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How to Get a Federal Government Job

September 7, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Yes, you can still find jobs with the nation’s largest employer—the Federal Government. In fact, federal government departments have seen significant growth year after year, even during the darkest days of the recession. So, how do you do you get a Federal Government job? You can start by earning a bachelor’s degree!

Nearly half of all federal government employees have a bachelor’s degree and the majority of mid to high-level positions require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, especially in fields that involve research, scientific, and professional work, or medical work such as engineering, biology, psychology, medical technology, and accounting. To qualify for positions in these fields, the degree musty also be from a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

High-level federal government positions are generally assigned a letter/number of GS-7 or higher. In these cases, the applicant must have some form of specialized experience. At least one year of the specialized experience must have been equivalent to level of the next lower grade in the Federal Service. So, to qualify for GS-11 you must have had a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-10.

If you do not have a college degree, you can still qualify for certain lower level positions in the Federal Government and you can work your way up. But even for positions that are considered lower level, you should have:

1.) Been in the job market for several years
2.) Accumulated an extensive work history

Starting at the GS-5 grade or equivalent level, positions generally require 1 year of specialized experience equal to the next lower grade. For clerical and assistant positions at the GS-2 level, a high school diploma and some work experience is all that is needed.

How to Apply for Federal Jobs

Potential applicants may find out about job vacancies in the federal government by visiting the Federal Government’s Employment Information System at www.usajobs.com. Here, applicants may utilize the Online Resume Builder feature, which allows job seekers to create on-line resumes specifically designed for applying for Federal jobs. Applicants can use the resume builder to create, print, save, edit for future use, or send by fax or mail to employers. Many of the hiring agencies will accept electronic submissions of resumes created through USAJOBS for vacancies listed on the web site.

The automated phone system is also available 24/7. Here, potential job seekers can access current job vacancies, employment information fact sheets, applications, forms, and apply for some jobs.

Best Places to Work in the Federal Government

The first list of rankings below has been determined based on employee satisfaction. The second list covers rankings based on pay and benefits. Both lists rank federal government departments in order (starting with the best) from 1-30. The last list covers government agencies with the highest employment beginning with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—home to the nation’s highest number of government employees.

Employee Satisfaction Rankings

1. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
3. Department of Veteran Affairs
4. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
5. Department of Justice
6. Department of the Army
7. Social Security Administration
8. Securities and Exchange Commission
9. Department of State
10. All Department of Defense
11. Department of the Air Force
12. Department of Agriculture
13. Department of Health and Human Services
14. Department of Labor
15. General Services Administration
16. Department of the Navy
17. Environmental Protection Agency
18. Department of the Interior
19. National Archives and Records Administration
20. Department of Commerce
21. Department of the Treasury
22. Office of Personnel Management
23. Department of Transportation
24. Department of Energy
25. Department of Housing and Urban Development
26. Small Business Administration
27. epartment of Education
28. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
29. Department of Homeland Security
30. Government Accountability Office

Pay and Benefits Rankings

1. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
2. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
3. Securities and Exchange Commission
4. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
5. General Services Administration
6. Office of Personnel Management
7. Environmental Protection Agency
8. Department of Housing and Urban Development
9. Department of Education
10. Department of State
11. Social Security Administration
12. mall Business Administration
13. Department of Agriculture
14. epartment of Commerce
15. Department of Energy
16. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
17. Department of Health and Human Services
18. epartment of the Treasury
19. Department of Labor
20. Department of the Interior
21. Department of Justice
22. Department of the Army
23. Department of the Navy
24. All Department of Defense
25. National Archives and Records Administration
26. Department of Transportation
27. Department of the Air Force
28. Department of Veteran Affairs
29. Department of Homeland Security
30. Government Accountability Office

Federal Agencies with the Most Employment

1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
2. .S. Army
3. U.S. Navy
4. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
5. U.S. Air Force
6. U.S. Department of Treasury
7. U.S. Department of Agriculture
8. U.S. Department of Justice
9. U.S. Department of Defense
10. U.S. Department of the Interior
11. U.S. Social Security Administration
12. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
13. U.S. Department of Transportation
14. U.S. Department of Commerce
15. U.S. Department of State
16. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
17. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
18. .S. Department of Labor
19. U.S. Department of Energy
20. U.S. General Services Administration
21. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
22. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
23. Smithsonian Institution
24. U.S. Department of Education
25. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

For more information about government jobs including salaries, projections and more, visit the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

Your Career, Your Compensation

Multiple job offers out there for executives

September 5, 2011 / Staff

The job market is still very tough for most people, but many candidates for executive positions are receiving multiple job offers.

For the lucky ones, however, it’s 2007 all over again. “It’s incredibly competitive out there for talent, incredibly competitive,” says Kim Shanahan, a Korn Ferry partner in Reston, Va. Her searches for human resources executives have been “over the top — insane” because demand is so strong and candidates are becoming more selective. Adds Jeff Hodge, the San Francisco-based vice chairman of Diversified Search, a Philadelphia firm: “It is almost as if there’s been a floodgate opened, a material change since December.”
Korn Ferry (KFY) recruiters estimate that currently about 5% to 10% of executive candidates are ending up with multiple job offers within three or four months of starting their search. That might not seem like much, but competition is fierce for that group, and big signing bonuses are becoming common. In certain areas, including R&D, human resources, product development, and Java J2E software expertise, the talent wars are well underway, while elsewhere the job world is a frozen wasteland.
So who’s landing multiple offers? Those who show demonstrated results — and can prove they know how to grow businesses. Brian Sullivan, chief executive of CT Partners, uses the example of a CEO his firm placed at a Silicon Valley turnaround. In nine months he got the company on track, then sold it. “He now has three different offers from three private equity firms to go into one of their portfolio firms,” said Sullivan.

If you’re in this potential group the job market should be picking up.

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The emergence of leadership coaching for executives

September 4, 2011 / Staff

Executive coaching is the hot new trend as companies try to maximize the performance of their management teams. Check out this article on coaching from Fortune and consider whether coaching is right for you or for someone on your team.

Once seen as a last-chance effort to turn around flagging careers, coaches for top talent are going mainstream. They’re being brought in for newly hired senior executives, as well as for newly promoted department heads who suddenly must manage many more people. “Leadership coaching is the hottest thing these days,” says Kate Wendleton, president of the Five O’Clock Club, which has turned some of its outplacement and career coaches into executive coaches because demand has been so strong.
According to a July 2011 American Management Association survey, almost half of participating companies use coaching to prepare individuals for a promotion or new role. While half of companies provide coaches to midlevel or senior staff only, 38% make them available to anyone. Coaching’s three most common uses, according to the AMA survey: leadership development, remedial performance improvement, and optimizing strong contributors. “A coach is like a personal trainer for business,” says Erika Andersen, author of Being Strategic and coach to many media executives.

Coaches can run $200 per hour or more, and work can be done face-to-face, on the phone or both.

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New jobs: Data Scientists

September 4, 2011 / Staff

With the mountains of data being generated every day, companies are trying to mine it and make sense of it. The result is a booming job market in this area and a new career track for “data scientists.”

As part of a relatively new field, data scientists may come from many different backgrounds. Garrison says that employers are often looking for two things when considering a job applicant. “The first part is the technical background,” he says. Companies may want professionals with an industry background who are familiar with its specific jargon and trends. “If you want to work for a pharmaceutical company, you might need a degree in biochemistry,” he explains. Other jobs may require only a general degree in business.
In addition to the technical expertise, data scientists and competitive intelligence professionals also need to know where to find data and how to analyze it. Some colleges and universities offer graduate degrees or certificate programs in specialties such as data mining and data analysis. Professional groups such as SCIP also provide training opportunities for members.
Since data scientists spend a significant amount of time using computer programs and algorithms, it may seem logical that a computer science degree would be preferable for these professionals. However, many argue that a degree in physics makes more sense. Loukides writes that physicists not only have mathematical and computing skills but also an ability to see the “big picture.”
Daniel I. Shostak, President of Strategic Affairs Forecasting, has been tracking changes in the field of analytics for several years and says that those interested in working as a data scientist need more than just computer skills. “[They] need to demonstrate very good communication skills because many folks are very skeptical about the value of data driven analysis,” he said. In addition, Shostak suggests that potential job candidates become proficient in the statistical language R and have experience working with computer networks since they are often an integral part of working with large data sets.
As a hot new career, the government has yet to begin tracking data scientist occupational information. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that demand for operations research analysts, who provide some similar services, is expected to jump 22 percent from 2008-2018.

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Debt after College: Credit Counseling for Students

September 1, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Credit counseling, also called “debt counseling,” is a service provided by organizations that offer professional counseling for consumers in need of assistance in the areas of debt repayment, debt management, and money management. Credit counseling is also a requirement that must be met prior to filing chapter 7 or chapter 13. The types of debt that credit counseling agencies may assist you with include credit cards, personal loans, home loans, car loans and student loans. Credit counseling agencies also assist with utility bill repayment and tax debt.

Getting Started with a Credit Counseling Agency

Credit counseling agencies will require certain documentation to begin the process, so it is important to organize your records before visiting an agency. The credit counseling agency will ask for credit card statements, copies of utility bills, mortgage payment statements or your rental amount/lease. The agency will also expect you to bring a record of spending or a budget that should include household expenses and any miscellaneous expenses. This documentation is needed in order for the credit counselor to create a realistic budget and debt repayment plan.

Benefits of Credit Counseling

A major benefit to credit counseling is that the credit counselor will handle all lenders, collection agencies, and credit card companies for you. This helps to eliminate the stress associated with collection agency and creditor phone calls. Your credit counselor will negotiate a repayment plan that may significantly lower your monthly payments and interest rates.

You may opt to send monthly payments to the credit counseling agency (by check) or you may authorize a monthly electronic funds transfer from your bank account. Depending on the credit counseling agency, they may offer an option called “debt management system.” If you opt for a debt management system, you will pay the credit counseling agency a lump sum. Out of that lump sum, payments will be made on your behalf. This system can be used as a safeguard against skipped or late payments, which can save money on interest, fees, and any penalties associated with the debt.

An additional benefit to credit counseling is, it can educate you on how to better manage your finances and it will eventually help to minimize or prevent future debt.

Disadvantages of Credit Counseling and Protecting Yourself

While there are advantages to credit counseling, there are also disadvantages. Credit counseling could have a negative effect on your credit, initially. In some cases lenders, specifically mortgage lenders, may not want to extend credit to an individual that may be in the process of completing a credit counseling program. Fortunately, credit-counseling notations will be dropped from your credit report, roughly one month after the credit counseling program is complete.

Another disadvantage to credit counseling is the potential for fraud. This means that in some cases a credit counseling agency could turn out to be a scam. Look out for the following red flags:

-Unrealistic promises (“settle for pennies,” or “this won’t affect your credit report”)
-Big upfront fees (fees are typically $10-$15 U.S.)
-Delayed or missing payments
-No accreditation

To protect yourself against fraudulent credit counseling agencies, it’s best to make sure that the agency is approved by the approved by the U.S. Trustee Program of the United States Department of Justice. Locating an approved agency is simple. Just log onto www.usdoj.gov and follow these steps:

-Under “Resources” click “DOJ Agencies”
-Scroll down to “U.S. Trustees Program”
-Under “Bankruptcy Reform” click “Credit Counseling & Debtor Education”
-Under “Credit Counseling for Consumers” click “Approved Credit Counseling Agencies”

The search function allows the user to browse through approved agencies by state. Please follow the link below, which should take you directly to the search page http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm.

Your Education

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