Finding a career is an important, but sometimes overlooked aspect of students' senior year. When choosing a career, you should look for a position that uses your skills and has potential growth. At a young age of only 21 or 22, this can be difficult, but you have plenty of opportunities, many likely not yet realized.

Almost half the Government workforce will soon be eligible for retirement. This presents a challenge for the Federal Government, and an opportunity for people looking for a career. The opportunity to give back to your country by answering the call to public service is as honorable as any career path available.

Choose the Federal Government to begin your career. It is a multifaceted and diverse entity. The opportunity to work with a diverse group of people, with different backgrounds, as well as the wide variety of career paths available within the Federal Government is unmatched.

If you can think of a type of career you are interested in or feel you possess certain skills for, you will likely be able to find a job within the Federal Government that fits your interests and skills, for there are many careers in Government throughout the country.

As an employee of the Federal Government, I have had opportunities to travel throughout the United States and the world. I have the ability to look for new, and exciting opportunities in the Federal Government if I decide I want a new challenge in life.

The Federal Government also offers stability that few companies can. The economy can be strong like it is today, or weak, but I do not have a significant fear of losing my job. The Federal Government is not going anywhere.

Working for the Federal Government offers you many benefits. Working for the Government, you have an opportunity to travel, assist and meet new people and work with other federal and local agencies and organizations. You have plenty of opportunities to be innovative and excel in your career goals, and the Federal Government offers excellent benefits in education, health, life insurance, retirement, vacation and leave.

I would encourage anyone interested in working for a particular Federal agency to access that agency's website for more information. Career fairs also offer an opportunity to meet representatives of different agencies in person. This can be another valuable way to find the right career path within the Federal Government.

Where You Can Get Started

Job openings are posted on the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov. This is the primary web site used by nearly all Government agencies to list job announcements. It includes a broad array of information and links on Government employment. Applicants can search the site by agency, location, type of job, salary, etc. The site includes an easy-to-use résumé builder, and allows you to sign up for e-mail notification of new job postings that meet your criteria. Additional information can also be found on OPM's website: www.opm.gov.

Although the multi-page job announcements and complex application process can be intimidating, it is not as difficult as it first looks. The biggest challenge is completing your first application. Because of the requirement for a security check, the hiring process can be lengthy. Consequently, it's a good idea to apply before you graduate or work an interim or part-time job while your application is pending.

Most Government agencies use a competitive hiring process to carefully and systematically evaluate applicants based on experience, education, specific knowledge, skills and abilities. Each vacancy will have certain minimum qualifications such as a college degree or relevant work experience. All require U.S. Citizenship.

Interested students should carefully read and evaluate vacancy announcements for duties, location, closing date, qualifications, required experience, conditions of employment and eligibility requirements. Some positions are open to the general public and others are only open to government employees.

If you are interested in a specific job and believe you meet the requirements, follow the instructions on the announcement. Depending on the type of position, you may be asked to register for a written test, or you may be directed to submit an application package. Some agencies allow you to submit a hard copy application. Others use online application systems. In some cases job seekers must respond to a detailed online questionnaire. Applicants who meet the qualifications and score high enough in the competitive evaluation process will be contacted for interviews.

Résumés for Government jobs are much longer and more detailed than a standard résumé. You need to provide enough detail to accurately describe what you did, your level of experience and your responsibilities. Build your résumé to address the duties listed and the specialized experience required by the job announcement. Details are essential.

Some occupations require you to take a written test as part of the application process. Other occupations rate you based on your responses to KSAs—or Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. KSAs are listed in the vacancy announcement under the heading of Evaluation Criteria. Think of KSAs as written interview questions. Your responses in either narrative or bullet format are critical and represent the most important part of your application. The length of the response depends on your personal background and experience, but can range from a paragraph to a page and a half (single spaced).

In some cases, the vacancy announcement may not list any KSAs. The hiring agency will qualify and rate you based only on the information in your résumé . As a result, specific information and significant detail on your résumé is even more critical when applying for these positions.

The application will be evaluated and rated based primarily on two things: 1) your résumé and 2) your responses to the KSAs. The résumé will be reviewed to determine your level of general experience (GS-5, GS-9, etc.), and whether or not you have the required specialized experience specified in the vacancy announcement.

Depending on the position, the hiring process will generally take two to four months because of the evaluation process and required background investigation. Some law enforcement positions may take considerably longer because of the existing pipeline of qualified applicants, limited openings at specific locations and the need for a more extensive security check.

Your responses to the KSAs will be systematically reviewed and rated with points assigned to each KSA element. Qualified applicants with the top scores are referred to the hiring manager for an interview and final selection. Your résumé determines if you meet the basic qualifications, your responses to the KSAs determine your score and gets you the interview. Your performance during the interview gets you the job.

Doing Your Part to Defend the Homeland

I was interested in working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security because I wanted to do my part as our Nation faces one of its greatest challenges—keeping our homeland protected from terrorists, like those who attacked us on September 11, 2001. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) was the perfect fit for me.

ICE is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for the enforcement of border, economic, infrastructure and transportation security laws. In only a year and a half, ICE has become one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the country. ICE seeks to prevent acts of terrorism by targeting the people, money and materials that support terror and criminal networks.

If you think that you would enjoy assisting others in multiple capacities, providing assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during a national disaster, ensuring the safety of individuals on Federal property, providing honorary memorial support to families who have lost a loved one or providing charity to under privileged children in our region, consider joining ICE. Working for ICE will give you a closer view of the overall security operations for the country under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Some useful links to get started:

Primary government job site: www.usajobs.opm.gov
General Information on Federal Employment: www.opm.gov 
Student Employment: www.studentjobs.gov, www.thejobpage.gov/students.asp and www.students.gov