Last week, we discussed tips on achieving your dream: landing a great government job. One big takeaway from our recent Getting into Government: A Guide for High Achiever’s research guide is that discovering which government jobs to apply for is only half the battle. It’s that part of the battle, however, that makes all the difference in helping you launch your public service career.
Aside from USAJobs.gov, there are a number of resources and listservs out there to help you narrow your search. Here are some important ones for public service careers. Keep this list handy so you can be ready to apply when you spot that dream job:
Federal Listservs
- Jobs.govloop.com: GovLoop has built a special website for job searchers like you to help better filter out opportunities that aren’t necessarily right for you. This search engine was built on top of USAJobs data and is mashed up with LinkedIn, GlassDoor, and Best Places to Work. Think of it as your Kayak or Expedia, only for government jobs.
- Tommanatosjobs.com: Tom Manatos decided to start a listserv that would send job and internship openings to anyone who signed up so young professionals could have access to the same government opportunities he did.
- Federal Jobs Digest: If you’re looking for federal jobs by location, this is the right listserv for you. America’s federal employment newspaper since 1977 can be a big help if you’re not in the DC area but still looking to get into the federal workforce.
State Listservs
- 50 State Jobs: Browse jobs by state and find the perfect job in state government. You can search by job category, state, and zip code to find opportunities closer to you.
- Career One Stop: Use this state job bank to post your resume and register your job search. Tailor it directly to your needs. Browse by state and location and filter for your dream job all at this one-stop shop.
- GovtJobs: Look for jobs with this fun interactive map of the U.S. Discover state and local government job opportunities in specific geographic areas by selecting your desired city. You can find jobs in city management, law enforcement, economic development, finance, code enforcement, utilities, and public works.
- Careers in Government: This job seeker lets you post resumes, get jobs by email, and search a number of state and local vacancies on the site. The newsletter is particularly useful for job announcements and openings by state.
Local Listserves
- GovJobs: GovJobs is recognized by job seekers all over as a highly useful U.S. Government employment resource on the Internet. They have a number of newsletters and tools catered to individuals specifically interested in state and local government agencies.
- ICMA: Focused on bettering local communities, the International City/County Management Association advances professional local government worldwide. The organization caters specifically to jobseekers looking to serve local governments and communities ranging in size from small towns to large metropolitan areas.
- Publicservicecareers.org: This search engine is widely used for finding jobs in state and local government, seeking career advice, and gathering information on the best degrees for public service and public affairs.
Student and Career Listservs
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Career Services: What’s particularly helpful about this site is being able to find information about working for federal, state, city, and county agencies. Additionally, the site offers resume-building tips and materials on how to find jobs, interview well, and land jobs as a young professional.
- Berkeley Career Center: University of California, Berkeley provides a number of databases and metasites for students and young professionals seeking jobs in a number of fields. What’s unique about their site is you can also browse government jobs by category and topic, such as international jobs or jobs in law and public policy, and it offers a number of listservs related to that field.
- Indeed: If you’re not looking on Indeed already, now’s the time to start. Post your resume and search by level, profession, and find a number of government postings. Additionally, the site pools jobs from USAJobs so you can have openings sent directly to your inbox.
Discovering and narrowing your government job search can be a full-time job. But if you know where to look and have the right tools, you’ll be able to turn the tables around and have employers come knocking at your door. Your perfect government job is just a few clicks away.
For more reading about millennials in public service, check out this weekly GovLoop series, First 5: Advice from millennial to millennial
Does this mean not all federal jobs are listed on USAjobs?
Hi Kelly-
That is precisely so. If you visit the UW Madison page and click on the ResourcePalooza tab under the Federal section, the difference between Civil Service and Excepted Service is explained.
Great list. I’m a little late reading this, but, from the other perspective — where should we post jobs to find quality candidates? That is, without having to pay for placement on some sites, which can run hundreds of dollars per position per week – like some of the professional associations. Indeed has come up as one site where our candidates find us — it is an aggregator site, so we don’t have to ask to be posted there (or pay for it).