Table of Contents
According to the Congressional Research Service’s study, the federal government is one of the largest employers in the United States. In fact, its workforce consists of approximately two million civilian workers and fills nearly 90,000 jobs each year. And guess what? Qualified applicants are still in high demand for several positions.
Most government jobs offer competitive salaries and great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, health insurance, leave flexibility, and more. So, if you are evaluating job options, exploring careers, or thinking about a career change, you may want to consider a job in the federal government. However, many people believe that applying for such opportunities is a complicated process. Fortunately, there are various online resources that can aid you in your job search efforts. To help you get started, here are the 11 best government jobs search sites where you can access all the information you need to secure your next US federal job.
1) USAJOBS
USAJOBS is the US federal government’s official employment site. It provides a list of more than 14,000 job vacancies at any given time. Hundreds of federal agencies and institutions use the site to facilitate their hiring processes and find the perfect match for their open positions. Hence, USAJOBS has become the central location for job seekers to search for that one great opportunity.
USAJOBS features not only regular positions but also volunteer work, internships, and opportunities for veterans. You can search for jobs for free without an account, but applying for any vacancies will require you to create one. Setting up a profile will also give you access to other site functions, including job alerts that allow you to receive real-time notifications to your email whenever a new job is posted.
2) Government Jobs
Government Jobs is the only job board in the government sector created by NEOGOV Insight. NEOGOV Insight is the world’s first fully integrated recruitment, selection, and applicant tracking system designed specifically for employers in the public sector. For this reason, the site is known for its easy-to-use features that allow you to speed up your job search and locate job opportunities at local, federal, and state levels.
Government Jobs offers a free access membership to apply to thousands of open positions. As an Access Member, you will also have a chance to upload your resume, receive job alerts, save and track your applications, and get discovered by potential employers looking for candidates with expertise like yours. The site also provides resources, including tips, insights, and expert advice to help you find the right job and make a great impression.
3) GovtJobs
GovtJobs is one of the largest job search sites in the US that specializes in executive-level state and local government job opportunities. To be able to use the site’s features fully, you need to create an account. Doing so allows you to upload your resume to easily apply to any open positions, set up job alerts, and gain access to all official state government websites where you can find the information you need for your application. You will also have the opportunity to use other resources that include details about salary, interview tips for specific roles, training opportunities, and more.
4) Careers in Government
Careers in Government is considered to be the oldest and largest government job search site in the US. It provides job seekers free access to thousands of job opportunities. But to apply to any of these vacancies, you have to register first, either using your email address or LinkedIn account. You can search for jobs by city, state, category, or type. If you have a specific employer in mind, you can take advantage of the site’s detailed list of government and public sector employers, where you can easily locate your dream job.
Creating an account also allows you to upload your resume, set up job alerts, and access invaluable resources. These include employer profiles which can help you further evaluate the job post based on classification, requirements, salary, and other criteria. You can also read key information about hiring policy changes or search through hundreds of available articles that give interview tips and more.
5) Political Job Hunt
Political Job Hunt is part of the Political Wire, a website that features a daily collection of articles about political and current affairs. This job search site hosts an extensive database of politically-centered jobs across different levels, types, and categories. To provide more opportunities, it also lists other government jobs pulled out from other job sites, such as ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn. To apply to jobs, you have to fill out a short application form where you can also upload your resume and cover letter. In some cases, you will be directed to another website where you can apply for the position following their standard process.
6) Roll Call Jobs
Roll Call Jobs is sponsored by the Capitol Hill newspaper called the Roll Call. This job search site features thousands of public affairs and government relations positions from more than 3,600 institutions across the United States. It has a database of more than 8,800 resumes, and more than 16,800 job seekers have been using the site monthly.
You can spontaneously browse for open jobs on the website without an account. To apply for any jobs, you can either use your email address or the Roll Call website, where you will be asked to create an account. Setting up a profile also gives you access to other featured services, including creating job alerts, uploading your resume, and taking advantage of its job search resource center.
7) CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop is an online tool sponsored by the US Department of Labor. Apart from job opportunities, it is also a great source for career exploration and training. One of its unique features is the job banks, where you can easily search and apply for open government positions online. These websites list jobs of all levels, categories, and US locations.
CareerOneStop is also dedicated to helping military and veterans transition to civilian jobs by providing resources, such as Veterans Job Matcher. It also offers tips on interview preparation, salary negotiation, and more in the form of short articles. Taking advantage of these resources increases your job search success rate.
8) Administration JOBS
While Administration JOBS is not focused solely on the federal sector, it provides a wide variety of administration positions in many US-based government agencies. These include career opportunities in public administration, benefits administration, and healthcare administration, among others. During your application, you can opt to use your email or create an account on the website. In some cases, you will be directed to the employer’s website and follow their standard application process. The site also has a career advice section that features everything there is to know about administration careers.
9) Idealist
Founded in 1995, Idealist provides thousands of job, internship, and volunteer opportunities not only in government agencies but also in nonprofit and non-governmental institutions. While the site is US-based, it is used by hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of job seekers around the world. Its job listing ranges from entry to executive level with education requirements ranging from high school through to doctorate. To narrow down your search result, you can filter jobs by type, location, and organization. Thereby, allowing you to save time and locate your desired job more quickly.
10) PublicServiceCareers.org
Sponsored by the three most prominent institutions in the public policy and public administration fields, PublicServiceCareers.org is considered to be a leading resource for jobs in the public sector. The site’s job lists feature jobs in government, NGOs, nonprofits, consulting, and academia across the US. It also provides resources that include career planning tips, information and advice about public service careers, and a company directory where you can find a detailed list of open positions with a particular employer.
You can apply for any available jobs even without an account. PublicServiceCareers.org will take you to the employer’s direct website. From there, you can send your application through their standard procedures. Nonetheless, to make your job application easier, you can create an account that will allow you to upload your resume. This way, you can also be found and contacted by potential employers.
11) ICMA.org
ICMA.org, or International City/County Management Association, has a job center that provides an up-to-date database of job openings in the local government. The jobs range from internship to management level positions that you can filter by function, location, salary, and area population for more refined results. Each job posting provides details about salary, job type, department, primary duties and responsibilities, qualifications, requirements, and benefits. Once you click the ‘Apply Now button to send an application, you will be directed to the employer’s website, where you can also see all of its other vacancies. From there, you can follow their application process, which typically involves creating an account or filling out a short form.
The job search in the federal government can be a difficult and lengthy process. In fact, it can last about six to eighteen months, depending on the type and level of position you’re looking for and applying for. So apart from being patient, utilizing the right resources is imperative to increase your chances of achieving a positive outcome. You can start by exploring the above list of the best job search sites that provide up-to-date databases of open federal positions in the US.
