THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The federal government is the nation's largest employer—employing people in a wide variety of occupations in many different departments and agencies, such as the U. S. Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Department of the Interior, the Department of Commerce,  the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Health and Human Services. These positions usually require a college degree, although often with no specific major field requirement.

For more information, read HOW TO LAND A GOVERNMENT JOB on the Internet Career Connection website (under Job Hunting—Help Wanted-Government Jobs). You can monitor current job openings at USAJobs, the official web site for federal government employment sponsored by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Political Science and Public Affairs and Administration are excellent majors for many of these positions. In general, the more the applicant's education and/or relevant experience, the higher the level of entrance into the government system. Motivation and potential for future development as a government employee are pivotal factors in the selection process. Competency developed in the areas of quantitative methods, foreign languages, statistics, computer technology and in written literacy and oral fluency may also lead to greater job opportunities.

The government does not expect the applicant to have particular knowledge and skills for specific jobs since this is provided through on-the-job training and experience. Membership in an honor society such as Pi Sigma Alpha provides extra points on the civil service exam. Other marks of distinction—outstanding grades, membership in Phi Beta Kappa, awards and scholarships, major research/writing projects, language skills—will enhance an applicant's competitiveness for further education or career opportunities.

You should research the agencies you are interested in working for and perhaps apply for an internship.  You should familiarize yourself with the application process for federal jobs, even though the OPM has done much to make the process easier in recent years. It has done away with Standard Form 171 (SF-171), an application form which was once used in applying for most federal jobs, and which the OPM itself has described as "archaic." Jobseekers can now apply for most government jobs with a resumé, or the Optional Application For Federal Employment (OF-612).