Five panelists from several branches of the federal government entertained a handful of students with both stories of their professional journeys and answers to questions about obtaining a position in government.
Assistant director of the Hegi Career Center, Janet Lewis, organized the panel in order to give students the chance to learn about opportunities available through the government.
“There are government opportunities for people with a variety of majors–from music education to civil engineering,” she said. “Students need to know about this.”
Uzo Awa graduated from SMU recently with degrees in philosophy, political science, and history and is looking to start her career.
“I’m wondering if there are any [government job] opportunities for people with majors outside of math and science, like myself,” Awa said.
SMU alumna Patty Taylor from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that there are opportunities in the government for “every major.”
The way Taylor started her career with government, first as an engineer and now in management, was by participating in the government’s summer internships.
“Take advantage of your summer opportunities,” she said. “In my opinion, that’s the best way to get your feet wet.”
Taylor said that internships are a great way to open doors, especially for undergraduates.
Summer internship and career positions are posted in February or March, according to her, and often, they are only online for a few weeks.
Christie Watkins from the Federal Bureau of Prisons suggested applying when a new institution opens to get one of the many jobs that open along with it.
“Everyone coming into the bureau is going to be a correctional officer first,” she said. “Then you can move around.”
By starting at a new corrections facility, Watkins said that opportunities for promotion and getting a higher “grade” are far faster and easier.
The government uses a grading system (1-15) to determine individuals’ salaries. The higher a person’s education and/or experience, the higher their grade and the more money they make. According to the panelists, if you work hard, you can move up grades quickly.
The application process for government positions has been notorious for taking one year or more to inform prospective employees about offers for positions.
Women’s Bureau Regional administrator Beverly Lyle, from the U.S. Department of Labor, said that it took her a year and a half to finally be offered her position. She said she was informed that she was the top candidate for the job, and then they pulled the position from the website without notice.
The panel said that this is not abnormal, for many positions depend on various governmental processes that go in and out of session.
“Don’t get frustrated with the system because it’s not always easy to navigate,” Lyle said.
For more information on job availabilities and on how to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov.
