Government service can be exciting, especially for those involved in international work. For the U.S., an outward-looking country, it is essential to receive a reliable and constant stream of information on attitudes, politics and business in countries of its allies and foes alike. It is equally important to have Federal employees abroad to represent U.S. attitudes and policies. Thus, while private companies are increasingly hiring local nationals to manage their foreign operations abroad, the U.S. government still believes in sending Americans, and this is not likely to change.
About 86,000 American Federal employees work abroad. Although readers might think that the majority work for the Department of State, in reality only about 9,000 do. The rest work for other Federal agencies, including the armed services. Federal employees fill almost as many different occupations abroad as they fill at home.
In addition to jobs overseas, the government offers opportunities for internationally oriented work in the U.S. This chapter discusses many of these Federal positions.
There are so many and such complex testing and application procedures governing Federal employment that it is a full-time job to learn them all. This chapter provides many details on these procedures, but applicants are urged to contact the government's central personnel agency, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), or the agency to which they are applying for further information. Despite the government's reputation for slow-moving bureaucracy, we have found most government workers forthcoming about explaining their jobs and detailing the application process.
Competitive and Excepted Service
About 81% of all Federal jobs are offered through the competitive service, an applicant-screening process run by OPM. Anyone who feels qualified for a competitive-service job can submit his or her qualifications to OPM. OPM rates and ranks candidates' applications and keeps them on file. Government agencies with positions to fill can request OPM to forward the names of candidates with the appropriate background. OPM sends the names of the three top-rated applicants. The agency reviews the files and then hires the applicants] of it choice.
Industrious Federal job seekers will not wait for OPM to call them. They will get their OPM rating, which is required for most competitive jobs, and monitor job openings in their fields. This will enable them to find suitable jobs much faster than those who wait to be hired off the OPM roster. Taking an activist job-hunting approach is particularly important because some jobs are filled before they are registered with OPM: a current government employee may transfer or be promoted.
Some positions are noncompetitive, for example, attorneys, chaplains, summer interns and high-level policymaking posts. People interested in these jobs do not need an OPM rating. Other positions are noncompetitive for certain handicapped people, veterans or people claiming what is known as 10-point Veteran's Preference (disability, Purple Heart, widow, widower, spouse or mother of Vietnam veteran). Some agencies that normally hire through the competitive service receive delegated authority from OPM to advertise publicly for a job instead of going through OPM. The best way to find these jobs is by watching Federal vacancy advertisements.
Some agencies are excepted from the competitive service. To apply for jobs in an excepted agency, you must follow that agency's specific application procedures. About 83% of the positions at the Department of State, 45% at the Department of Justice, 74% at the U.S. International Communications Agency, 70% at the International Development Cooperation Agency, and all the positions at the Library of Congress, the Federal Reserve System, the Smithsonian Institution, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and in intelligence agencies, congressional offices and committees are excepted. All Foreign Service Officers are excepted. Most civilian military personnel are not excepted, but all teaching jobs at Department of Defense Dependent Schools are.
Federal Job Hunting
It is essential for the Federal job seeker not only to register with OPM but to apply directly to the personnel office at the agency of choice. Further-more, it is useful to send a letter and resume directly to the head of the department or person responsible for hiring. Even if there are no current openings, job seekers should write both to the OPM and to the agency. Never assume that simply because you registered with OPM you will get a job. Registering is only the beginning.
Application procedures vary from job to job, but this should not intimidate job seekers. OPM offices around the country provide information about which form to fill out and which, if any, test to take. They also supply the forms and administer the tests. A Federal Job Information Center (FJIC) or one of the 54 regional or area OPM offices is probably located near you and can be found in the white pages under U.S. Government.
When applying for a Federal job, contacts-including friends, family, alumni, lobbyists and, for congressional jobs, constituents, Congressional staffers and party contributors-are very helpful, often essential. Keep in touch with acquaintances who work in an agency that you would like to work in and publicize your job search to friends. Never forget to follow up on your inquiries, stay in touch with potential employers and consult vacancy announcements. Another word of caution: it can take time to locate and be hired for a Federal job, so plan accordingly.
After You Are Hired
If you are hired, you will be offered a temporary, term or career-candidate appointment. Temporary appointments are for one year or less and offer few benefits. Term appointments are offered for work on a specific project that runs for more-than-one to less-than-four years; such appointments carry benefits. Career-candidate appointments give full benefits and, after a three-year probationary period, lead to career status, which provides the most job security.
There are a number of Federal pay systems. The one covering most professional, technical and other white collar employees is the Genera/ Schedule (GS). OPM administers jobs on the entire GS scale. The scale runs from GS-1, the lowest grade, to GS-18. Each of the 18 grades has 10 pay steps. For grades GS-1 through -12, the increases are normally offered at one-, two- or three-year intervals. These increases correspond to length of time on the job. Raises at GS-13 to -15 are given purely on merit. The pay scale changes with the cost of living.
At present, there is a $68,700 ceiling imposed by Congress on GS salaries.
Mid-level employees are hired at grades 9 to 12. Qualifications are generally four years of college or three years of professional work plus at least two years of specialized professional experience and/or an MA. For grades 11 and 12, three years of professional experience and three years of specialized experience are necessary. A graduate degree may be substituted for only two years of the specialized experience.
Senior-level positions, GS-13 through -15, are normally filled by promotion, although some are occasionally available. At least six years of "difficult" experience plus graduate education are required. Grades 16 through 18 are non-career executive assignments only-that is, appointed senior positions.
How to Find Job Information
Most agencies have personnel offices that post vacancy announcements and can tell you either what vacancies exist or where to find them listed. The New York area OPM office publishes the "Federal Job Opportunities List" of openings in New York and Washington, DC. This mimeographed publication is updated every two weeks and is available free. Other local OPM offices might offer similar information.
There is also a private publication that monitors and lists Federal jobopenings called Federal Career Opportunities. It lists over 3,500 Federalopenings, most at grades 9 through 12. Information provided includescontact address and, occasionally, name, job title, a very brief description ofqualifications and a closing date. Jobs are listed by agency. About half thejobs are with the Department of Defense
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Langley, VA
The CIA has primary responsibility for the clandestine collection of foreign intelligence, for conducting counterintelligence abroad, and for the research and development of technical collection systems. The CIA produces political, military, economic, biographic, sociological, and scientific and technical intelligence to meet the needs of national policymakers. It is one of the largest U.S. government agencies offering internationally related employment opportunities for persons of almost every background and academic discipline.
The CIA has four directorates. The Intelligence Directorate uses information from a variety of sources to develop an analysis to be used by policymakers, including the President, Congress and the Cabinet. Issues addressed are as diverse as international terrorism, arms control monitoring, narcotics trafficking, world energy, or technological breakthroughs. The Operations Directorate collects intelligence through personal contacts, which may range from clandestine meetings with foreign nationals to sessions with U.S. citizens who want to volunteer information about foreign events. The Science and Technology Directorate develops and operates strategic technical collection systems. The Administration Directorate is the business arm of the organization.
Qualifications
The CIA employs both experienced professionals and recent college graduates. All must be U.S. citizens. The Intelligence Directorate hires individuals possessing MAs or PhDs in contemporary history or foreign political, military or economic affairs. Employment in the Operations Directorate as an overseas intelligence officer requires a minimum of a BA with a consistently high level of academic performance, foreign language capability or aptitude and strong communications skills. Individuals over 35 cannot be considered. The Science and Technology Directorate seeks engineers (electrical, electronic, battery), physical scientists, systems analysts, photo scientists and other individuals with a strong scientific or technical background. The Administration Directorate needs communications officers (radio operators, field engineers), security officers, computer specialists, logisticians, accountants and personnel officers. Many of these individuals serve on a rotational basis in the other three directorates.
Training program
The Agency has a comprehensive training program. Depending on your assignment in the Agency, you will be provided with classroom or on-the-job training ranging from one week to two years. The two-year Career Training Program is designed for the individual preparing for a career as an overseas intelligence officer and is very selective.
Internships
The Agency participates in the Cooperative Education Program (CO-OP) for undergraduates majoring in architecture, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geography, graphic design, logistics, management information systems, mathematics, non-Romance languages, personnel administration and physics. They must be able to work a minimum of three terms and maintain a 2.75 GPA.
The Agency has a Graduate Studies Program. Most graduates are placed in the Intelligence Directorate, but summer research and engineering opportunities are offered to graduate students in high-technology fields. Completed applications must be received by mid-November for employment the following summer.
