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Sunday, November 07, 2010
Dear Uncle Sam,
The economy is down, anxiety is up - and public service jobs are hot.
For both the college graduate and career changer, jobs in the public service have become more popular than ever before.
"I think with the most recent presidential election, a lot of people are very excited to give back to their community and country," says Heather Krasna, author of "Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service" (JIST Works, 2010). "Also, a lot of people have an interest in this economy because they have lost a job in the private sector and are now looking to reassess themselves."
Public service jobs range from government positions to nonprofit organizations or even corporate organizations serving the public good. According to the Partnership for Public Service, the federal government alone is looking to fill an estimated 50,000 entry-level positions in the next year and 60,000 internships. Sarah Howe, the organization's media relations director, reported that the PPS annual federal job fair in July brought in a record number of students and participating agencies.
"Last year we had about 5,000 students register, but this year it was close to 7,000 with people coming to Washington D.C. from every state," she says.
In a recent poll by PPS of career counselors in 600 colleges and universities, 84 percent of counselors said there was an increased interest in federal government careers. The counselors said the two primary motivators were a lack of alternative jobs and the security offered by federal positions.
In addition, 69 percent of respondents said the prestige of federal jobs had increased over the past year. They said students expressed the most interest in the FBI, State Department and the CIA. While some public service careers are known for their prestige or excitement, Krasna adds that the array of careers in almost endless.
To start the process toward a public service career, Krasna recommends job seekers assess their background, skills and accomplishments to see what they are proud of and enjoy. "Use those skills to enter keywords in a job site and see what comes up," she says.
Next, begin investigating different careers and career areas. Krasna groups the public service jobs into nine categories: human services, health, education, advocacy, environmental, infrastructure, financial, international, and arts, culture and religion. Determine what interests you and examine if there are any gaps between career dreams and practical realities.
"Someone might be interested in international work but not be willing to relocate abroad, so that's a gap in values," she says.
Then begin the application process. For some it may be very simple to switch to public service, but those in more specialized careers might need additional training or certification to make the jump. Also realize that applying for government jobs in particular can be complex, with additional questionnaires, essays and assessments.
Those in public service say it's worth it."For a lot of people, making a difference in the world is such a big part of their life that they want to do it every day," Krasna says. "It's amazing to see how much impact you can have, whether you're delivering services or helping make those services happen."
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