Possibe to secure a job at the federal level?

[sushitooth]

Is it possible to go from undergraduate straight into a Masters, such as the one at Heinz College, and then to a job at the federal level?

Let's say that there is an internship at a policy research institute between the completion of the undergraduate degree and the beginning of the Masters, and then an internship at the federal level during the Masters. Do you think, then, that a job can be landed?

(And, can an internship at the federal level be landed in this scenario?)

[Cornell07]

Is it possible to go from undergraduate straight into a Masters, such as the one at Heinz College, and then to a job at the federal level?

Let's say that there is an internship at a policy research institute between the completion of the undergraduate degree and the beginning of the Masters, and then an internship at the federal level during the Masters. Do you think, then, that a job can be landed?

(And, can an internship at the federal level be landed in this scenario?)

It all depends on what you want to do. Though I want to be a foreign service officer, it is not required to have a graduate degree (perhaps not even a college degree, I think). A large portion of getting the job is taking the written foreign service exam and then passing oral+group exams. So, in short, yes.

[sushitooth]

It all depends on what you want to do. Though I want to be a foreign service officer, it is not required to have a graduate degree (perhaps not even a college degree, I think). A large portion of getting the job is taking the written foreign service exam and then passing oral+group exams. So, in short, yes.

Well, I think I should have been more specific. The jobs I am looking at (I was talking about myself in the post, by the way :] ) are policy analyst jobs. If I had my choice, I would specialize in technology policy at Heinz and then work at either the DOE, Homeland Security, or Borders/Customs in policy analysis. If not, I could use my economics/math background and, perhaps, start out somewhere such as a budget analyst. And, except for the budget analyst, I believe those other positions I mentioned would require an MPP (or MPA).

I would think if I was going into International Relations, that would be tough to do in the way I described it... Wouldn't the federal government place even more importance on experience when hiring someone in IR?

I am trying to bank here on my quantitative foundation (and Heinz's "skills-based" curriculum, as they describe it) to become a sort of shining candidate for work that involves analysis. Of course, later on, I would like to diversify my career and probably move away from quantitative and into management... But have to "get in," first.

[flyers29]

It's certainly the route many people go. Just be mindful that the government hiring process has been really backward (in my opinion) in some respects. Most government jobs are posted on USAJOBS, and each announcement usually involves answering these long, super-specific questionnaires known as KSAs. While having a master's would technically qualify you for a position, many positions would de facto require experience in that position in order to get a good score on the questionnaire (as a computer system generates a score based on your answers to the multiple-choice questions as well as how many "keywords" it finds in the answers that require a written response). And it's backwards in the sense that skills that are applicable to a given position aren't picked up by the questionnaire if they aren't asked by it, so you have to have the specific experience it's asking for. Fortunately, they're doing away with the KSA system next month so your resume might actually matter more now. I'm not at all trying to be negative or say that you won't get picked up for anything--just be prepared for an arduous process that involves a lot of waiting.

[sushitooth]

It's certainly the route many people go. Just be mindful that the government hiring process has been really backward (in my opinion) in some respects. Most government jobs are posted on USAJOBS, and each announcement usually involves answering these long, super-specific questionnaires known as KSAs. While having a master's would technically qualify you for a position, many positions would de facto require experience in that position in order to get a good score on the questionnaire (as a computer system generates a score based on your answers to the multiple-choice questions as well as how many "keywords" it finds in the answers that require a written response). And it's backwards in the sense that skills that are applicable to a given position aren't picked up by the questionnaire if they aren't asked by it, so you have to have the specific experience it's asking for. Fortunately, they're doing away with the KSA system next month so your resume might actually matter more now. I'm not at all trying to be negative or say that you won't get picked up for anything--just be prepared for an arduous process that involves a lot of waiting.

Flyers, thanks. Does anyone know anything about the Career Intern program? While it doesn't exclude those with experience (past their degree) from participating, it seems to be a program mostly tailored towards for recent graduates. Also, just off the top of my head, I am wondering this: Since most agencies that have Career Intern openings specify that it IS a full-time job and is NOT an internship, I wonder if, in theory, I could apply to a GS-11 job after completing a Career Internship. I am not saying this is the smart thing to do, and I am not saying that just because a GS-11 level required 2 years of experience past a Masters to qualify, that this is a sensible thing to do... But I am saying that is a Career Intern program wouldn't count as "full-time experience" in terms of the government's eyes, I am not sure that's something I would like to do.

One other question: My undergrad GPA was not horrid, but it wasn't that impressive. Would you suppose that if I performed at a 4.0 level at the graduate level, they would put considerably more weight on this than on my undergraduate performance?

Thank you, everyone, for your responses and the responses that may follow.

Edited March 24, 2010 by sushitooth

[flyers29]

Actually the FCIP programs are better than you think. With most of them you'll come in as a GS-9, get promoted to a GS-11 after one year, and then they usually will convert you to permanent career status a year after that (possibly with promotion to GS-12). So it's very much a "real job." I'd also look into the PMF program as well as similar programs that individual agencies might have. The only downside to FCIP is that its all about timing..an agency may not be recruiting through FCIP when you're coming up on graduation. The GAO actually puts out a list of when their various announcements will be open ahead of time though, so that might be a start.

[sushitooth]

Actually the FCIP programs are better than you think. With most of them you'll come in as a GS-9, get promoted to a GS-11 after one year, and then they usually will convert you to permanent career status a year after that (possibly with promotion to GS-12). So it's very much a "real job." I'd also look into the PMF program as well as similar programs that individual agencies might have. The only downside to FCIP is that its all about timing..an agency may not be recruiting through FCIP when you're coming up on graduation. The GAO actually puts out a list of when their various announcements will be open ahead of time though, so that might be a start.

That seems like a nifty idea, then. Good point about the timing-- I'll try to get it right.

Any idea on my undergrad/grad GPA question. Say, a 3.0 undergraduate GPA in economics, and then a 3.8 GPA at Heinz... That won't cut me out of contention, will it? I know I am probably being absurd, but sometimes I feel like if I don't have full-time work experience, I better have a 4.0 undergrad and a 4.0 grad or I won't be hired in federal government. The other side of me says, "Hey, do well at Heinz, try to do a Summer internship at the fed while in your Masters, and you will give yourself a shot." I hope it's more like that

[stilesg57]

The PMF - if you can get it - is about the best way to get into Federal employment. Almost certain it requires a masters degree.