The government is the largest employer in the U.S., hiring more than 2 million people specializing in all areas of focus, from biology to art restoration. With an aging workforce – the average age for federal employees is over 46 years of age – agencies are eager to hire fresh young faces, like recent college graduates.
Financially, working for the government is likely to be more secure and rewarding than working in the private sector. The average entry salary is anywhere from $26,000 to $37,000 a year. To match that are the comprehensive benefits offered while working for the government: health insurance, 10 paid holidays and 13 paid vacation days to start!
The government has recently instated Pathways programs that allows a seamless transition from entry-level positions to full-fledged careers for students and recent graduates. There are three Pathways programs:
- Internship Program – The Internship Program is open to students enrolled at least halftime at the high school through professional levels and provides students with paid opportunities to work and explore federal careers while still in school.
- Recent Graduates Program – This new program is open to applicants who have completed a qualifying post-high school educational program (e.g., technical or vocational school; two-or-four year college or university; graduate or professional school) within the preceding two years and provides developmental opportunities for recent graduates.
- Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program – The PMF Program has been the federal government’s premier leadership development program for graduate and professional degree candidates for over 30 years. Like the Recent Graduates Program, applicants have up to two years after they graduate to apply for the program.
Jobs in the public sector, however, aren’t always as easy to find as those in the private sector. To get started, make sure to set your preferences specific to the government sector on MyCWS to get job posting announcements. You can also make an appointment in MyCWS with Liz O’Connell to discuss your career options.
– Steffi Lee ’15, CWS intern