from chemicals;
United States Congress has at least one healthcare legislative assistant in every single Member of Congress’ office; and,
There are many, many others that could be added to the list!

My point is, health professionals are needed in every arm of the government. When you check out Experience’s job board next, just take a look at all the jobs that deal with healthcare. I bet you will be amazed!

Making Internships Count

2009-02-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

I just spent the last week on vacation. It was so great to get away from work for a few days and go a few places I've never been before.

But, anyway, I am back now. And I would like to talk a little bit about internships. On Experience's Homepage, there is an article titled "Milking Your Internship." The most important point the author makes is "You may feel like a student, but you are expected to act like a professional."

That is so true. The way you land jobs from internships, especially in an economic environment like the one we are currently experiencing, is to act more professional than your boss.

One of my classmates had an internship for a Member of Congress last year, and the internship coordinator didn't really put a lot of effort in to his job. So my friend, thought "oh that's just the way it is in this office, you don't have to work very hard." Well, after a couple of weeks, he realized his boss was just lazy and started working as hard as possible at his internship. Well, once summer hit, the intern coordinator got let go, and guess who was offered the job? Yep. My classmate.

You really need to show them you are willing to do work that isn't super gratifying, yet needs to be done. And you need to have a great attitude and show you are interested, not only in your job, but also the entire industry. It's what has helped my of my peers land a job, including myself.

Photo from Carleton.edu

Taxation with Representation

2009-02-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

I am sure you have all heard about the recent issues regarding our almost Secretary of Health and Human Services- Tom Daschle. Earlier this week, Daschle withdrew as nominee for HHS Secretary because of a controversy about his tax records and some activites he was involved in that some may consider lobbying. Wow.

This just goes to show you that even if you are a very important person, or maybe you aren't very important just yet, you still need to pay attention to your taxes, because, overall taxes are a good thing. If we didn't have taxes, many of the things we take for granted would disappear. An example I always like to use it street lights. If we didn't have taxes and people were in charge of just randomy contributing to building a street light in the neighborhood, noone would ever contribute or get around to it- they would just assume someone else would take care of it. And if you have any interest at all in working for the government, where do you think your paycheck is going to come from? That's right. Taxes.

It is necessary to pay attention to every little detail about taxes and not try to get away with anything that may be considered dishonest. You never know, many years from now it may cost you a nomination for a cabinet position- or maybe just a job.

**Photo from cnn.com**

Welcome Back!

2009-02-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Now we have ourselves in a new year, a new Congress and a new administration. There is going to be lots and lots of exciting topics for me to discuss with you in the coming months!

One thing is on everybody's mind these days though. Yep, you guessed it: The economy. Nothing I tell you here is going to ensure you find your dream job by the time you graduate. Much of my advice is not proven and has no scientific evidence. But it is, as least I think it is, good advice. Just things to ponder and things that may help you get a little further ahead in the job search, or the workplace.

In last week's The Washington Post there was an entire section devoted to "Jobs." And there was a "Job Chat" column on the front page that featured Derrick T. Dortch, president of the Diversa Group, who is a career counselor who specializes in government job searches. The main point of the article is that maybe people who apply to jobs, namely the CIA, get rejected the first time. And he suggests that if you have been working to prepare yourself for work in the CIA and got rejected the first time, like many do, you probably are qualified for a multitude of other jobs in the intelligence industry. So maybe try to work at a different, related agency for awhile to get some more relevant experience and then, who knows, maybe you will land that dream job with the CIA.

The main point- don't be discouraged and definately don't be afraid to expand the job search.

It takes a while to get your dream job

2008-12-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

So you just graduated. Obviously, you will start work a few weeks later changing the world. Not quite.

When you first start working for the government, you will probably do a lot of menial tasks. Meaning, you will more than likely be answering the phone, filing something or serving more of an administrative role that you probably think you should be.

That is okay. Your first few years on the job, you will be doing the tasks noone else wants to do- because you are the lowest level person working there. I repeat, that is okay. Everyone had to start at the bottom, either as an intern or as an administative assistant.

Just tough it out and eventually you will get that dream job :)

You don't have to move to Washington!

2008-12-01T18:21:00.001-08:00

So, most Americans are from small towns, and even more are from places that aren't Washington, D.C. So what if you want to stay in the same state or town you grew up in or went to school in when you begin your career? Well, I have news for you. You can't work in the government. Just kidding! The government has jobs all over the United States and even the world. You can stay right in your home state or town and still work for the government.

Many government jobs are for the state and local government. The mayor needs help running the town and the governor needs help running the state. Even your Senator or Congressman has at least one- if not several district offices that need to be staffed.

So if you aren't ready to leave the comfort of your own home and town, visit http://www.govtjobs.com/, and see if the government is iring near you. I'm sure it is!

Why not try the Peace Corps?

2008-11-24T17:40:00.001-08:00

So I've been out of school for awhile now, and I searched for a job for a little while, but I was one of the lucky ones who found a job less then a month after I graduated. Actually, I was hired a couple weeks after I graduated. But, unless you've been living under a rock, or just really don't pay attention to ANYTHING around you, you've probably heard about the economic crisis happening throughout our nation and the entire world actually. Basically, a lot of banks got in a lot of trouble for buying and selling bad debt and now everyone is paying for it.

The point is, it economy is not very good right now and many people I know are looking for jobs in the government because the government isn't going out of business anytime soon. So for the next few weeks I am going to outline some different jobs available in the government. Today it is the Peace Corps. There are multiple reasons people want to get involved in the peace corps... and multiple reasons people don't.

Some of the reasons people want to is the experience. You have to be a very smart, dedicated person to endure representing our country abroad while making a world of difference to the people you are helping. For information about joining, visit their Web site at www.peacecorps.gov.

According to their Web site, "Serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer means 27 months of hard work. It takes determination, flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor. And while applying to the Peace Corps is easier than being a Volunteer, the qualities that make a good Volunteer will also come in handy during the application process. Yes, applying to become a Volunteer takes some time, preparation, and effort. But as with volunteering, the rewards far outweigh the difficulties."

And if you are wondering if you are qualified, there is an easy calculator widget on the Web site that will tell you what you need to do to volunteer. It is definitely something to consider and work toward.

The Government is hiring!

2008-11-12T19:50:00.001-08:00

So we have ourselves a new POTUS. Sen. Barack Obama is the president-elect of the United States of America. And along with all the excitement here in Washington, D.C. about having a new president-elect and Change being on its way to our Nation and after a two-year long historic election, I have good news for everyone out there looking for a job......

THE GOVERNMENT IS HIRING! President-elect Obama has a big job ahead of him, and that is appointing an administration. Along with a new administration comes a new staff. In order to apply for a job in the new administration, all you have to do it go to Change.gov, the official online office of the President-elect and the transition team, and fill out the application process. It takes awhile to get through the entire process, but is worth it!

And more good news! If you aren't interested in working for the administration, and are thinking more about pursuing a career on Capitol Hill, there are plenty of incoming Members of Congress who need highly skilled, highly motivated people like yourself to work in their new offices on Capitol Hill. The best way to go about this is to visit the House of Representatives' Web site house.gov or the Senate's Web site at senate.gov.

I wish you all of the best in your search for a government job in the new administration!!!

VOTE

2008-11-04T01:41:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone, I just wanted to encourage all of you to go out and make a difference in the most historic election that has ever happened in the United States. Please go out and vote today. Whether you are voting democrat or republican, please go out and cast your ballot.

History in the Making!

2008-10-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

With the 2008 Presidential Election right around that corner, Washington, D.C., is a really exciting place to be. But you don’t have to be in Washington for it to be an exciting time. This truly is a historic election: voter turn-out will be higher than ever, and the next president will have to face a plethora of problems and will probably have to fight hard for reelection because in four years, the economy won’t be fixed, the housing market won’t be booming, the Ogallala Aquifer will still be running out of water, and healthcare will probably still be an issue.

There are many ways you can get involved to be a part of this history. You can become active on any of a variety of important issues, like those mentioned above, you can join a campaign (even if it is just volunteering to make phone calls or go door to door), or you can become an election officer and work the polls on election day to help you get involved in your community.

No matter how much or how little time you have, I urge you to, in some way, because involved in this upcoming election because it is history in the making!

The Value of Internships

2008-10-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

While a lot of my friends I graduated college with are still looking for jobs, I am reminded again how important it is to have at least one really, really good internship under your belt.

Where I am currently employed, I first interned for 4 months. Same with my boyfriend, and countless other friends. Actually, everyone I know who graduated with me and is living in Washington, D.C. working in politics and the government, is working where he or she interned. Some of the internships were paid and others were unpaid, but in the end it was a job based on who you know and what you know. If you are put up against someone who looks good on paper, but the company already knows the kind of work you do- even if you don't look as good on paper- you are still more likely to land the job you want.

And to all the recent grads out there who are still looking for a job, don't be afraid to take an 8 or 12 week internship. Just because you aren't in school anymore, doesn't mean you are "overqualified" to be an intern. It just might land you the perfect job you've been looking for all summer.

Welcome Back!

2008-09-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I hope the new school year is going well! Some of you are probably going back to classes, while others have probably secured really cool internships, and there are probably a few of you who are recent graduates and have been looking for jobs for what seems like forever and just aren't getting calls back. Don't worry, it's not you. The job market isn't doing very well, and on average it takes three months to find a job. And it probably won't be your dream job.

Especially when working in the government, it is important to remember that who you know is almost as important as what you know. Countless friends of mine have found jobs through networks. And I just forwarded a friend's resume to a co-worker this afternoon. When I was getting advice on looking for jobs, I was talking to someone who hires for the Government Accountability Office. She said she doesn't hire anyone who she can't find someone who knows someone who knows that person.

Now, I don't mean that to be discouraging either. That just means you need to find ways to network. A few posts back I game some helpful hints about networking. But another way to meet people who will be helpful to your career is by interning somewhere. I know COUNTLESS people who have had internships and then been hired on full-time. What happens is you are basically "trained" in how to do your job as an intern. And the office would rather hire you for two reasons. You have already proved that you are a good worker, and you already know the company.

So don't be discouraged. Just keep looking and don't be afraid to take a post-graduation internship. It will pay off sometime!

The Government Needs Everyone!

2008-08-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

I found a very interesting article on the Experience government industry homepage called, "But I didn't major in Government!" I really liked this article, because I didn't major in government, or political science, or economics... or anything even that close to any of those things.

I majored in Public Relations, but that doesn't mean I don't have a strong background in government. I studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland learning about Human Rights, International Business, European Politics and International Relations. I also spent a semester a semster in Washington, D.C. learning more than I evee thought I would with an internship at a government realations agency. Then I interned on Capitol Hill. As a PR major, you wonder what that has to do with government, not a lot really. But it is obvious I have a background in government and public policy. I think my resume and interest are very govenrment heavy and that is what helped me get a job working in public affairs.

There are also all kinds of jobs open in the government. NASA needs engineers and scientists; the Department of Justice needs people with a law enforcement background and lawyers; the Government Acountability Office needs people with degrees in fiance and communications and pretty much everything else.