One of the most common misconceptions about federal employment is that once you land a job and embed yourself into the “federal system,” then you’re basically employed for life. Some people seem to think that once you get that foot in the door, you’ll never have to change jobs unless you accept a well-deserved promotion.
While I agree that the federal government is a very secure employer, a lot of job seekers fail to realize the full extent of employment options they have available, and therefore cheat themselves during their job search. Like the private sector, the G has a lot of temporary positions available, and these can be an excellent way to get your career started. You’ll find that most of the “temporary” or “term” positions listed on USAJOBS have a duration of one year, although most can be extended for up to five years. Hiring temporary employees allows the G to get work done quickly, without the additional costs of keeping a person employed until retirement.
While I agree that the federal government is a very secure employer, a lot of job seekers fail to realize the full extent of employment options they have available, and therefore cheat themselves during their job search. Like the private sector, the G has a lot of temporary positions available, and these can be an excellent way to get your career started. You’ll find that most of the “temporary” or “term” positions listed on USAJOBS have a duration of one year, although most can be extended for up to five years. Hiring temporary employees allows the G to get work done quickly, without the additional costs of keeping a person employed until retirement.
Although you might not relish the thought of landing one job only to start right in on another job search, you need to consider that the best way to get a job is to already have one. Working on a temporary basis will allow you to get that all-important “face time” in front of hiring managers, so you’ll be able to sell them on your abilities. Remember, the first step in building a professional network to help you in your career development is to start making contacts.
Temporary positions are usually going to be the best fit for military or civilian retirees, or any folks who are looking for that extra income without the long-term commitment. If you fit into this demographic, that’s perfect! Get hunting on USAJOBS, and find a temporary position that fits your skills and will allow you to pad that retirement nest egg. If you’re not quite at that position in life yet, then be wary of putting all your eggs into one basket once you’ve landed the job.
The current budget crisis in Washington is affecting a lot of hiring by government agencies, so you can never be fully sure that all temporary positions will be funded from one year to the next. If the money dries up, temporary jobs are the first positions that will be cut, simply because it’s very easy to turn them on and off. The reduction in force process for a full-time employee, on the other hand, is much more involved for managers and their human resources technicians.
The current budget crisis in Washington is affecting a lot of hiring by government agencies, so you can never be fully sure that all temporary positions will be funded from one year to the next. If the money dries up, temporary jobs are the first positions that will be cut, simply because it’s very easy to turn them on and off. The reduction in force process for a full-time employee, on the other hand, is much more involved for managers and their human resources technicians.
Like any job, though, I recommend always having a backup plan. Ask yourself, “What would I do if my position was eliminated today?” It’s a good mental exercise for full-time employees, but it’s an absolute must for people working on a temporary basis. And last but not least, remember to always look ahead to your next position, and get the skills or training necessary to advance. The best security doesn’t just come from a job, but from when you turn that job into a career.
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