Where To Apply

SECURE YOUR FUTURE WITH THE MOST POWERFUL "CORPORATION"
OF OUR TIME: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Where you apply for federal government employment can be your greatest asset, or your biggest obstacle. In many government agencies certain locations are much more competitive to hire into than others. These would be areas that offer a low to moderate cost of living and/or a very favorable climate. Your best strategy is to apply for several different regions simultaneously. If you are willing to start off your future in a less competitive location, your chances of government employment are greatly improved. Remember, once you are in, you can always bid on a civil service position at another location. For instance, O'Hare airport has been categorized as a hard to fill location by the F.A.A., Federal Aviation Administration. They are always looking for sharp, motivated individuals to fill vacant positions. On top of your regular salary you would also receive an additional "incentive" pay for working there. A variety of other agencies also offer similar "locality" pay incentives. Mainly for densely populated areas such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlantic City, etc.

When is the optimal time to apply for a government job, should also be considered. The federal fiscal calendar begins on October 1st of each year. This is the month that several government agencies are allotted there budget (spending money) for the (fiscal) year. Included in this budget is money to hire new federal employees. Normally the selection process is most active during the spring and summer months. By early September many of the new employees have been screened and selected. In order to catch this first wave of employment you should place your job applications, plural, on file anywhere from February through August. After a few days, get on the phone and ask if your job applications have been received, if so, contact their office(s) every two to three weeks and inquire about the status of your application(s). Try to get the name of someone in human resources, a Department Manager, or a Unit Supervisor. It is always a plus to contact the same individual as your name will bear a sense of familiarity when they do pull your job application. Begin the conversation with, "How are you doing today?". You will be amazed at how that simple question will motivate a person to go a little further out of their way to assist you. Be friendly and professional. It is the friendliness that will warrant you some extra attention.

If your initial attempts prove unsuccessful don't throw in the towel just yet. Your application will remain on file for one full year. Often, a second wave of hiring occurs a few months into the fiscal year. To catch this wave submit your job applications during the months of October through November. A good time to call again would be toward the end of each of these months, and a week or so after the new year reigns in. In the mean time, try to obtain more work related experience in your field of interest. Taking a few additional college courses or even correspondence courses can only add to your value as a future or current employee. Reading publications that deal with your area of interest can be helpful as well. Keep in mind that there are always smaller waves of hiring that occur all year round.Remember, you can apply any time of the year at any number of federal government agencies simultaneously. Keep a record of where and when you applied. Also record the name of the person that you spoke with and ask for that person again, that is if they appeared to be helpful and concerned about your application process.