How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job: Your Complete Guide to Opportunities, Internships, Resumes and Cover Letters, Application Essays (KSAs), Interviews, Salaries, Promotions, and More! »

Lily Whiteman (Washington, D.C.) is a popular contributor to the “Jobs” section of The Washington Post, the career columnist of Federal Times, and a senior writer at the National Science Foundation.

f you’ve ever thought about applying for a government job, now is a great time to do it. With about 40% of the federal government’s employees expected to retire in the next 10 years, a massive retirement wave has already begun, and Uncle Sam’s door is now wide open for new hires. But with advantages like unbeatable job security, outstanding benefits, and salaries that are competitive with—if not better than—private sector salaries, competition for federal openings is fierce.

How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job gives you all the tools and guidance you need to get hired for a government job (domestic or overseas), internship, or fellowship. Written by a leading authority on federal careers, the book draws on interviews with more than 100 hiring managers to provide true insider perspectives on what works and what doesn’t when vying for a government job. Armed with the advice in this book, you’ll become a master at steering your way through the entire job search and hiring process.

Use the secrets of the experts to craft winning applications; write irresistible cover letters; excel at interviews; negotiate your salary and benefits; and then speed your advancement up the government ladder. This reader-friendly book gives you:

• little-known ways for finding openings

• shortcuts for instantly impressing gatekeepers on paper, online, and in person

• sure-fire tips for negotiating a top salary

• expert techniques for landing quick promotions

A free companion CD is loaded with easy-to-customize sample résumés and worksheets. Whether you’re seeking an executive position or a summer internship, this is the comprehensive guide that will get you that ideal federal job.

Lily Whiteman is a popular contributor to the “Jobs” section of The Washington Post, the career columnist for Federal Times, and a senior writer at the National Science Foundation. As a federal career coach, she has helped hundreds of professionals of all levels—from recent grads to executives—land jobs and earn promotions. She lives in Washington,

D.C.

CONTENTS

Preface: Common Myths About Federal Jobs, ix

P A R T I

GEARING UP TO APPLY

1 A Great Time to Go Federal, 3

2 The Search Is On: Finding Openings, 7

3 Oodles of Internships, Student Jobs, and Fellowships for Experienced

Professionals, 27

4 Into the Capitol Hill Power Vortex: Working for Congress, 33

5 Those !@#! Vacancy Announcements, 43

6 Think Like a Hiring Manager: How Applications Are Screened, 53

P A R T II

CRANKING OUT YOUR APPLICATION

7 Your Bragging Writes, 65

8 Mastering Online Applications, 89

9 Crafting Irresistible Résumés, 97

10 Writing Killer Application Essays (KSAs and ECQs), 117

11 Cover Letters That Open Doors, 173

12 Waiting for a Response to Your Application, 185

P A R T I I I

THE TALKING STAGE

13 Interviews That Nail the Job, 191

14 Commanding a Top-Dollar Salary, 215

15 Responding to an Agency’s Decision, 227

P A R T IV

ACCELERATING YOUR ASCENT

16 The Fed “Get Ahead” Guide, 237

Appendix 1: Tip Sheet for Veterans and Their Families, 259

Appendix 2: Tip Sheet for Applicants with Disabilities, 265

Appendix 3: Formatting Tips, 271

Appendix 4: Glossary, 281

Index, 287

About the Author, 293

D O C U M E N T S O N T H E C D

Directory of Internships and Special Recruitment Programs for Young Professionals

Directory of Internships That Are Specially Recruiting Women, Minorities, and People

with Disabilities

Directory of Fellowships for Experienced Professionals (Nonfeds and Current Feds)

Cheat Sheets for Application and Interview Prep

KSA & Interview Prep Cheat Sheets

Résumé Prep Cheat Sheets

Going Global in Government

Get Ahead Cheat Sheets

Lily Whiteman’s Washington Post articles on Federal Internships, Interview Skills,

International Opportunities, and Networking in Professional Organizations