In a new study conducted by Handshake, a recruiting and networking software provider for students, college graduates are turning to federal jobs now more than ever.
The newest survey found that 7.5% of job applications from the class of 2024 have been submitted to government positions—a 2% increase from the class of 2023.
Federal jobs have not only become plentiful in the last year, increasing by 25%, but meet many of the requirements that recent graduates have for their future place of employment.
When asked about what qualities made the 2024 applicants want to apply for a job, their top priorities were:
- Job stability (76%)
- Location (75%)
- Positive reputation (72%)
- High starting salary (71%)
- Flexible schedule (61%)
Let’s take a look at how federal work meets these standards and what a recent grad—or yourself—may want to consider in pursuit of a government job:
Job Stability
Whether it be for local, state or national positions, government work is known for its stability and benefits. Laws concerning proper pay, workplace conditions, policy enforcement, ADA compliance and more tend to be enforced at a much higher level since federal positions have to report directly to the entities that created these laws. In turn, employees working for the government tend to stay longer as they are guaranteed certain rights and privileges that are not nearly as enforced in private sectors.
Government positions also have vast opportunities for explorations and promotions that might be more difficult to receive if you aren’t federally employed.
Location
While places like Washington D.C. might be a hub for government work, employment at federal entities exists in every city and state in the country. From working for local community centers and city halls to law enforcement opportunities, job applicants who are looking to stay close to home are likely to find work mere minutes away when it comes to federal work. This factor also makes the moving process easier as you could relocate to any city and find government work that matches your experiences.
Reputation
As previously discussed, government work has a reputation for fair pay, excellent benefits, enforcing safety policies and a wide variety of locations. They are also known for their opportunities for promotion, continued education, retirement plans, guaranteed days off, holiday pay and even student loan repayment options.
High Starting Salary
Federal jobs are much more likely to enforce the laws of proper pay then other workplaces, meaning that the starting salary rates are likely to be more competitive than in private sector work. While salary caps do exist at many federal jobs, there are also plenty of others that offer annual raises and pay increases when you move to a higher up or different position. Federal jobs also take into account general inflation, among other things, when it comes to giving pay bumps.
Flexible Schedule
Federal work tends to stick to a specific schedule, but you are still likely to find a job with a schedule that works best for you. Preferences for days, times and hours can be found in a variety of positions, and accommodations needed for disabilities are much more likely to be adhered to when working for the government.
Jobs to Explore
If you’re interested in federal work, it’s important to remember that you have a wide variety of options available, such as:
- Office and admin work
- Management
- Law enforcement
- Parks and recreation
- Libraries
- City hall
- Transportation services
- Medical services
- Maintenance
- Community events
- Schools and education
To learn more about how to apply for a federal job, or to search for positions near you, visit usajobs.gov.
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