Make a Difference as a Public Servant

If you care about the world and want to help shape a better future for us all, there is nothing more rewarding than choosing a career in public service.  You can directly contribute to keeping our country strong and safe. 

As a public servant, every day brings new and different challenges.  The work is hard, but nothing is more gratifying than knowing you’ve made a difference in the world--that you’ve helped make someone’s life just a little bit better. 

One of the many benefits of Federal service is that there are positions in virtually every field. While many think that Federal Government jobs are all in Washington, D.C., in fact, 85 percent of Federal positions are outside of the D.C. area.  More than 50,000 employees work abroad.

Having public servants from varied backgrounds and with diverse skill sets throughout government is key to developing the best workforce in service of the American people. That is why in August 2011 the President issued an Executive Order calling for a government-wide coordinated effort to promote diversity and inclusion within the Federal workforce. 

If you are interested in joining the ranks of Federal public servants, you can begin exploring career opportunities through USAJOBS.gov.  Nearly all Federal job openings are posted on this site and each job announcement includes details about responsibilities, qualifications, benefits, and application instructions.  At any given time, there are approximately 20,000 positions available.

If you are interested in the national security and international affairs fields, here are some exciting current opportunities:

• The FBI is looking for talented individuals in a variety of career fields including Special Agents, Computer Engineers, and Cyber Security Specialists.
• There are many civilian internship opportunities in the Army Materiel Command, which provides worldwide logistics for our troops.
• Gain insights into diplomacy as a U.S. Department of State intern.
• The Presidential Innovation Fellows is a highly-competitive opportunity for private sector innovators and technologists to work with high-level public servants to solve Federal government’s biggest challenges.
• The Pathways program offers students and recent graduates a chance to explore possible careers in the Federal Government. One part of Pathways is the Presidential Management Fellows Program for recent graduates with master’s or advanced degrees (within two years) who are interested in a career in leadership and policy.
• The Attorney General’s Honors Program recruits entry-level attorneys at the Department of Justice.

I hope you will consider joining me in serving the American people here and around the world.