Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Federal Employers?
Administrative, Professional, and Technical Jobs at Federal Employers
Federal workers are involved in a broad range of tasks that support government operations. They are classified as administrative or professional workers.
When preparing a federal resume, highlight key work, volunteer and academic experiences. Be sure to include the dates of the beginning and ending of each experience as well as the hours worked.
Federal Administration jobs provide you with the chance to be part of the executive branch. This section of government is diverse in its departments and their work, ranging from agriculture to treasury to healthcare to education, and much more. The Department of Agriculture is responsible for everything from food safety to rural development, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics handles statistical tasks. The Census Bureau is another agency under this department, while the U.S. Copyright Office is within the Library of Congress. The General Services Administration, the Social Security Administration (which manages federal offices supplies, as well as supervises military operations) and the Department of the Army (which oversees military operations and training) are also government agencies that hire administrative staff.
Employees in this job are responsible for filing documents and answering phone calls, assessing the status of requests, and many other responsibilities. These positions are available in a variety of government agencies, however they are more common in larger and more prominent ones. These positions are ideal for those who enjoy working in a fast-paced environment as well as those who think strategically and remain discrete in delicate situations.
Some of the biggest advantages of a government administration job include a high salary, excellent benefits, and excellent career prospects. The government offers its employees health insurance at reasonable prices as well as competitive salaries and pensions. It's not uncommon for person in a government position to move up to other posts within their organization, or even to a different agency, since they're typically qualified to do without interruption in service.
Federal employees also have the option of taking benefit of generous amounts of sick and vacation leave. The government also permits you to carry a certain amount over from one year to the next. Leave for sick days are earned at 13 days or 104 hours each biweekly pay period, while annual leave is earned according to the length of time an employee has worked and can be carried forward up to 240 hours.
Professionals
Federal workers provide vital services to millions of people, whether it's providing healthcare and investigating criminal activities, or developing science. Federal employees are a diverse group, with more than 350 different occupations and duties. OPM data indicates that professional, administrative and technical jobs make up more than half of all federal jobs. Administrative employees manage payroll, train new employees and design a the standard operating procedure. Professionals analyze policies and create budgets. Financial managers and lawyers are among those who require an education to get into their field. Some professionals acquire experience on-the-job or specialized training such as the one for occupational therapists and nurses in table 1.
Specialized skills are required for technical positions. A lot of these jobs, like research scientists and computer technicians require a master's degree in order to be able to apply. Statisticians, who are projected to have the highest growth rate across all occupational categories, apply statistical methods to gather and organize data. Scientists working for the National Institutes of Health, and engineers who design consumer products might also require an undergraduate degree.
The government provides a variety of benefits to employees, such as health insurance and vacation plans. The government also offers employees the chance to travel and connect with colleagues from other areas of the country or around the globe.
Speaking with federal employees is among the best ways to decide if a government career is the right choice for you. Talking to an Wellesley Advisor or attending a panel presentation on federal hiring can help you understand more about the process and get specific guidance.
If you're currently employed by the federal government you can utilize the Career Transition Service (CTS) to switch agencies without having to compete with other employees. To do so, you must first complete a transition plan. In most instances, the transition plan will allow you to know what you need to do to move into a position that is competitive within another agency.
Technical
The federal government is a vast organization that requires workers with a wide range of backgrounds and abilities to keep it running. It employs professionals for all types of technical jobs, ranging from help desk computer expertise to cybersecurity. Many of these roles require advanced degrees and a higher level of education. A increasing number of tech professionals are looking to work in the federal government as it offers a stable job with no financial bubbles that could burst, and also allows the opportunity to apply their skills directly to their set.
Some of these positions have salary ranges that are lower in comparison to the private sector, but the pay is still competitive and there are plenty of additional benefits worth considering. For example, most government jobs provide excellent dental and medical insurance along with life insurance and long term health insurance. Federal employees also get to select from a variety of employer-subsidized vacation and sick days. They can also carry over unused leave from year to year.
Federal jobs are ideal for people who have family obligations or other personal commitments as it allows flexible work schedules like remote and telework jobs to maintain a healthy balance between home and professional responsibilities. In addition, a number of federal agencies provide a variety of monetary recruiting as well as relocation and performance awards.
Some tech professionals choose to work in the federal government because of the unique opportunities it offers. These include fellowships that offer new technology professionals with the chance to be able to step into the public sector through the U.S. Digital Corps and Presidential Innovation Fellows programs, as well as the opportunity to tackle issues that directly affect their communities through the Federal Technology Careers Initiative and 18F.
In the federal government, a lot of the most fascinating and influential work is performed in the fields of science, engineering, medicine and national security. These positions may involve developing vaccines to fight deadly diseases, tackling sexual and racial prejudice, or tackling climate issues. These projects and their people have a profound effect on the nation.
Blue Collar
Many blue-collar jobs require skilled or manual labor. These jobs can be more physically demanding, but they also offer a higher satisfaction in the job for those who enjoy working with hands and learning a trade. Depending on the industry certain blue-collar jobs require higher education than white-collar ones. Some vocational schools offer less expensive, shorter training programs than a four-year college. Others offer paid or unpaid apprentices.
The term "blue collar" refers to people who are paid by the hour for their work and perform manual tasks, in contrast to salaried office employees. The term dates back to the 1920s, when people typically were wearing darker-colored clothes -- such as 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. fela case settlements may work in various areas, such as mining, construction, logging manufacturing.
It is widely believed that blue-collar employees are less socially wealthy than white-collar ones. However this isn't always true. Some blue-collar jobs--like those of welders, electricians, and subway operators --require significant qualifications and training and command high salaries. Certain jobs require less education, but pay less, as with retail or office jobs.
Most white-collar jobs require at minimum a bachelor's degree. Higher management roles often require specialized degrees or certificates such as an MBA or CPA. Certain professions, such as doctors and lawyers may also require licenses or certifications to be able to practice.
Although white-collar positions with federal agencies aren't as lucrative as those found in the private sector, they still offer many benefits including insurance at a low cost and generous vacation and sick leave. Some agencies offer flexible work schedules that are compressed, as well as childcare facilities. A career in the government will likely involve traveling, particularly for safety investigators and field engineering teams. Many people love this aspect of their job because it gives them the chance to travel and have an impact on the lives of people.