SECURE YOUR CONTACTS FOR THE SECURITY OF A GOVERNMENT JOB.

One of the very few bright spots in this worst job market since the 1929 Depression is USAJOBS, the official website of the US Federal Government. Federal employment is exploding! Because of the many Federal agencies that have been expanded or newly created, US Government jobs are at the very top of the job pyramid. The website lists posts nationwide, state by state, and gives the total of applications sought per state. You can become a USA Jobs Member by signing up online, where you can post your resume, apply for Federal jobs, and receive automated job alerts. Although this is the quickest way to find out about employment with the US Government, it's only as good as raising your hand in a stadium full of others who want the same attention. In addition, these lists can be deceptive. Many postings are obligatory because there must be a perception that a particular agency, which may already have chosen an in-house candidate (rather, selectee), is still taking offers from the general public. Do your research first, if time permits:

1. Learn what you can about the position by calling and talking to someone in the HR department or in the actual office.
2. See if you can meet a member of the Agency for lunch to pick her or his brain. You may offer to pay for lunch, but there's a limit to how much you can spend (not more than $25, in the past). Whatever you do, do not take your resume with you. Develop a relationship with the person, and get a candid assessment of how the office operates and whether or not you'd be a good fit. Ask probing questions about whether your interlocutor actually likes working there. What are the pros and cons? Are there office politics, or are the employees pretty straight forward, just doing their jobs?
3. After the lunch, immediately write your lunch guest a quick note, thanking her or him for taking the time to meet with you. Mail your letter. Letters from the public are a rarity in most jobs, so you'll get special attention if you write on personal stationery. In the letter, you can even ask a question to keep the dialogue open; if your contact calls you or writes back, you now have a contact in the Federal Government.
4. When you feel the time is right, find out from this person to whom you should send your resume to make application for the position, perhaps asking if you should call the head of the department. Follow what your contact says--exactly, and do not deviate from the advice you get. Someone is trying to help you now, so honor his or her advice.
5. After one month has passed, take your contact out to lunch again, or invite him or her to an event that relates to his or her work where you can be in an informal setting.Soon enough, you'll find out what's happening with the position opening. You'll also likely find out that the wait will be 6 months or even longer. In the meantime, continue to look for work in other sectors.

The government is a monolith, but it is made up of individuals. Your contact might not be in the know as much as he or she thinks, so you want to keep your options open to meet other people who may be of equal or even more assistance to you. Your resume does count, but your contacts count more, nowadays, in gaining employment--even when looking for work in the Federal Government. Just as you would in any relationship, navigate the waters carefully and deftly. Be genuine. Most of all, be patient. True friendships take a long while to develop. Don't bet the farm that you'll get the job, but hope that you have at least made a new friend!

Some of the tips given above are also applicable to job-seeking at the state, county, and city government levels, as well as to educational administration, particularly in higher education.