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US Government Seeking College Students, Degree Holders
Peter Vogt | Monster.com Career Coach
The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which oversees the federal government’s civilian workforce, recently created an ad campaign spanning four television networks to directly speak to college students and recent graduates ages 18 – 40. The idea: To tell students and recent graduates around the country that rewarding careers await them in the federal government. The federal government says it will need to recruit and hire thousands of new college graduates over the next five to 10 years to replace an impending wave of Baby Boomer retirees.
The Partnership for Public Service released survey findings noting that 42 percent of today’s college students are “extremely” or “very” interested in working for the federal government.
Sound like a perfect fit? Unfortunately, you’re wrong. Far too often, the government agencies with strong demand for new government employees are not finding the qualified candidates that are out there.
The Problem
That same Partnership survey, which involved 3,000 students at six different universities, revealed that only 13 percent of students are “extremely” or “very” knowledgeable about federal job options.
Such numbers show “that students are eager to learn more about federal job opportunities,” noted Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership, in a news release on the study’s findings. "It is up to the federal agencies to change their approach and to take the message to the students in a way that resonates with them.
The Good News
This creates an advantage for qualified candidates, who are earning higher salaries in many government professions than ever before.
The Bad News
With the strong benefits and salaries of government jobs growing stronger, competition is also getting more fierce. More government agencies are hiring applications who have gained additional qualification by earning a degree in a government related field.
bmore_bestson
over 3 years ago
58 comments
Red tape could potentially hamper the governments’ efforts to recruit college graduates. The system used to identify, recruit, and employ government employees is broken and has been for a very long time. The government will need to improve and streamline the current employment process because it can take anywhere from 2 to 5 months before potential applicants are contacted about employment propositions.
kristinawilcox
over 3 years ago
6 comments
I don't think the age range was mentioned to exclude those who are over 40. The age range was mentioned because that is an ideal range where the employee will not be looking to retire within the next ten years. Employers don't want to waste time and money looking for new employees if they don't have to.
AlenaC66
over 4 years ago
440 comments
It is nice that the Government want to hire more graduates. But why only graduates between 18-40? I am 41 working to get my Accounting degree, I would like to get into one of those Government internships.
BrownT
over 4 years ago
14 comments
I certainly hope that this article is right about Gov't hiring more graduates because, I've been looking for awhile now and no luck yet!
Mollycochran
over 4 years ago
6 comments
that would be great news for me...unfortunately months and months of applying has left me in the same place as i was before...a degree in intel, mandarin language skills, and no job. :-(
Account Removed
over 4 years ago
I too think anyone who have a college degree should be able to employ with the Gov. Very good post!
varsha12108
over 4 years ago
2 comments
ITS GREAT
lynettedaye
over 4 years ago
4 comments
I am glad to hear that the Government is deciding to hire College Graguates. The issue I have is with the age range 18-40. There should not be a specific age range. Any Degree holder should be welcome to a government job. If you are 50 yrs of age and completed a college degree you should be entitled to a government job. Stop the exclusion and bring a higher standard to the workplace. I see a lot of jobs that have a high school diploma required and it is sad to hold advanced degrees and be devalued in the workplace. Also Government wants students to repay their loans, how can they repay student loans without adequate compensation on jobs.
lynettedaye
over 4 years ago
4 comments
I am glad to hear that the Government is deciding to hire College Graguates. The issue I have is with the age range 18-40. There should not be a specific age range. Any Degree holder should be welcome to a government job. If you are 50 yrs of age and completed a college degree you should be entitled to a government job. Stop the exclusion and bring a higher standard to the workplace. I see a lot of jobs that have a high school diploma required and it is sad to hold advanced degrees and be devalued in the workplace. Also Government wants students to repay their loans, how can they repay student loans without adequate compensation on jobs.
syed143
over 4 years ago
2 comments
Its great Govt., Job is seeking very difficult. But its very happy to say that Govt is hiring for Degree Holders. Thanking you,
Account Removed
over 4 years ago
There will be alot of hiring in the next couple years due to the amount of retirements happening. Wish I was one of them.