How To Apply For Government Jobs

career expert Jason Kay

career expert Jason Kay

There are literally, millions and millions of Government jobs out there and there is actually a specific process you need to complete in order to apply for such a job. The benefits, health, dental, paid vacation and holidays are outstanding and they are all provided through taxpayer’s money.

There are resources available online that makes looking for a government job easier than hoofing around town looking door to door. Here are the steps you need to know:

1) Current Openings: You will need to look at the current openings in your area first and any job search site can help you with that. USAJobs.gov is the best place to search for a government job. From this you can decide which jobs are of interest to you.

2) Application: You can fill out an Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF612). This is a downloadable file in Microsoft Word (.doc) format. Once you fill it out you can print it. Optionally, you can write a federal resume. These resumes must contain additional information than private sector resumes and are formatted a bit differently. Get more information at KSADoctor.com.

3) Information: You will need to provide certain information as well:

a. Full name

b. Mailing address

c. Phone numbers, day, night, mobile

d. Social Security Number

e. Country Of Citizenship

f. Highest Federal Civilian Grade, if any

g. Education – school name, address, degrees, majors

h. Work Experience – fully detailed information

i. Other qualifications – job related training, skills, certificates, leadership, honors, awards, etc. etc.

4) Civil Service Exam: There is a number of civil service exams possible and each department has their own tests and how they administer them. There are written tests, essay tests, in-basket tests, assessment centers, performance tests, physical abilities tests, psychological tests and of course an interview. Not all of these tests are needed for each posting; this was just a list of what types of tests there are for various government positions. There are online resources for information on the individual tests.

a. These tests are scheduled to happen at certain times and you will be assigned a date and time to appear for your testing.

b. In order to be considered and possibly hired for a position, you must pass any and all tests given to you. If you are not hired during the valid date for the test results, you will need to re-take the tests at another time.

5) Interview(s): That’s right, there will probably be more than one interview and just like the Civil Service Tests, you must do well on all subsequent interviews to receive a job offer.

Just because you do well on everything, does not mean you will get the job for which you apply. As with any other employment offer, there are other people vying for the same job as you. Being that this is a government posting, the number or people applying is probably even greater than in the private sector. Be sure to really study up on the specifics of what will be expected of you throughout the screening process.

Lastly, depending on the position, some agencies may want you to undergo a physical examination, drug screening or a probation period before hiring and these periods can last anywhere from 6 months to a year. That’s it, now you know how to apply for government jobs.

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Fast Hiring Jobs – Top 5 Jobs to Have in 2010

Job Expert Clint Schubert

Job Expert Clint Schubert

Finding a job in this economy is not an easy task. Often people get overwhelmed and stressed because finding a job is a job in itself. All the small details about landing a job are sometimes to much to handle and most people don’t know where to start. I’m going to give you some simple steps that will help guide you in making a decision as to which jobs you should pursue. The first step is to ask yourself “WHY?” What is the reason(s) you are looking for a new job. Is it because you don’t have one? Or maybe you are not satisfied with your current job. If you do not have a “WHY” then you need to get one. Your “WHY” is what drives you on your quest to get a new job and even after you get it. The Second step is to write down a few of your skills that you both enjoy doing and are good at. Finding out what your strengths are will help you think about the job possibilities that will make you stand out above the crowd. For example if you are friendly with strangers and speak well maybe you should concentrate on a customer service type position. If you are creative and artistic maybe think about working as a graphic designer for an advertising company or Yellowbook etc. Writing down what you are good at will help you think about jobs you might excel at.

What Are The Top 5 Jobs?

If you are in need of a job immediately you should consider one of these 5 jobs listed below. Each are different with their own advantages and disadvantages but overall they are all great jobs to have. This list of jobs are also easy to obtain as long as you have a basic high school education.

1. Caterer – Start your own catering business with very little money required to invest. You can advertise locally and make a decent return on your investment on each event. Birthday parties and weddings are the two most popular functions that hire caterers.

2. Government – The U.S. Government is hiring. You can work as a postal carrier or construction worker or anything in between. Most of the government jobs can be found online and you can apply within a few minutes. Good benefits and pay can be expected.

3. Fitness Trainer – Being a personal fitness trainer is fun and pays well. You can get started immediately on your own or get hired by an agency who helps train you and prepares you for the position. This job is for people who are health conscience and like to work with others.

4. Insurance Agent – Being an insurance agent does require a few weeks of training but can be a very rewarding job. Most companies will hire you even if you dont have experience. This job can require some traveling but is a fun and exciting job to have.

5. Network Marketing – Being a representative for a company can be the most exciting and profitable way to earn an income. It also allows you to get started immediately once you make the decision to join a company. Most MLM or network marketing companies require a small investment to get started so make sure you do the proper research to make sure you are joining a legitimate company that has a legimate product or service.

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Interview Questions – Don’t Be Caught Off Guard by These 3 by Dave Caruso

You know your job search efforts are starting to payoff when you receive that call to schedule an interview. A feeling of nervous excitement sweeps over you and your thoughts begin to race about what the interview will be like and how to make the best impression possible to convince them you are the best person for the job.

The bitter irony about job interviewing is that people who interview well don’t always make the best employees. Nevertheless, it is the standard tool used by every organization to make their selection on a candidate. Therefore, it is imperative to approach the interview with poise, confidence and professionalism. It is no secret that researching the company and its business model is an important first step in preparing for the interview. Once you have a good understanding of the company, you can begin to organize your thoughts as to how your skills and background will be of benefit to the organization. Now it is time to focus on a few common interview questions.

“Tell Me About Yourself” is a common lead off question for the interview. It is a chance to give your 30 second commercial about yourself by showcasing your education, skills and past work experiences. This is not a time to drone on about yourself and your life, but rather to target specific instances in your background to match the traits and skills needed for the job opportunity. It is best to appear natural and conversational in tone and avoid sounding rehearsed. Divide your attention equally among all those in the room who are participating in the interview while maintaining direct eye contact. Try to avoid too many pregnant pauses, or looking at the floor or ceiling. Body language suggests that looking at the floor can indicate deceit and looking up at the ceiling can show uncertainty.

“What Is Your Greatest Weakness” or another version “Tell Me About a Time You Failed” are questions that would ordinarily make us squirm, but that can be successfully answered without casting ourselves in a bad light. Resist the urge to reply with something cute like “ice cream” or “chocolate” or “messy desk”. The interviewer is trying to see how you handle uncomfortable situations with a keen eye toward how you act under pressure while also gauging your honesty. Present examples that show a challenge that you were faced with and how your unique skills or traits allowed you to overcome the challenge and lead the objective to a successful resolution in the end. For example, you relied too heavily on computer systems to track sales so you created paper backups on critical reports that could be accessed anytime, in the event the system was down.

“Are You a Team Player” is a question that should be welcomed in the form of a gift. It is your chance to elaborate on how your communications skills can help you to deal effectively with coworkers, management and customers. Provide examples of times when you have shared information with coworkers that has resulted in increased sales, customer satisfaction or process improvements. It is essential to show your focus is on that which is best for the company. Talk about a time when you embraced change and improved your job performance or made recommendations that were adopted by management.

Being well prepared for these 3 common interview questions will increase your confidence and help guarantee a successful interview. So put your best foot forward and remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression, so be prepared and make it a good one.

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