There’s one employer in this economy that is hiring: the U.S. government. Here are some helpful hints for those of you who might be thinking about going to work for Uncle Sam.

Good Government Jobs Are Available

“The federal government is aggressively reaching out to mature, seasoned executives,” notes Virginia executive recruiter Peter McCarthy. “The tempo and interest in hiring executives from the private sector has increased exponentially and is likely to continue.” One of the main factors driving this trend is the management void created by the retirement of Baby Boomers.

Opportunities exist across a wide spectrum of government operations, from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Openings will occur in a variety of position and pay-levels. One option for executives, including perhaps senior safety directors with many years of corporate experience, is so-called Senior Executive Service (SES), which is just below Presidential appointee. Candidates for SES jobs must meet outlined ECQs (Executive Core Qualifications): leading change, leading people, results driven, business acumen and building coalitions. Another option for entry into the government workforce at an executive level is (General Schedule) GS-14/15 positions.

According to McCarthy, the skills most in demand are financial, technical, acquisition and procurement, and logistics skills, as well as particular skills required in fighting the war on terrorism. “Increasing emphasis on good management skills, particularly with the increased interrelationship between the public and private sectors, is very important.” While experience in local and state government can be helpful, it’s definitely not necessary.

Getting a Government Job

All of the same job hunting-related research activities that work in the private sector can be applied to government, including:

Research: Safety professionals should research the activities and needs of federal government agencies just as they would a private company. A good place to start is to read trade publications, such as Government Executive magazine and government columns in The Washington Post and The Washington Times. You can also seek out opportunities through the main website for government jobs, USAjobs.gov. Use the government websites to locate opportunities, but use your network to identify opportunities and contacts.

Networking: As in the private sector, networking is crucial. “Most of the senior-executive positions are found by word of mouth,” says one recruiter. You should also plan to network at various government-focused conferences. One such conference is Excellence in Government, which has a session scheduled for this month.

The Application Process: Applying for a job in the government is, however, quite different from the private sector. You don’t simply submit a resume and interview. You need to go through an extensive application process. Generally, a key part of that process is the 3-5 KSAs (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities). Applicants must address how their skills fit the KSAs outlined in a particular job description. The hiring process takes a long time and isn’t suited to those hoping to make a quick transition.

Conclusion

Let me end this discussion with a note about relocation. Of course, most federal government executive positions are in Washington, DC. But there are also many government agencies that have offices in major cities throughout the U.S. So you can work for the government without having to pick up and move.

Wishing you career success in both the public and private sectors,
Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet, www.execunet.com

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