Job Search Resource(s) of the Week (9/22/09): Meet the Feds

There are three resource tools to discuss this time, and the underlying theme is: Government. (The truth is that the president is in town, and his appearance on the Letterman show last night totally sold us.)

For rationale, just chew on these two facts: Nearly 1.8 million people work for the United States in one form or another, and about 600,000 spots (both existing positions and new ones) will need to be filled in the next few years, says the Partnership for Public Service.

So, for a few notable positions, visit Forbes.com, which presents a handful of the "Government Jobs You Should Apply for Now" (such as research and analysis director at the IRS, and supervisory general attorney at the Department of Education). Note that each of these comes with an expiration date. Also, in your search, you have to utilize USAJobs.gov, the government's main job clearinghouse. (Although some agencies only post jobs on their own associated sites, many post in both places.) And don't forget that "government jobs" aren't limited to D.C.

Finally, if you've been seduced by all the talk about federal jobs -- but at the same time, aren't quite sure as to what that entails -- you're just about required (shameless plug) to read through the Vault Guide to Government Agency Careers (available here). The title contains an overview of agency and government operations, and short profiles of more than 50 bureaus.

--Posted by Todd Obolsky, Vault Staff Writer