In the United States, the federal government is responsible for approximately 6 percent of the country’s total employment, with almost 9.1 million employees. For comparison, Walmart (the United States’ largest private employer) employs 1.5 million workers.
Many people are drawn to state and federal government jobs because of the job security and benefits they offer.
Are you interested in working for the government? Are you unsure of where to start? If so, read on for a complete guide to government jobs in the United States.
Pros and Cons of Working in US Federal Government Jobs
As with any type of job, some pros and cons come with working government jobs in the United States. Before you decide to start applying for federal government jobs, it’s a good idea to understand the pros and cons of these positions.
Pros
Let’s start with the pros. Outlined below are some of the most important benefits you can experience when you work for the government:
Make an Impact
Working a government job gives you a unique opportunity to make an impact in your community. As a government employee, regardless of your specific job responsibilities, you will work to enhance the lives of people throughout the U.S., as well as all over the world.
Even if you’re not a politician, you can play a key role in addressing serious problems that affect U.S. citizens. For example, you can work on projects that help to end homelessness, cure diseases, address food insecurity, improve public schools, and much more.
Enjoy Great Benefits
Government jobs come with awesome benefits. In fact, a lot of people pursue these jobs specifically because the benefits are so generous.
In many cases, the health insurance, retirement contributions, and vacation time that you get from a public sector job will be far superior to what’s offered from a company in the private sector.
Most government jobs also give employees all state and federal holidays off, too. This means you’ll be able to take time off when your kids are home from school and spend time with them
Earn a Good Salary
Many government jobs offer good salaries, too. For reference, the average salary of a government worker in the United States is approximately $63,659 per year.
True, you might not become a millionaire working in the public sector. However, you can still earn a fair salary that, in many cases, is competitive with similar jobs offered in the public sector.
Find Work Anywhere
It’s a common misconception that those who want to work for the federal government must live in or near Washington, D.C. to find jobs. That’s definitely not the case, though.
Approximately 85 percent of government jobs are offered outside of Washington, D.C. Nearly 50,000 people who work for the federal government work abroad, too. Keep in mind that these days, in the wake of COVID-19, many government jobs can be done remotely as well.
You can find government job opportunities no matter where you live. Don’t let location be the issue that holds you back from applying for a government job.
Enjoy Interesting, Challenging Work
With such a wide range of jobs available, the federal government provides lots of opportunities for you to participate in interesting, challenging work. If you want a job that helps you make a difference and allows you to utilize your creative problem-solving skills, there are plenty of options for you to consider in the public sector.
Remember, too, that the federal government provides opportunities for you to do the same type of work you might be doing in the public sector, but on a larger scale. If you’re looking to make a bigger impact, the government approach might be a good one for you to consider.
Balance Work Life and Home Life
As we mentioned above, government jobs typically offer better vacation benefits than many jobs in the private sector. They also give you holidays off (typically with pay).
These benefits make it easy for you to balance your work life and home life. When you choose to work in a government job, you’ll likely have more time to spend with your children or loved ones.
Education Opportunities
Government jobs often provide tuition reimbursement as one of their benefits, too. If you’re interested in going back to school but aren’t interested in taking out a lot of loans to pay for it, a government job may reimburse you or offer other options to help you get the education you want and need.
Many government jobs also offer continuing education courses and training, too. Maybe you already have a degree or certification but need or want to learn more so you can qualify for promotions in the future. If this is the case, working for the government can help you get where you want to be.
Gain Valuable Experience
It’s okay if you don’t want to work in the public sector permanently. However, spending some time working a government job can allow you to learn and gain valuable experience, which you can then take with you to future jobs.
You might even find that you have an easier time getting hired at other positions because of your previous public sector experience.
Cons
There are some downsides to federal government work as well. The following are some of the most frequently reported ones:
Extensive Rules and Regulations
Government jobs are infamous for having a bunch of rules and regulations attached to them. It’s true that these rules and regulations exist, and they can sometimes make the job less efficient and lead to wasted time and resources.
Government rules and regulations can be annoying. However, they’re also necessary. After all, the federal government is a massive and complicated organization, and rules and guidelines are needed to keep it running as smoothly as possible.
If you can get over the frustration that sometimes accompanies government regulations, you can still enjoy a fulfilling career working in the public sector.
Lengthy Hiring Process
It can often take a lot longer to get hired for a government job than it does to get hired for a private-sector job.
When you consider the number of people who work for the government and the number of people who want to be working in this arena, it makes sense that you might not hear back on your application right away. It can still be frustrating, though, especially if you’ve been out of work for a while.
If you’re in desperate need of work, you might not feel that you have time to wait on a government job. Don’t let this stop you from applying, though. If there’s a position you really want, it might be worth it to apply and wait a little while to see if you get it.
Lower Salaries (Compared to Private Sector)
As we mentioned above, you can earn a good salary working for the government. At the same time, though, your earning potential typically is not as great working in a government job compared to a private-sector job.
For many people, the generous benefits that government jobs offer make them worth the slightly lower paycheck. If your top priority is earning as much money as possible, though, you likely won’t find it in the public sector.
Frequent Leadership Changes
With government work, you have to deal with a revolving door when it comes to leadership. Changes in the politicians holding certain seats can have an impact on your job as a government worker, especially when it comes to the specific laws and guidelines you’re required to follow.
For example, when the Affordable Care Act was enacted several years ago, many of those who worked in the public health sector had to adapt and change the way they did certain aspects of their jobs.
Results Aren’t Immediate
As a government worker, you have lots of opportunities to make an impact. At the same time, though, you likely won’t see the results of your labor right away, which can be a challenge for some people.
It often takes a while before you can see changes on a micro or macro level. Because of this, you’ll need to be patient and trust in your vision.
Understanding Different Types of US Federal Government Jobs and Government Agency Jobs
There are lots of different government jobs in the United States for which you can apply. Typically, they fall into one of the following 3 categories:
Senior Executive Service
Senior Executive Service positions, also known as SES positions, fall right below Presidential appointees. However, up to 10 percent of these positions can also be filled by Presidential appointees.
SES positions are leadership positions and are the smallest category of government jobs (as is typically the case when you look at senior and executive jobs).
Many managerial and executive director jobs are considered SES positions. Some departments in which SES employees might work include the Department of Agriculture and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
👉 Browse Senior Executive Service jobs in the US Government on GrabJobs
Excepted Service
Those who work in excepted service positions are typically part of authorized agencies that operate outside of the government’s executive level. Examples include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Postal Service, and many of the country’s defense and security agencies.
👉 Browse Excepted Service jobs in the US Government on GrabJobs
Competitive Service
The competitive service category is the largest category of government jobs. The majority of government jobs fall under this umbrella, and most of the jobs available on USAJOBS (the official website for government job listings) are competitive service positions.
All kinds of jobs are available in the competitive service category. However, the following are some of the most popular ones that you might want to consider:
- Law enforcement
- Public health
- Civil engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Agriculture
- Environmental support
- Linguistics
- Analytics
- Accounting
- Programming
- Administration
As you can see, there’s something for just about everyone. Regardless of your specific background, education level, and interests, you’ll find a job opportunity that appeals to you in the federal government.
👉 Browse Competitive Service jobs in the US Government on GrabJobs
How to Apply for a US Government Job Using USAJOBS.gov
Are you ready to move forward with applying for government jobs in the United States? Here’s a checklist to follow that will simplify the application process and help to increase your chances of getting hired:
Create a USAJOBS Account
Start by creating an account on the USAJOBS website.
An account allows you to do the following:
- Apply for jobs
- Save jobs for the future
- Automate the search process
- Upload or create a resume
- Upload and save important documents
- Review and track your application
To create an account, start by clicking on the “Create a Profile” button on the home page of the USAJOBS website. Then, click the “Create an Account” button to put in your email address and choose your preferred language.
From here, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Click the link in that email to confirm your account and set a password. Once you’ve done this, you can start personalizing your account.
Search for Jobs Online
Once you’ve created your account, you’ll be ready to start searching for openings through the USAJOBS website. The USAJOBS website is easy to navigate and helps you to search through jobs by keyword, location, salary, job type, government agency, and more.
When you’re searching for government jobs, it’s helpful to understand the different GS (short for General Schedule) grades and how they apply to various positions. The General Schedule pay system breaks jobs up into entry-level, mid-level, senior-level, and executive levels.
Jobs with a GS grade of 5-11 are considered entry-level jobs. Jobs with grades 12-13 are considered mid-level. Jobs with grades 14-15 are considered senior level, and SES positions are considered executive level.
Sign Up for Job Alerts
After you create your account on the USAJOBS website, you’ll be able to request email alerts to keep you informed about new listings as they come available.
Keep in mind, new listings are added to the site daily. Because of this, it’s recommended that you sign up for daily emails so you don’t miss anything.
Read Job Ads Carefully
If you see a job listing that seems interesting to you, take a closer look to see what requirements you need to meet to apply. Pay special attention to the following sections:
Who May Apply
The “Who May Apply” section helps you to determine whether or not you’re eligible for a specific position. For example, if you’re a veteran or someone who’s worked for the government before, there will be certain openings available to you that aren’t accessible to others.
If you don’t fit into these categories, look for positions that are open to all US citizens.
Qualifications
The “Qualifications” section also helps you to see if you’re a good fit for the job based on your education, experience, etc.
The “Qualifications” section will indicate whether you need a specific degree or a certain number of years of experience. It’ll list other qualifications and requirements, too, such as knowledge of particular programs or types of equipment.
Apply Right Away
You should take time to read job ads carefully before applying. However, don’t spend so much time reading through descriptions that you miss the application period.
Many jobs listed on the USAJOBS website are only available for a limited period of time, and it’s not uncommon for them to only be able to receive applications for around 3 days. If you wait too long, you’ll miss out on the opportunity to apply and be considered.
The USAJOBS website never accepts late applications. If you miss the deadline, you missed it, and you’ll have to wait until another listing is posted.
Submit Application
If you’ve decided that a job is a good fit for you, and if you’re within the submission deadline, go ahead and apply.
Be particularly careful to include all the requested documentation, such as a resume, work samples, etc. If you forget any of this, you will be disqualified and won’t be considered for the position, so it’s important to double-check your application before you submit it.
Review Application Status
The great thing about the USAJOBS website is that you can easily review your application status. After your application has been reviewed, it’ll be placed into one of these categories:
- Qualified
- Highly Qualified
- Best-Qualified
When your application has been sorted into a category, the status will often be changed to “reviewed.” Then, all of the best-qualified applicants will be sent to the hiring official. From here, your application status may change to “referred.” If you’re no longer being considered, the status will change to “not referred.”
Begin the Interview Process
If your application is referred, the hiring official will likely reach out to you to begin the interview process. From here, if you nail the interview, you’ll receive a job offer that you can either accept or decline.
Find Government Jobs in the United States Today
Does a US government job seem like a good fit for you? Are you ready to experience all the benefits that these jobs have to offer?
If so, follow the steps listed above so you can start applying today.
