Government

Brief Overview

Some 20 million people work for government—agencies and departments that on a federal, state, or local level handle issues as diverse as immigration, labor and economic policies, the protection of wilderness areas, public health programs, the space program, and urban and community development. Governments collect taxes and use them to fund programs. That includes everything from a small-town government filling potholes on Main Street, to a big city providing police and firefighting services, to a state issuing drivers’ licenses, to the federal government sending troops into combat or making Medicare payments to a long-term health-care facility for the elderly poor.

Federal and state legislators make laws, and city and county supervisors pass ordinances. Executive agencies—from the White House to the state house to city hall—issue regulations. Governments employ civil servants, bureaucrats, lawyers, and specialists of all kinds to implement their policies and staff their programs. These include people who analyze policy and draft legislation for U.S. senators, people who issue building permits at town hall, and everyone in between.

Start exploring this sector and the myriad of opportunities at:

Helpful Tips

The myriad of career opportunities available in the for-profit sector and more are also available within federal, state and local government. The opportunity to make, influence, impact and implement public policy are elements of a career in government that don’t necessarily exist in the for-profit sector. Working in government is serving the public! Although you may think the salary cannot compare to working in the for-profit sector, government agencies usually promote frequently and raise salaries often to keep pace with cost of living. It’s also important to look at the overall compensation package including benefits, vacation and holidays, public transit assistance, continuous training opportunities, student loan repayment, and tuition reimbursement.

The best tip for breaking into this sector is an internship in government. The federal government offers hundreds of internship opportunities. State Representatives and Senators often offer internships both in their home and DC offices. Gaining an internship on Capitol Hill is a supreme opportunity to learn the inner workings of the executive or legislative branches of the federal government. Application deadlines vary greatly, but simply start early and search for internship opportunities continuously. The same principle applies for jobs in government. When there is a vacancy, there is a posting. This sector doesn’t have the clearly defined campus recruiting and hiring timeline as the corporate world. However, recruiters from the CIA, FBI, Department of Justice, and the State Department post opportunities on Go IRISH and usually attend the Fall Career Expo and/or Winter Career & Internship Fair. If you are interested in securing full-time positions with national security agencies, be aware that the deadlines for these positions are typically around the end of October. In addition to applying for opportunities promoted through career fairs and Go IRISH, check individual government agency sites for internships and the federal government job posting website, USAJobs, for full-time opportunities.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Vault

Download Guide to the Top Government and Nonprofit Employers

Networking

Tips for networking with family, friends, and Notre Dame alumni. Learn how to obtain access to the Irish Online alumni database.

Professional & Student Organizations

Professional organizations provide excellent contacts for networking and informational interviews. In some cases they may post jobs and internships on their websites.

Professional Organizations

Student Organizations