Did you know that the US Government is the nation’s largest employer? 
They employ about 2 million civilians, with 85% of those working outside of Washington D.C. Some of the areas in which they employ include education, treasury, security, goods & services, energy, personnel management, and health & human services.
The categories of occupations (click here for a list of college majors and their related job titles which the government employs) that the government typically employs totals to about 12, with the largest sector being management, business, and financial. And, the average salary made within all federal occupations is $74,403. (Statistics and data were retrieved from: http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs041.htm.)
Just For Students
Not only is the US Government the largest employer within the nation, but it also has tremendous opportunities for students. Check out these programs, including but not limited to scholarships, educational employment programs, internships, and fellowships. If you’re a current college or graduate student, or just about to graduate college or high school you should check out the competitive programs that the government has to help you pay for tuition and break into a professional occupation.
Currently Hiring
I did a quick search to see how many student jobs are currently available, and I found 105 listings within 31 states. Yes, some of them were on military bases, but they are positions for civilian workers, not enlisted personnel. The federal hiring practices have been under scrutiny since they are not user friendly, very long, and sometimes confusing.
President Obama has called for a reform on these processes to hopefully increase the success of recruiting and hiring excellent candidates. Government jobs have always been competitive and this reform could make them even more so.
Are you up for the challenge?
Author
Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development.
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