When people graduate from college they have two options as far as work goes, they can go into the private sector or into the public sector. Those interested in pursuing a professional career in the private sector can choose whether they want to work in a privately owned company, or to become an entrepreneur and set up their own business. Most find this course of action better, but there are also those who are more tempted to go into the public sector. Those who live in the United States and decide to pursue a career in the public sector, unless elected into office, they must go through the proper channels, and if chosen, will become members of the US Federal Civil Service.

Now, in case you do not know what the Federal Civil Service is, the first thing that you need to know is that it comprehends all appointive positions in the government’s three branches (executive; legislative; judicial). Anyone working in the Federal Government, be it an office clerk or a presidential advisor, belongs in the Federal Civil Service, so as far as opportunities go, it is evident that it has many to offer college graduates. However, it is important that you at least have some basic understanding about the Federal Civil Service before getting into the sector; it is important that you know some things about how the service works because even though it does present several opportunities, materializing them is easier said than done.

The service is comprised of three different services; they are: the Competitive Service, the Excepted Service, and the Senior Executive Service. In essence, these three services are different in what has to do with requirements and procedures that any applicant must undergo before actually being appointed. For example, in what concerns positions within the Competitive Service, all applicants and employees must conform to the laws prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management; the laws delineate processes, procedures, and requirements that apply in everything that goes from appointments to promotions. In other words, the Federal Government is completely subject to laws and regulations establishes the Competitive Service. This, however, is not the case for the Excepted Service. Law in this service prescribes few requirements and procedures, and for the most part it is up to each agency to establish its norms, procedures, and requirements when making appointments. Third comes the Senior Executive Service, and any requirements and procedures are established unilaterally by individual agencies (although they must be based on minimum requirements that the law prescribes).
Having said this, it should be clear that the Senior Executive Service, apart from offering the most important posts in the public sector, is also the service that most closely resembles the private sector (in everything that has to do with appointment procedures and requirements). This is certainly the service that you should try to get into after graduating college, but if you find it hard to become a part of it, you can always seek for opportunities in any of the other two services. However, be advised that regardless of what service you go for, competition will be fierce and the Federal Government has no time, or tolerance, for mistakes. If you decide to pursue a career in the Federal Civil Service be prepared for stress, responsibility, discipline, and obedience; the law prescribes what is to be done and what is not to be done. So, if you get into the Federal Civil Service you have two options, you can do what the law and the Federal Government asks, or you can simply walk away and start a career in the private sector.

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Larry Louie Maraggay

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