So what is the real deal about working for the Feds (i.e., Federal Civil Service)? You’ve probably heard it’s a good option for transitioning military officers and Vets, given that you’ll receive veteran preference in the hiring process. But you’ve probably also heard it can turn out to be a bureaucratic nightmare even though jobs for military are plentiful throughout the federal government today.
Federal employment has some great advantages and some disadvantages. Nothing determines whether your job is great or awful as much as which agency or department you work for. They are not all the same. You won’t read that in any book on “How to Get a Government Job,” but it is the most important thing you can know.
The best advice to hear if you are considering becoming a federal civil servant is to research the organization that offers you a job before accepting that job. You need to contact some other Vets or other friends who are current federal employees and find out what the reputation of that agency or department is – the word always gets out on an agency like, for example, the FCC (thumbs down). We can’t go through a list of all agencies in this brief blog post and rate them for you, but most current Fed employees can give you all the insight you need. Again, and this is important – there are some agencies/departments you really, truly do not want to get stuck in. On the other hand, some others, like the Department of Agriculture and the Government Accountability Office, are said to be quite good.
As to the hiring process itself. the Feds have forever had their own very detailed application form (SF 171), however you can now use your own resume, provided it meets their requirements as specified in their instructions document OF-510 (and this method is usually preferable as some agencies now consider the SF-171 obsolete) . But don’t fill out your federal government application (whether SF-171 or resume) in a few minutes and shoot it off. Spend time on it, customize it, then review it, improve it, perfect it, before submitting. Unlike in private industry, where personal interviews are extremely important, you will often be hired by the Federal government, or not hired, largely on whether you appear to have the exact qualifications for the position as detailed in your SF-171 or resume.
There are many great advantages to a good federal job. One is the retirement benefits, which are seldom matched in the private sector. But the biggest advantage is something you probably haven’t considered – it is the opportunities for training and for making contacts. Federal jobs are often springboards to high-paying private-sector jobs. Oftentimes private sector employers will hire you after you’ve been a federal civil servant awhile because you have worked on important issues, got good training, and made some important governmental contacts. This is something to keep in mind when weighing the pluses and minuses of working for the Feds.
But are there any good jobs for transitioning military officers these days? Yes, with a 2 million workforce even replacement federal government hiring is massive. There are always thousands of good opportunities. To get started, go to USAJOBS.gov and review present openings in your field or occupation. Also, be sure to check out the Feds’ new portal for Vet hiring at FedsHireVets.
Review each job description (“Announcement” in fed-speak) carefully and if you find some that interest you, tweak your SF171 forms or resumes to tailor them for those specific jobs. Pay particular attention to the KSA’s section (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities on the SF-171, if you’re using that, or the equivalent if you’re customizing your own resume. These are personal attributes and technical qualifications which can be one of the main ranking factors that the OPM (Office of Personnel Management) or other government personnel office will focus most on.
But working for the federal government can’t be recommend without qualification. Like in the private sector, there are horror stories. Some federal workers complain that they are bored out of their minds as there is just not enough work to do, or it is mind-numbingly routine work, or their supervisors’ main activity is to go to lunch for two hours every day. Of course, this can happen in any job, public or private, but seems more common in government, especially at the federal level. If you find yourself in this situation, the best advice is to leave…. before you lose other options.
On the other hand, you may have a good experience and career in federal employment. The federal government is huge and varied. So choose your job wisely. Just because you’re offered a position doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Do your research, then decide.