Administrative, Professional, and Technical Jobs at Federal Employers
Federal workers are involved in a wide range of duties that aid in government operations. They can be classified as professional, administrative or technical.
When you are writing your federal resume, make sure to highlight your most important work or volunteer experiences. Include the dates of the beginning and end of each experience, as well as hours that you worked.
Administrative
You can be a part of the executive branch through working in federal administration. This section of government is diverse in its departments and work, ranging from treasury and agriculture to healthcare to education and much more. The Department of Agriculture is responsible for everything from food security to rural development, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics handles the statistical aspects. The Census Bureau is another agency under this department, while the U.S. Copyright Office is within the Library of Congress. Other agencies that hire individuals for administrative positions include the Social Security Administration, which administers retirement and survivors insurance benefits for Americans as well as the General Services Administration, which oversees federal offices and supplies as well as the Department of the Army, which is responsible for military operations and training.
The employees in this position are responsible for filing documents, answering phone calls, assessing the status of requests, and many other responsibilities. These positions are found in most government agencies, however they are more common in the larger and more well-known ones. These types of jobs are suitable for those who thrive in a fast-paced environment, love working with a large number of different individuals and can think strategically and remain private in sensitive situations.
A government administration job offers numerous benefits, including a good salary, excellent benefits and excellent career opportunities. The government provides its employees with health insurance at affordable rates, in addition to attractive salaries and pensions. It is not uncommon for someone in a government job to change jobs within their organization or another agency. They are often eligible to do this without having a break in their service.
In addition, federal employees are able to enjoy a large amount of sick leave as well as vacation time. Additionally the government allows you to carry over a certain amount of annual leave from one year to the next. The sick leave is accrued at a rate of 13 days or 104 hours per biweekly pay period, while annual leave is earned according to an employee's length of service and can be carried forward up to 240 hours.
Professional
Federal employees provide essential services to millions of people, whether they're providing healthcare, investigating criminal activity or developing science. Federal employees are a diverse set, with over 350 different occupations and duties. OPM statistics show that administrative, professional, and technical positions comprise more than half of all federal employment. Administrative employees manage payroll, train new employees, and develop standard operating procedure. Professionals study policy and design budgets. Lawyers and financial managers are among the professionals who require a degree in order to be able to work in their field. Some professionals gain experience by gaining on-the-job or specialized training like the case for occupational therapists and nurses in table 1.
Specialized skills are required for technical jobs. Many of them jobs, like researchers in information and computer science require a master's degree to gain entry. Statisticians, who are projected to have the highest growth rate among all occupational groups, apply statistical methods to gather and organize data. Scientists working for the National Institutes of Health, and engineers who design buildings and consumer products may also require a bachelor's degree.
In fela lawsuit settlements to a competitive wage the government also offers various benefits to employees, such as health insurance, vacation and retirement plans. The government also provides employees the opportunity to travel and meet colleagues in other areas of the nation or around the globe.
One of the best ways to find out whether a career in the government is to speak with federal employees. Learn more about the federal hiring process and get personalized advice by speaking with an Wellesley advisor or attending a federal panel presentation.
If you currently work for the federal government, you could use Career Transition Service (CTS) to transfer agencies and not be competing with other employees. To do so, you must first complete a transition plan. In most cases, a plan for transition will assist you in understanding the requirements for transferring to a competitive service position within another agency.
Technical
The federal government is a huge organization that requires employees with a variety of backgrounds and expertise to ensure its operation. They hire professionals for all kinds of technical positions, including computer help desk expertise and cybersecurity. A majority of these jobs require advanced degrees and a higher level of education. Many tech professionals are opting to pursue careers with the federal government, as it offers a stable career without financial bubbles that can explode. It also lets them apply their skills directly.
These positions may have lower wages than those in those in the private sector, however they are still competitive. There are many additional advantages. For example, most government jobs provide excellent dental and medical insurance as well as life insurance and long-term care coverage. Federal employees can also pick from a range of sick and vacation days that are covered by the employer and carry over any unused leave.
Federal jobs are ideal for those with family obligations or other personal commitments as it permits flexible work hours such as remote and telework jobs to maintain a healthy balance between professional and home obligations. A number of federal agencies also provide an array of cash awards for recruiting or relocation as well as for performance.
Apart from the obvious advantages to a career aside from the obvious benefits for professionals, some tech professionals are drawn to work in the federal government because of the unique opportunities it has to offer them. There are fellowships for emerging technology talent that offer an opportunity to join the public service through the U.S. Digital Corps, Presidential Innovation Fellows program and the chance to directly work on issues that affect their communities by way of the Federal Technology Careers Initiative or 18F.
Some of the most fascinating and significant work done by the federal government occurs in the fields of medicine, science and national security, as well as engineering. These positions may involve the development of vaccines to fight deadly diseases, fighting discrimination on the basis of race and gender and dealing with climate change issues. These projects and their people have a significant impact on the nation.
Blue Collar
Many blue-collar jobs require specialized or manual labor. These jobs can be more physically demanding, but they also provide a greater satisfaction from work for those who prefer hands-on work and mastering the art of trade. Certain blue-collar jobs may require a higher level of education, based on the field. Some vocational schools offer a shorter, less expensive education programs than a four year college. Others provide unpaid or paid apprentices.
The term "blue-collar" is used to describe those who are paid per hour and do manual work as opposed to salaried office employees. The phrase dates back to the 1920s, when workers often wore darker-colored clothing--like denim or boilersuits --to hide dirt and other debris from their clothes, which might make them look dirty after a day's work. Blue-collar employees may be unionized to guarantee their job security and competitive salaries. They may work in various areas, such as construction, logging, mining manufacturing, and mining.
There is a common belief that blue-collar workers are less in the social hierarchy than white-collar employees, but this isn't always the case. Certain blue-collar positions -- such as welders, electricians, and subway operators -- require significant qualifications and training and command high salaries. Some jobs require less education but pay less, such as retail or office jobs.
Most white-collar jobs require at minimum an undergraduate degree. higher management level roles frequently require specialized degrees and certificates such as an MBA or CPA. Some professions such as lawyers and doctors may require certifications or licenses in order to practice.
White-collar jobs with federal agencies may not be as lucrative as those in the private sector, but there are still benefits many people value including low-cost life insurance and generous vacation and sick leave. Some organizations offer flexible schedules for work that are compressed, as well as childcare facilities. There is a high chance that a career in the government will require travel, particularly for field engineering crews and safety investigators. Many people love this aspect of their work because it gives them the opportunity to travel and make an impact on people's lives.