Tips from the Pros

by Mark F. Weinberg

Chief Operating Officer, CareersInGovernment, Inc. (www.careersingovernment.com)

Top Five Tips for Obtaining Government Employment

1.   Take the time to learn about what differentiates public sector employment from private sector employment. There are many differences in terms of organizational structure and culture, compensation models, and management and labor rights and relationships.

2.   Learn about the industry. Most people understand that Marriott operates hotels and General Motors manufactures automobiles. The levels and business of government operate in the background for most of us and can be more obscure and complex.

3.   Assess both your suitability and desire to devote a career to public service. You will need to communicate your reasons clearly in your resume and oral interview.

4.   Expect and prepare for a structured testing protocol as part of the selection process. Government hiring is characterized by objective, merit-based competition that often includes written, oral, and even practical examinations. Many testing aids and guides are commercially available.

5.   Do your homework. Government has an “open architecture”: Information about how it works and the community it serves is accessible to all. There is a greater expectation for you to come to your interview knowledgeable about the elected officials, the agency’s fiscal condition, and the current local issues.

Mark F. Weinberg is co-creator and COO of CareersInGovernment, Inc., which works to match qualified individuals with careers in government and the public sector and allows more than 20 million Americans working, or seeking employment, in public sector occupations to exchange news and information. He is also the deputy city manager of Inglewood, CA (population 120,000). He has 30 years of local government public service experience.

© 2002. Used with permission of the author.