Clerical Jobs at Federal Employers Besides offering competitive salaries and good benefits, federal positions offer the opportunity to make a difference which many workers consider to be an appealing draw They also enjoy the stability of employment To be considered for a federal job applicants should create resumes that meet the requirements that are listed on the job announcement To do this, emphasize work, volunteer and academic experiences that bolster your skills Blue-collar The federal government employs a diverse workforce Its employees perform a wide range of duties that allow the government to function and provide its services to citizens The government divides its employees into categories according to their duties They include technical, administrative and professional jobs Blue-collar work usually involves more manual labor than white collar jobs They might require a degree in a specific field or a certification from an institution of trade Many of these positions require specialization and usually require heavy machines Blue-collar employees could also be exposed to dangerous substances or animals The term "blue collar" is usually associated with employees with lower incomes and is used to contrast their jobs with those of white collar professionals Blue-collar workers have traditionally worked in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and mining They often work outdoors and wear blue overalls or jeans to cover dirt They also have to be able to stand for extended periods of time They are typically paid an hourly rate, whereas their white-collar colleagues earn a salary per year The federal government employs a number of different methods to classify its employees and determine their wages which includes the federal pay grade system Each job is assigned a pay grade based upon the tasks and qualifications required for the job Federal employees may receive a "step increment" every one to three years This is a minor increase in salary Pophal says while some people work for the federal government for its security and benefits however, the size of the bureaucracy itself can be a challenge for others The challenges are exacerbated by a shaky budget Clerical Clerical employees are accountable for the everyday office tasks that keep businesses running smoothly These include answering phones, filing documents and completing data entry They can also assist with scheduling appointments and processing information requests As a result, they are essential in nearly every industry Typically, clerical positions are entry-level jobs Candidates are required to attend a short course of training that teach them basic office procedures and equipment This includes learning to use a PC as well as other relevant software Some employees in the clerical field must undergo a security check to ensure that they are not a threat to national security In general, administrative employees are not given any supervisory authority They must follow the orders of a higher-ranking employee Some clerical jobs do offer opportunities for advancement into administrative positions such as secretaries and executive assistants Other positions, like those at insurance agencies or financial institutions tend to be managerial in nature While clerical jobs are generally seen as entry-level jobs, candidates for these roles must be organized They must be able to quickly scan resumes and identify any mistakes or inconsistencies They must then be able to explain these details in greater depth Some clerical workers need to be able to learn company database systems or operations Some clerical workers may be required to travel or handle the mail Many clerical workers work in various sectors They can be found in the health care industry as well as finance or human resources They can manage payroll accounting and tax documents, or they can help managers in making hiring and firing decisions In addition to the standard benefits offered by their employers, some clerical workers receive additional benefits from the federal government Administrative The federal government provides its employees with a first-class compensation and benefits package Benefits include health insurance, retirement plans and life insurance The agencies also allow employees to take annual and sick leave as needed Employees can use their accumulated annual leave and sick leave for themselves or their family members However, the length of time available is contingent upon the length of service Administrative employees are exempt from the Federal minimum wage and overtime pay requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act FLSA They must, however, be paid at least the regular rate of pay when they work longer than 40 hours per week These employees can perform work directly related to the management or general business operation of the company's clients or customers, including giving advice or consulting services This could include tax, accounting and auditing as well as computer support and information technology activities such as administration of databases, data management security management, and web-based customer service Certain federal employees of the administrative branch are eligible for a range of work schedule flexibility options, including part-time work and job sharing These arrangements allow employees to customize their work schedules to suit their personal and professional requirements Federal employees also receive holiday pay Employees can also carry over 30 days of vacation time or leave from one year to the next Administrators are vital in enabling an agency to accomplish its mission during a pandemic Managers can read this document to get a quick overview of what they'll need to do during a crisis, and what information they must relay to their employees and what procedures are in place for dismissal and closures outside of Washington, DC Professional The federal government employs workers with a wide range of professional skills in offices across the country Many of these jobs require an extensive background check, drug tests and security clearance The Federal Government pays well and provides excellent benefits to its employees, including low-cost insurance policies as well as generous vacation and sick leaves and flexible working hours It also offers pension plans that include defined benefit pensions that is uncommon for private sector employers Most professional and technical jobs in the Federal Government are paid on the General Schedule pay scale, which has 15 grades from GS-1 through GS-15 and 10 steps within each grade The highest-level positions within the Federal Government are in the Senior Executive Service Under a variety circumstances federal agencies may be able to promote, degrade, or change the status of employees who are career-conditioned or on a career path They can also offer temporary promotions to finish projects work, fill vacancies temporarily or to meet other temporary requirements Promotions to higher pay grades are typically processed through a career ladder or merit-based promotion system Like most organizations, the Federal Government has its challenges One of the biggest issues is a lack of funds, which can limit an agency's ability to improve equipment and promote innovation The bureaucratic nature of the Federal Government can also be a challenge, as it can cause lengthy and frustrating delays when processing paperwork or bringing on new employees The vastness of the Federal Government is intimidating to an employee who is just starting out Employees must be prepared to spend a large amount of time navigating complicated administrative procedures and figuring out how to navigate through the numerous departments and offices Technical Federal agencies are on the lookout for tech-savvy talent In fact, applications per job posted on Handshake have risen 5x for federal tech jobs since the start of 2023 If you're a college student or recent graduate with a strong technical background working for the federal government might be your most beneficial choice Many federal employees are drawn to the opportunity to "serve" others with their technical skills to support our nation https//vimeocom/708093498 is a different way of viewing work, but one that many federal employees describe as meaningful and fulfilling In addition, many who are looking to work for the government are interested in its stability and competitive pay packages According to the Partnership for Public Service PPS federal employees have more security in their jobs and generous vacation, personal and sick leave policies than most private sector employers Additionally the federal government is a pioneer in innovative workplace arrangements, such as telecommuting, which is an increasingly popular option for a small number of employees The federal workforce is smaller than the workforces of many US industries, but it is larger than certain industries, including utilities and mining It is comparable to the information publishing broadcasting, telecommunications and publishing industry, which employs nearly 3 million people The federal government is currently testing new ways to streamline and make the hiring process more accessible for tech professionals The federal government is experimenting with new ways to streamline the hiring process and make it more accessible for technology professionals This includes launching a searchable online list of positions in technology within every agency and expanding its use assessment by subject matter experts This will lead to an efficient and fair hiring process, as well as saving time for the agency and its partners