Many Federal agencies fill their jobs like private industry by allowing applicants to contact the agency directly for job information and application processing.

Previously the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) maintained large standing registers of eligibles and required applicants to take standardized written tests. In addition, applicants completed a standard application form, the SF-171 to apply for all jobs. Today OPM no longer maintains registers of eligibles and only a few positions require a written test.

The SF-171 is obsolete and no longer accepted by most Federal agencies. The new Federal application form is Optional Application for Federal Employment, OF-612. In lieu of submitting an OF-612, applicants may submit a resume. Another change is that job seekers do not need a rating from OPM to enable them to apply for non-clerical vacancies.

But, while the process is now very similar to that in private industry, there are still significant differences due to the many laws, executive orders, and regulations that govern Federal employment.

Widely depending on the kind of job, qualifications for state and local jobs vary. Many jobs require nothing more than a high school diploma or GED, a few don't even require that much. Be sure to check the specific job qualifications on a job announcement before you apply. You can be a high school graduate with no work experience, a current college student, a recent college graduate, or a veteran. The government will have positions in which you can apply successfully.

However, not everyone who is hired by the government agency is fully trained to begin working their first day. In response, government agencies are prepared to fully train their people. Multiple training and educational opportunites are available. These training also help to prepare you for future promotions.