Inside Line on Working for the Man

Bet you didn't even consider working for Uncle Sam when you started college...then again a career was not what you went to college for in the first place if you are anything like me. But how does stability, 2.5 weeks of vacation and health insurance sound? This used to be a pretty reasonable expectation when entering the workforce, but with the economy in legendarily sucky throes you might reconsider where you peddle your resume.

I moved to Portland when I graduated from college (Ohio University) and temped with the Bonneville Power Administration, was hired, and have stuck around because the work is interesting and the benefits are great. I also value the stability, especially in these fail economic times.

Federal employment is rightly characterized by the constraints in which it operates. There are lots of rules--Veteran's have preference. You need a year's worth of experience before you qualify for most positions, which is the old chicken and egg argument--if you are just entering the workforce, how can you have experience? Well, you have your legislators to thank for a few flexibilities. While you are still in school you can get an internship in the Student Temporary Employment Program (the government LOVES acronyms: STEP) or the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). Both are for student pursuing an undergrad or grad degree. There are couple routes to finding a position with an Agency. Start with their top level websites (http://www.energy.gov/scholarships&internships.htm) or find an installation in an subject area that interests you or in geographical area that suits you (Portland, OR for example: http://www.jobs.bpa.gov/Just_For_Students/StudentPrograms.cfm). As a student you bypass most competition for positions. The SCEP program in particular is a good way to get experience in agency to see if it might suit you when you graduate. Many of the students who work for BPA end up becoming employees.

If you are working on a graduate degree there's a great opportunity called the Presidential Management Fellows program (https://www.pmf.opm.gov/index.aspx). This program has traditionally been a fast track to executive leadership positions. When you are selected by an agency you enter into a two-year training program that teaches you about the organization and federal agencies. You'll also do at least one rotation assignment outside of your organization. Again, after this type of investment agencies generally are quick to hire successful fellows as employees.

If you've heard less-than-stellar reviews of working for the man, let me be the first to tell you that some of them are true. Bureaucracy sucks. You'll end up working with people who should have put out to pasture years ago. The technology environment is so two thousand late. My poll of friends in the private sector reveals some of the same problems often coupled with an uncertainty of getting canned at downturn. In the civil service you'll also meet dedicated smart folks who work hard because they believe in the mission of the organization as well as the people on their team. Take the constraints as a challenge--what can you do to make it better?

Finally, if you apply, be patient and diligent. Work your networks (or your parents networks) to get in touch with managers inside agencies and ask for informational interviews, or raid the organization's org chart and email people in organizations that sound interesting. Don't be afraid of using that ancient 19th century innovation, the telephone. Most agencies have switchboards that will put you in touch with anybody in the organization. Remember, when trying to get hired by a boomer manager sometimes you have to actually make a phone call.

If you've made it this far you may be interested in learning more. I'm more than happy to answer questions about getting a student position with Bonneville or the process in general. We're looking for engineers, public policy wonks, quantitive folks of all flavors, great communicators, economists, and physical scientists. email me at dlshautjr at bpa dot gov or daveshaut at gmail dot com.