WANNA GET A GOVERNMENT JOB?

HERE ARE FIVE TIPS ON HOW TO LAND A GOVERNMENT JOB:

OBAMA talked-up job creation big-time to sell his economic-stimulus package. So where are all the jobs? According to Kiplinger.com . . . they're in GOVERNMENT. But you don't have to move to D.C. to get one, because 85% of them are somewhere else. Here's how to land one:

#1.) HIT THE WEBSITES: First, go to usajobs.gov. It lists over 45,000 openings, and has a link for positions created by the stimulus package. That's kind of overwhelming, so try hitting up the individual websites of federal agencies that interest you.

The big ones are all at dcjobsource.com/fed.html. They might have positions listed only on their sites, and you'll be competing with fewer people. If you're a student, try to land a Federal internship. There are about 200 internship programs at makingthedifference.org.

#2.) GO TO A JOB FAIR: The State Department, the FBI, the Treasury Department, and the EPA often fill UNADVERTISED positions at job fairs.

Here are a couple websites that list the job fairs:

www.govcentral.com/careers/articles/1871

www.fedjobs.com/chat/jobfairs.html

#3.) FIND A GOOD FIT: The most Federal jobs will be in areas the Obama administration listed as priorities: renewable energy, the environment, infrastructure, health care, and education.

Some of the positions they're looking for include: contracts and grants managers, procurement officers, financial managers and auditors, IT specialists, intelligence experts . . . and people with knowledge of the cultures and languages of the Middle East. (--Know any?)

#4.) BE PATIENT: Applying for a government job can be a long and tedious process. But that's actually a GOOD thing. Because other people are going to get impatient and mess up the application process.

So don't get frustrated, pay attention to the details, and keep your eyes on that prize: great job security, great benefits, easy hours, and lots of vacation time. Thanks big government!

#5.) TELL PAR STORIES: If and when you DO get an interview . . . do the same stuff you'd do for any job: research the position before, contact the hiring manager to introduce yourself, write a solid resume and cover letter, and follow up. And also . . . tell PAR stories. That means a story that demonstrates a PROBLEM you faced . . . how you APPROACHED it . . . and its positive RESOLUTION. Government is about solving problems so concentrate on your Problem Approach Resolution stories and you're set. (Kiplinger / Yahoo Finance)