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Have you ever thought about government employment as a career path? I suppose unless the IRS or FBI is chasing you down you may not regularly think about government agencies. To the average person, the federal, state, and local governments probably appear to simply operate in the background. Their services are pretty much taken for granted. Most people likely don’t even think about them on a daily basis. So, it should not come as a big surprise that government employment as a career path is often overlooked. Perhaps simply out of sight, out of mind. Besides, every time you watch the news on TV or online, it seems as though the government is in chaos. Fighting between and within political parties. Campaign mudslinging. Scandals involving leaders and staffers at all levels. Wow! No wonder the thought of working for the government may not seem appealing!

That’s too bad.  Having worked in government a few years, I know it offers great opportunities in almost every career field.  Plus, working as a “civil servant” can be a personally rewarding and fulfilling experience.  You can serve your city, county, state, or even the federal government in important ways, all while getting paid.  It’s true; government pay scales are often not as lucrative as those found in the private sector.  However, they’re not too shabby either, especially if you advance to a senior level or management position.

More Stable Work?

Some people feel government work may be more stable than other types of jobs.  As long as you are not in a temporary or grant-funded position, this is probably true.  Jobs in the private sector may come or go suddenly for many reasons. For example, a drop in last quarter’s sales figures might result in cutbacks. A sudden decline in profits might result in closing entire factories or branch offices. Thus, for many types of jobs, government work is perhaps more stable because “sales” and “profits” are non-issues.  Also, government entities must provide certain essential services and perform many tasks which are mandated by law. Thus, the function of government must continue regardless of the current business economic climate.

What Types of Workers Are Hired by the Government?

If you think the government doesn’t hire people in your trade or profession, think again.  You might not even realize government agencies hire nurses, teachers, computer programmers, engineers, plumbers, electricians, welders, and mechanics. Also, purchasing agents, writers, communications specialists, analysts, and photographers. Don’t forget accountants, chemists, artists, social workers, and law enforcement officers. Even doctors, dentists, and lawyers are needed. And those lists just scratch the surface! I could go on and on.

Could I Really Get a Job?

Sure. In fact, depending on your background and situation, you might have an advantage when it comes to landing a government job.  For example, the Federal Government has programs which assist or provide a hiring preference for certain groups.  Such groups might include veterans, military spouses, disabled individuals, Native Americans, and others.  Check out usajobs.gov for a wealth of information about finding and applying for positions with the United States government.

In addition to Federal jobs, don’t forget your local city, county, and state governments also need qualified people!  Be sure to check their websites for job openings and instructions on how to apply for open positions. These governmental entities may also have special hiring programs for which you might possibly qualify.

Government and Your Career Path

From a career path perspective, government employment can work for you in two ways.  If you go into government first, it might help open the door for private sector employment later on.  This is especially true if you are in a field where having been a “government insider” with knowledge of how government operates is valued.  Your government experience could give you an advantage over other applicants who do not have such valuable insight.

For example, suppose your new employer is considering selling products or services to the government.  Governments typically have complex purchasing processes requiring piles of paperwork and forms. If you have government experience, you may already know how this all works, making you very desirable as an employee. Additionally, you probably know exactly who to contact, in which agency, to get results.  To outsiders, the government can appear as a hopelessly confusing labyrinth of bureaucracies.

On the flip side, suppose you have private sector employment experience first and wish to later move into government employment.   You may be an attractive candidate to agencies wishing to bring new knowledge and experience into their organizations.  They are often interested in adapting and implementing many of the best practices found in the private sector.  This makes your skills and experience all the more desirable.

The Government Workplace

So, am I suggesting government employment is all roses and greener grass?  You’re kidding, right? Show me a workplace that is! In reality, it depends for whom you work and the type of work you do.  Just like private sector companies, government agencies each have different cultures and levels of employee satisfaction.

I have talked to many individuals in state government who have switched their employment between various agencies.  They all tell me the same thing. Every agency has its own unique personality, culture, and atmosphere.  Even within the same state, some individual agencies are considered to be wonderful places to work while others are not.

It is true “politics” impacts the government work environment.  No, I’m not referring to your personal political beliefs or party affiliation.  I’m talking about politics as it relates to legislative decisions and approval or non-approval of budget bills, etc. Depending on who gets elected, drastic changes in the focus and direction of work may occur. Still, as you already know, the issue of internal politics is certainly not limited to government and is commonplace in the private sector as well!

Government agencies often tend to be “by the book” employers.  So, expect lots of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and numbered forms to fill out.  But, that’s not necessarily all bad or limited to government. For example; athletes must follow certain rules in order to play and win in their particular sports. It’s simple; if the rules aren’t followed, you can’t play or expect to win. Similarly, government workers who run into problems are often those who are either unable or unwilling to learn and follow the rules.  If you learn the rules well and know how to interpret and apply them skillfully, you may likely do great in government employment!

The Outlook for Government Employment

A quick look at government employment projections shows modest and mixed changes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a slight decrease in Federal government employment of -0.2% for the period 2016 to 2026, while state and local government employment is expected to increase by 0.4% during the same period.

I believe that although government job sectors are not expecting new or expanded growth, there will still be an increase in job openings for existing positions. Why? Because baby boomers are aging. According to an article by the Pew Research Center, from the years 2011 to 2030, 10,000 baby boomers per day will reach the age of 65.

Of course, most will not retire at exactly age 65. In fact, the trend is for many to continue working later and later for a number of reasons. According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 41% of nonretirees plan to retire at age 66 or older.

Still, just the rising age of these workers suggests a massive exodus from the government workplace is imminent at some point. According to the Washington Post, there is growing concern about the “brain drain” such impending departures will cause.  The 82,000-plus federal employees who retired in 2013 alone took 2 million years of experience with them!

Clearly, in order to carry on, government agencies need to pass the torch to someone in the next generation of workers.  That someone might just be you!

Agree? Disagree? Share your experience or thoughts?
Click “Leave a Comment” at the top right of this post.

Featured image courtesy of Baldur93-Pixabay.

You’ve just finished that big job interview.  Things seem to have gone really well and you’re feeling good about it. You think you nailed all their questions. The interviewers appeared to like you and were upbeat. Now, more than ever, you really want to work there. Suddenly, a thought pops into your head: should I send thank-you messages to the interviewers?

Good question!

You will likely hear two points of view on this question from friends and colleagues.  The first says sending a thank-you note is old-school, outdated, and makes you look old-fashioned.   The other says interviewers expect such notes and failing to send one can negatively impact their hiring decision. Which way do you go?

What Do the Professionals Say?

According to an article on the well-known job hunting website Monster.com, “Sending a thank-you note after an interview should be an important part of any job-hunting strategy. Whether or not you send a thank-you note could actually determine if you get the job.”  Alex Cavoulacos, in an article on TheMuse, states, “…most hiring managers pay very close attention to how well (and how rapidly) you write a thank you note.” She goes on to say, “Your thank you note sets the tone as your first interview follow-up. So, whatever you do: Don’t skip it.”

Alison Doyle, in a thebalancecareers post writes, “Why are thank-you letters important? The first reason to send a thank-you letter is that it’s just plain, good manners. But there’s also a self-serving purpose: a thank-you note is your opportunity to get your name in front of people one last time and leave a positive impression.”

Sure, you can find forums online where people bash the idea of sending thank-you notes. However, I have not yet found a professional manager or HR person who actively discourages them. In fact, according to the Monster.com article cited earlier, “…80% of HR managers say thank-you notes are helpful when reviewing candidates.”

Let’s Look at the Issue Logically

Personally, whether or not I received a thank-you note never had a major impact on my hiring decisions.   But then again, I’m not everyone. However, for some hiring managers, failing to receive a thank-you note from you may be a really big deal.  You the applicant, of course, have no way of knowing which way the person making the decision leans. So, let’s look at the situation in a logical and pragmatic way.

• In the event the manager expects a thank-you note, if you send one, your bases are covered.
• The manager may not care either way about receiving a thank-you note. If so, you lose nothing by sending one.
• Some of your competitors – the other candidates – may have sent notes and you certainly don’t want to make yourself look less polite or professional! According to the Monster.com article cited previously, “…only 24% of HR managers receive thank-you notes from applicants.” Think of it this way: sending a note may give you the chance to look better than the other 76%!
• Of course, there is always a chance the hiring manager may dislike thank-you notes.

What about that last point? Sure, there may be the occasional quirky hiring manager who really thinks sending thank-you notes is a sign of an old mindset and actually holds it against applicants. However, realistically, I think such people are few and far between.  Plus, based on the articles cited above, the online experts would seem to agree with me on that point.

This sounds like a risk-versus-benefit decision.  Here’s my conclusion:

The potential benefit gained by sending a thank-you note
outweighs the risk of sending one.

Would you agree?

The Exception

The exception to this conclusion is if you write a really bad thank-you note.  The goal is to improve your chances of getting hired, not spoil the good impression you may have already made during the job interview!  A note with poor wording, bad grammar, etc. will definitely work against you. This is true regardless of how the interviewer may feel about thank-you notes. Therefore, write your note every bit as professionally as your cover letter, resume, and other materials.

What Should It Say?

Keep the note fairly short.  This is NOT the time to include a lengthy discussion of your skills or experience, or to try and repair any mistakes you may have made during the interview.  It’s too late for that; you already had your shot.  There are four basic things you should convey in your communication:

• Thank them for the interview
• Reiterate that you are a good fit for the position
• Indicate that the interview enhanced your interest in the job
• Tell them you look forward to the next step in the hiring process

Regarding the “good fit” statement, go easy on this point and don’t overdo it.  Some of the most ridiculous notes I ever read were from minimally qualified individuals with little or no experience who arrogantly tried to paint themselves as rock stars in their field.

There are numerous websites online with examples of thank-you notes. Do a search and look at several of them. One such site with sample notes is is CareerSidekick.com.  Use a format which is consistent with your personal style, uses good common sense, and sounds professional.  Do not just copy and paste the text!  Avoid sounding like a form letter by rewriting it to suit your style. Use your own words and tailor the message to the job where possible.

Email or Snail Mail?

OK, so you decided to send a thank-you note. Now, you are debating whether to send it electronically via email or mail a physical note card or letter through the post office.

Since the majority of business communication is now by email, it is the norm.  The Monster.com article cited above indicated that a survey found “94% of HR managers say it’s appropriate to send a thank-you note via email, as most (65%) of the thank-yous they receive are sent by email.” If you decide to send your note by email, you’re in good company.

Pamela Skillings, in an article How to Write an Interview Thank You Email previously posted on BigInterview.com, offers an interesting perspective about the use of email. She writes, “Be sure to steer clear of odd hours of the night. If the interviewer even manages to find your email buried in memos and junk mail, it may seem strange that you were up at 3am.”  I think she’s on to something here.  I have heard day-shift people comment about emails they received which were created in the middle of the night. Generally, they seem to think it’s a bit weird.

Another factor in this decision is time.  I often received thank-you notes in the U.S. mail several days after the hiring decision was already made and another applicant had accepted the position!  One of the “any questions for us?” you should ask during the job interview is about the hiring time frame.  (Be sure to read our Career Lantern article Questions to Ask and Not Ask on a Job Interview.)  When the hiring decision will be made shortly, definitely use email. However, regardless of which method you decide to use, write your note and send or mail it the same day as the interview.

Hand-written or typed?

Send a hand-written thank-you note if you feel a more personal approach would be appropriate. However, only do this if your writing or printing is exceptionally nice and very legible. An unreadable, hand-scrawled note reflects poorly on you and simply defeats your entire purpose for sending one in the first place. If your normal handwriting looks like something a doctor scribbled on a prescription slip, by all means type it!

Where and to Whom Do I Send It?

The last thing you want to do is send your note to the wrong address, whether email or U.S. mail. Also, you certainly don’t want to offend the recipient by getting his or her name and/or title wrong! How do you avoid doing this?

• The best – and easiest – way is to simply ask the interviewers for their business cards when they make their introductions. This is very common. In fact, many interviewers expect to be asked and will have cards ready for you.
• Sometimes, for a whole host of valid reasons, the interviewers may not have business cards available. In this case, be sure to write down the names as best you can. Then, check with the secretary, receptionist, or your initial contact person for the needed information right after the interview. They likely either know the answer or have access to an internal, non-public company directory.
• As a last resort, check the company website for an organizational chart or employee directory. However, this may be the least reliable method for several reasons.  The needed information may not even be on the website.  There may be several persons listed with the same name. Also, websites are often not updated regularly.

Just in case you are wondering, yes, send a separate email or note to each individual interviewer.  Sending a group email or card doesn’t cut it.  A multiple-recipient thank-you is less personal and makes you look like you didn’t even respect the interviewers enough to bother writing individual notes.

Agree? Disagree? Share your experience or thoughts?
Click “Leave a Comment” at the top right of this post (or at the bottom on some mobile apps).

Featured image courtesy of GingerQuip/pixabay.com