It’s just about that time of year again. If you are an underclassman like me, the economy is still looking down and you could use a well-paying internship or job to get you through the summer. For those UF seniors about to enter the real world, the job market is looking especially rough.
But before you start applying for a job at the local Mickey D’s or resign yourself to playing Xbox 360 for the duration of summer (and possibly beyond), you should look at a unique and fulfilling job opportunity-interning or working for the federal government.
Whatever your major or area of interest is, there is definitely a job for you. Whether you are an engineer who wants to work for the Department of Transportation or a political science major whose dream internship is with the Central Intelligence Agency, the perfect internship or job awaits you, and the time to apply is now. All federal agencies are hiring both interns and full-time employees.
Not only are the feds hiring, there are innumerable benefits to working for the American people. Pay is competitive with the private sector, and you can start off making as much as $42,000 a year with just a bachelor’s degree. Interns are paid very well, making as much as $15 to $20 per hour. All federal employees get health insurance, a pension plan and start off with more than three weeks of vacation time a year. Not interested in working in Washington, D.C., and want to stay in the Southeast? More than 15 percent of federal jobs are located in our region of the country and more than three out of four federal jobs are located outside of the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Even if your ultimate career goal is in the private sector, working for the federal government can get you there. Many employers seek to hire those with government experience. Government service is also some of the most exciting work in any field and gives you an opportunity to work in a capacity that serves others in a way other careers might not be able to. It is also important to note that federal service is non-partisan. Whatever your political stripes, federal service has the opportunity to further your career and serve others.
And don’t worry — federal interns and employees usually only work 40 hours a week, so you’ll still have plenty of time to watch baseball or play Call of Duty 2 this summer.
Kyle Robisch is a Federal Service Student Ambassador with the Partnership for Public Service, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to inspire a new generation of talented Americans to serve in federal positions. He has interned for the Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency.
