Encouraging Students to Apply for Careers in Government “The Untapped”

In Career Services we often tell our students to think about your future. Consider employment with long-term security. Many students who visit the Career Center seek jobs with high paying salaries and expect to move or relocate to another job within 5 to 7 years, a clear departure from the dream jobs they had when they were kids, i.e. policeman, fireman, teacher, doctor, etc.

According to a presentation on “Economic Trends and the Implications for College Recruiting” presented by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) government agencies are projecting an increase in employment while most sectors project a decrease. With this information, we should encourage our students to broaden their job search and consider employment with government.

In his column, Joe Davidson of the Washington Post cited a report by The Partnership for Public Service, which focuses on talent in the federal sector, stated that by 2012, “federal agencies will lose nearly 530,000 employees. Many jobs, of course, need to be filled much sooner than that”. Most of the loss will be to retirement of the babyboomers and attrition.

There are several advantages (tangible and intangible) why students should apply for government jobs:

• Long term employment
• Rapid promotions
• Competitive salaries
• Benefits
• Educational Assistance
• Service to the community

If there are advantages, then there must be some disadvantages:

• Entry level Salary
• Slow hiring process

When you look at the facts, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages to students should give serious consideration for employment with the government. Considering the current economic and security environment, the most prime opportunities available within the government are financial, homeland security, intelligence and defense, etc.

Here are some tips on how we should encourage our students to apply for government jobs:

• Assign someone in your career center to educate students about opportunities in the federal government. This could be done through seminars, government career fairs or classroom visits.

Work with federal agencies to ensure students receive current information about the jobs that are relevant to their majors.

Sponsor campus events and make information about federal careers available. Make use of the various seminars, and career fairs, or invite students to an information sessions or arrange to make presentations to the student organizations.

Invite alumni who are making important contributions as federal or government employees to speak with the students and instructors.

Speak about the importance of governmental service at appropriate occasions. For example, prior to a career fair or encourage instructors to invite speakers to their classes.

Educate the students on where to find employment within the federal government (websites, network, career fairs, etc.)

For many years, the PVAMU Career Center sponsored Government Career Day and continues to support our Education Job Fair too. With the current demand and impending need, the university will sponsor its 2009 Government Career Fair to the campus on April 14. It is anticipated that some 20-30 agencies and offices will participate.

We believe that as Career Professionals it our responsibility to assist the students in securing the best career options available. What can be more fulfilling than to share the wide variety of options with a career in the government, the untapped market?

NOTE: This workshop was first presented at the 2006

SWACE Conference (Southwest Association of Colleges and Employees) and the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Conference in 2006.

Contributions for this article were provided by Mr. Frederick V. Roberts, Assistant Director for Career & Outreach Services at Prairie View A&M University.