Free Government Job Listings
Some websites featuring government job listings may have better offerings and help than others, but don't count them out. That's because some of the free government job listings may not be listed on all the sites. Bookmark a couple of your favorites and check them often to see if anything new has popped up or has something the other doesn't have.
USAJobs.gov: Official Federal Job Search Site
USAJobs.gov is the official employment website for the United States government. It is the first place you should look if you're interested in employment with the federal government.
- Search for job openings in several ways, including by agency, location, and occupation.
- If there's a particular government office or department you'd like to work with, you'll need to search for open positions by agency.
- Once you select the agency you are interested in, you'll be able to browse all current openings within that particular department.
- There is even an option to search for International jobs in embassies or U.S. government agencies abroad along with an option to search by a specific overseas agency.
The site also provides the forms you will need to apply for federal employment, along with additional information beneficial to individuals interested in working for the U.S. government. The site includes a resource center with information and tutorials about the federal hiring process, instructions for searching the site, information on special programs for veterans, individuals with disabilities, recent graduates and more.
Federal Agency Specific Employment Postings
Some federal agencies post job openings on their own websites in addition to listing the with the USAJobs website. If there is a specific agency that you are interested in working with, looking to see if such information is available can be worth your time. Examples of agency-specific job announcements include those found on the websites of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Social Security Administration (SSA). If there is a particular agency you'd like to check, conduct an online search for the name of the agency paired with the word "careers" or the word "employment".
State Government Employment
If you're interested in pursuing government employment at the state level you'll need to complete the hiring process specific to the state where you would like to live and work. When you're seeking state employment, the website for the personnel board in your state is generally the best place to start.
A directory of state employment offices are can be found on 50StateJobs.com or you can run an online search for the name of your state paired with the phrase "state employment" to find out where listings are posted. In California, for example, information to those seeking employment opportunities with the state is provided at the website for the California State Personnel Board, SPB.CA.gov.
Local Government Positions
In addition to looking for federal and state employment opportunities, you may also want to find out what types of jobs are available at the local level. Both city and county government agencies hire civilian workers for various types of positions. If you are interested in finding local government job listings, contact the human resources department for the municipality or county where you would like to work and inquire about openings and the hiring process.
To find the appropriate agency in your area, conduct an Internet search that pairs the name of the city or county where you live paired with the word "employment" or the phrase "personnel board." This should lead you to job opening announcements and information about the hiring process. For example, in Mobile County, Alabama positions for the county, the municipalities with the county and various agencies within each jurisdiction are posted via Mobile County Personnel Board website, along with details about the hiring process.
Beware of Government Employment Scams
It's important to take care to protect yourself from scam artists when you are seeking government employment opportunities. There are a number of sites promising access to federal and state job listings for a fee. Such so-called "opportunities" are scams, as there are no secret listings for government jobs posted only to those who pay a fee to view them. Federal, state and local government agencies are required to post their job openings and hiring procedures where interested parties can find them. There is no reason to pay anyone to provide you with information that is readily accessible to you and other job seekers at no cost.
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