Career Consulting & Leadership Coaching
with Dr. Rita Carey

Coach's Columns at a Glance:

• Perhaps it's a Matter of Style
• Is There a Federal Job in Your Future?
• Women in Leadership: the Other Side of the Gift
• After Downsizing - Beyond Layoff
• Test Your Job Search Savvy
• Looking for a Job While Employed
• Job Seekers Need Industry Infomation When Choosing Training

Is There a Federal Job in Your Future?

That this country is experiencing a recession, resulting in a significant drop in job creation, is not a secret. Many of our families, friends and colleagues have been affected. For job seekers, this is a very challenging time. And yet, in the midst of this labor market downturn, the Federal Government is aggressively seeking candidates for employment.

Last month, I attended a two-day National Career Services Conference where 34 Federal agencies and organizations showcased employment opportunities. Much to my surprise, I walked away from that Conference with an optimistic perspective on careers with the federal government. This is what I learned:

• FACT:
  The Federal Government will lose 30% of its administrative staff and 70% of its executive staff over the next five years due to retirements.
• FACT:
  There are many opportunities for career development and a variety of experiences because of the ability to move from agency to agency.
• FACT:
  70% of Federal Jobs are not in Washington, DC.
• FACT:
  Over the next three years, the federal government will hire over 200,000 people.
• FACT:
  There is an extremely broad range of occupations - from archivist to budget analysts to graphic designers to meteorologists to zoologists to name a few.
• FACT:
  The Federal Employment process is undergoing radical changes. Previously a cumbersome, frustrating, complex application process that discouraged even the most assertive applicants, it is about to become a streamlined, highly responsive, timely system.
• FACT:
  Your job experience, even if in an unrelated field, has value. If you have managed projects successfully, in any work environment, you have needed skills.
• FACT:
  Your college major has broader application than you may be aware. Example: Would you expect a college major in music to be preparation for a position with a federal agency? Most of us might not see the immediate connection, but music majors have been hired for signal analysis - a classic example of transferable skills.

Why work for the Federal Government?

These are some of the incentives discussed at the conference:

1. Federal employment includes almost every career under the sun.
2. Benefits are comprehensive.
3. Federal agencies are welcoming to diverse groups.
4. There are a variety of work schedules and locations.
5. Federal employment provides greater stability than private employment.
6. Opportunities for career variety provide opportunities for ongoing professional development.

What do Federal agencies look for in candidates?

Agencies value skills and abilities in:

• Self management
• Problem solving
• Project management
• Critical thinking
• Oral communication
• Written communication

In an attempt to be responsive to public interest in federal jobs, agencies are providing more extensive information about their mission and employment needs on their websites with contact persons listed. If you, or someone you know, has a desire to make a contribution and would like to explore the possibility of federal employment, you can learn more by going to www.usajobs.opm.gov.

Dr. Rita Carey, has assisted dozens of organizations and thousands of individuals through a broad array of transitions - from individual career changes to change management strategies for entire corporations. For biographical information on Dr. Carey, please click here