If you asked most people where they would want to work, most of them would say for the government. Sure, it doesn't pay as much as many private sector jobs, but for most people, the benefits, job security and 9-5 lifestyle cannot be beat. The funny thing is, if you ask these same people what type of job they are looking for, they usually say the same thing - I don't know, just something in government. This article will attempt to shed some light on the basics to the government job search.
While there are several local, state and federal jobs in every state in the nation, the majority of positions can be found in the major cities, where most of the agencies are headquartered. These major cities include: Washington D.C., New York, Virginia, and California, although if you are seeking a federal job position, your best bet would be Washington D.C. where most federal jobs are located. But, if you are seeking to simply get your foot in the door in a government agency, you can do that in pretty much any city in the nation.
Most government jobs are listed on sites such as USAJobs.gov, which is the primary site for government jobs. Using this site is the same as using pretty much any other job site such as monster, indeed, ladders, etc.
The jobs will be listed by title, location and GS-level. You may be asking yourself what a GS-level is. In government jobs, GS refers to "General Schedule." The GS-levels are based upon the skill levels and levels of responsibilities of the particular position. The higher the GS-Schedule number, the more senior the position is. So if you are an entry-level employee, do yourself a favor and do not apply for jobs above your level - it will be a waste of your time, as well as a waste of the time for the person reviewing the resume. Not to mention, it will leave a bad taste in the HR person's mouth.
In addition to USAjobs.gov, there are several other websites that can also be assistance, based upon your location, skills level, and preference. A simple Google search of "government jobs" should do the trick. In addition to government positions, there are also "Government Contractor" positions, which is when a private company contracts with the government agency to perform contract workers. This is an excellent opportunity to get your foot in the door, without having to deal with the bureaucracy of trying to break into the world of government jobs.
Please keep this one important fact in mind - there are an astronomical number of applicants for a limited number of jobs. Therefore, be sure that you can meet the basic qualifications for the position, hire a certified resume writer with experience in drafting federal resumes to prepare you resume for you, take a deep breath, and go for it!