OCS Brings You: Careers in the US Government

by Hannah Fretz F'00, OCS Director of Recruitment

Your intrepid Director of Recruitment braved a tornado to bring you these highlights from the National Career Services Conference and the Collegiate Partnership Conference, September 24-26 2001, College Park, Maryland.

The United States government is in trouble! In this case, though, trouble for the government means opportunities for you if you're a US citizen. At the National Career Services Conference the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reported that:

¨       Fifty percent of federal employees are eligible to retire in the next five years.

¨       Seventy-one percent of current federal employees can retire by 2010.

¨       At 1.8 million workers, the current federal workforce is the smallest it has been since the 1960's.

¨       Former employees are being called out of retirement to fill in the ranks.

The “New” Federal Government- What's in Store

What does this mean for you?  Other than emphasizing the fact that we have a bunch of -- ahem -- mature folks keeping the government going -- only five percent of federal employees are under 29 years of age -- it means that there are several government jobs available now.  Log on to the OPM employment website http://usajobs.opm.gov, for example, and you will find over 18,000 jobs posted on any given day.

Ugh, you say, the federal government? Not exactly a sexy career move coming out of Fletcher, is it? You might be surprised.  OPM recognizes the need to debunk stereotypes about federal employment. They went out of their way at the conference to explain that they are moving the job application process along faster (introducing more automation and online application opportunities), flattening the workforce structure to serve the nation better, and introducing employment incentives.

Programs and Perks 

The compensation may be getting better, too. Federal agencies can enhance government salaries with signing bonuses and relocation allowances.  OPM has implemented a Student Loan Repayment program, which some agencies are now using to attract hot candidates ($6,000 per year, up to $40,000 total per employee can be paid back directly to the lender on authorized student loans. Employees must sign a contract promising to stay in government service for at least three years. All the details at http://www.opm.gov/studentloan/q&a.htm)

It is important to note that the Student Loan Repayment program has not yet been adopted across the board. You have to ask the agency that interests you whether or not it has implemented the program, and to which jobs it applies.

Comments? Write us at letter@fletcherledger.com.  

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