While we are all familiar with the fact that we wouldn’t be able to function without our government, not many people know just how many jobs and positions exist to form a working, effective government.
We’ll be covering the recruitment needs of the governments of the UK, USA, and Australia.
Many people are more than qualified to become a government professional; they just haven’t realized it yet. Let’s cover some of the currently available jobs in government, and the qualifications you’ll need to apply.
Eligibility Requirements
USA
The United States Federal Government is the single largest employer in the country, with nearly two million civilian workers.
Over 1.5 million of these workers are full-time employees. Five out of six federal employees work outside of Washington D.C., contrary to popular belief.
One of the most important requirements for any position in the U.S. federal government is U.S. citizenship. You’ll also need to have achieved at least a high school level education before you’re considered for a position.
While the federal government does not require a standard application form for most positions, it will need certain information in order to evaluate your qualifications. The government will also need to determine whether or not you meet the legal requirements for federal employment.
If you fail to provide all of the necessary information requested in the vacancy announcement, you may not be considered. Keeping your resume brief and clear helps speed the application process.
UK
In order to be considered eligible for a position in the U.K. government, there are a number of key requirements you must meet. First, you must have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your job.
You will need to prove that you are being paid a salary that is appropriate from your current job. You must also be able to speak English fluently, or at least prove your knowledge of the language.
The U.K. government also requires that you have open savings account that you’ll be able to financially support yourself with when you arrive in the country.
You must be able to prove that you are capable of traveling, and should be able to produce your travel history of the last five years.
If you are from a country listed as a tuberculosis risk zone, you must provide tuberculosis test results. You also need to provide a criminal record from any country that you have lived in for twelve or more months from the last ten years.
Australia (ACT)
Alongside the standard requirements for a position in the ACT Public Service, additional criteria may apply to certain roles. To be eligible for temporary employment in the Australian government, you must be in the country with work rights or be a permanent Australian resident.
If you were formerly employed by the ACTPS and received a voluntary redundancy that has not yet expired, were retired for the abandonment of employment, or were an Executive whose employment was terminated under certain circumstances, you may be denied the application.
You also need to provide any past police records and criminal history. However, spent convictions do not need to be disclosed.
Qualifications
There are many different qualifications that may be required across all governments, far too many to list in one article since there are so many positions to choose from. For that reason, we’ll focus on the more basic ones.
USA
In terms of education, you’ll need to have achieved a high school or university level education before applying to a U.S. government position. College-educated applicants will need to provide their majors, type and year of degrees, or hours and credits earned.
Any other job-related qualifications, like licenses and certificates, training courses, or special accomplishments and awards, can also be considered during application.
UK
Similar to the USA, you will need at least a high school level education in order to be considered for a position in the U.K. government.
If you are not a U.K. citizen, you can expect to have to prove your knowledge of the English language, and also provide your travel history for the last five years.
Australia
To qualify for a position in the Australian government, you’ll need to meet the requirements of the AQF, or Australian Qualifications Framework. This framework is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian training and education.
The AQF Second Edition includes the entire set of AQF objectives and policies, as well as info about the monitoring and governing arrangements for the AQF.
Experience Needed
USA
The U.S. federal government requires you to supply a job title from your previous job, employer’s name and address, accomplishments, and starting and ending dates. You should also indicate if the hiring agency is able to contact your current supervisor.
UK
If you wish to work in the U.K., you will have to provide the details of your previous employment, such as your position, your employer’s name, and address, and when you started and ended at your previous job.
Australia
Like the USA and UK, the Australian government requires the details of your previous job, as well as the duration of your employment from start to finish.
Both the U.K. and Australia have work experience programs that aim to provide prospective employees with the work experience required to apply for a government position.
Payscale
The average salary for a U.S. Federal Government employee is around $66,000 per year.
A U.K. government employee can expect to earn about £26,640 a year.
Those working for the Australian government may earn an average of A$75,653 per year.
How To Apply
USA
To apply for a federal job through USAJOBS, you’ll need to login to your USAJOBS account and upload your resume. You’ll then be able to search for jobs that interest you, and review job announcements to see if you qualify.
UK
Gov.uk is the official website of the U.K. government and features a tool that allows you to search for government jobs in your area. You are also able to view the jobs open to you if you are already a civil servant.
Australia
The Australian Public Service (APS) is where most folks go to apply for a government position in Australia. It consists of a large number of organizations that focus on specific fields, like finance, education, and defense.
Be sure to review the Eligibility Requirements before applying for a government position.
Summary
There is a lot to be gained from working for the government, not only in terms of salary or benefits but experience as well. Working for the government can be a stepping stone to a number of other careers, so don’t hesitate to apply!
