Not Exactly Your Typical Job The U.S. Secret Service was created on July 5, 1865, as a federal bureau under the Department of Treasury. At that time, its main function and purpose was to suppress the counterfeiting of U. S. Currency. In 1901, the functions of the U.S. Secret Service were expanded to include the important responsibility of protecting the President ...

In 2002, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that the US economy will have created more than 21 million new government jobs by 2012. Here at GovCentral, we want to determine whether the BLS predicted government sector job growth accurately or not. If the trajectory of government job growth hasn't been hitting the milestones forecast by the labor statistics, which industries ...

With tens of millions of people unemployed or underemployed, and with blue-chip industries from automotive to banking in distress, the US workforce sorely needs help. So the new funding for job training provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is a well-timed boon to American workers. “The [federal] workforce system will play a vital role in America’s economic recovery ...

Employees have been criticizing their bosses since the beginning of time. Until the birth of social media, these conversations generally played out in lunchrooms or restrooms, around the water cooler, over a few cocktails at the local pub after working hours, and in the smoker’s circle outside the office building. [gate] Regardless if the criticisms were true or not, the context ...

If Government 2.0 is truly right around the corner, what will it look like? Which forms of media will the government use in the future? Which are pipe dreams? This reference guide collects government 2.0 resources. (Wait...what is Government 2.0 again?) The Collaboration Project - an independent forum of leaders committed to leveraging the interactive web and the benefits of collaborative ...

Government jobs are in demand! The Federal government is not only the nation's largest, but also its most diversified employer, with more than 2,000 different categories of employees. The diversity of government jobs available also means many different salaries and benefits packages. This comprehensive salary guide aims to reveal information related to government pay through a series of different methods. Use ...

The adage says, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," and its wisdom is applicable to job seekers. It is usually far easier to find another job if you're already employed. But how can you ensure that the worst never happens to you -- that you're never left without a job and possibilities for your next opportunity? ...

From the 1930s through the end of World War II, Washington, DC, was a great place for gays and lesbians to work. The federal government was growing, and the city was tolerant. But during the McCarthy era, hundreds of gays and lesbians were arrested as supposed national security threats; thousands of others lost their jobs. The tide turned again in the ...

Question on Arrests: "I think that it is not a good idea to ask about arrest records, not only because it is illegal to consider this information in some states, but also because the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission counsels against it." Really? I applied twice to agency positions and both required disclosure of arrests for consideration. Sure there may be security ...

Leaving a military career after five, 10, or 20 years is traumatic. Whether you’re enlisted or an officer, the career transition out of military is difficult. The good news is that the federal government is basically just “the other side of the desk.” You’re going to take the “hands-on” skills and technical training from your military experience and convert it over ...

I didn’t think it would happen to me. As a news producer for a television network, I reported on unemployment numbers daily. I was detached. Analytical. Objective. Then one day, without any prior warning, I was out of a job, and the subject of someone else’s news story. It’s not that I thought I was immune, or somehow above it ...

If you’re a highly qualified professional who has been unemployed for a while, you may eventually have to find a “Plan B” job to pay your bills until the job market improves and you can return to your preferred type of work. There’s no shame in that, but landing a temporary survival job can be harder than you think -- there ...

Celebrities. We love to hate them. We also love to watch their every move, laugh at their mistakes and scrutinize their decisions. Like them or not, their celebrity status means not only have they achieved career success, they’ve also got a hell of a lot to lose. And sometimes, whatever actions have helped catapult them to fame or rendered them ...

Ads That Don't Add Up  Federal and postal job scams are among the biggest rackets in employment, preying on consumers who are unemployed or underemployed and can least afford to be "taken." But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is working to protect consumers by tracking down and stopping companies that make deceptive claims about federal and postal jobs. Gregory Ashe, ...

HELP WANTED ... FINDING A JOB I saw an ad in the newspaper for jobs in corporate finance. I faxed my resume to the 800-number listed and got a call from a woman who said her company works with businesses to find employees to fill their positions. She said the service would cost me $495, but the fee was fully ...

CIA Agents are famous protagonists on television shows and movies, and is a fantasy job for many a youngster. But why make it a dream? Turn it into a reality. According to the Central Intelligence Agency website "The CIA offers exciting career opportunities and a dynamic environment. We're on the forefront of world-altering events — as they happen. So working here ...

You hear it all the time from career experts: "Research the company before you go into a job interview." But what does that mean, exactly? Here are some tips on using the Internet and tapping your network to gain information and insight that'll improve your answers--and help you ask the right questions. [gate] The company's mission Your prospective employer's Web site ...

If I refer to the Jersey Shore, does your first thought go to a vacation spot or to someone named "Snooki?" Your answer may say a lot about your generation. Traditionalists or Baby Boomers are thinking of summertime memories, while Millennials are thinking about Snooki and her friends on the MTV reality show. Right? Maybe. The truth is your answer probably ...

Frequently Asked Questions: GovCentral's Spring Is Greener Promotion Do I need to register more than once? No How do I increase my odds of winning? Simply sign into your GovCentral account once a day through March 31, 2010 to be entered again to win. If you allow your browser to save your log-in information, you will need to click "Sign out" ...

The interviewer asks a rather simple question, yet it catches you off guard: "Why do you want to work for this company?" The obvious answer that comes to mind is, "Because you have an opening, and I need a job." While this may be true, it won't get you points in a job interview. The interviewer is looking for an answer ...