UW Making the Difference: Careers in Federal Government is the name of UW’s chapter of a nationwide effort to promote federal employment as a wise choice after graduation.

Landing a federal job or internship is totally achievable with a little time, organization, and patience.  Below are resources to help you learn how to make a difference while making a living.

Why consider a career in the federal government?

• You want a rewarding career where you can make a difference in your nation and the world.
• The federal government is the nation's largest employer—which employs 1.8 million people—and will never go out of business!
• You can advance quickly; half of the current employees are eligible to retire in the next 5 years.
• You can double your salary in just 3 years!
• You can get a job in any part of the country or the world (only 15% of federal jobs are in DC, and 50,000 federal employees work internationally).
• The federal government provides a career to fit any interest: social service, environmental protection; research; international relations; national security; education, and much more.
• You want a job that will pay up to $10,000 of your student loans for every year of federal employment!
• You want a job where workplace diversity and work-life balance is valued.
• You want job with fantastic benefits!

Want more information about exciting federal opportunities?

• Visit the official UW Making the Difference: Careers in Federal Government blog for (1) up-to-date info about UW events promoting federal opportunities, (2) interesting articles and videos about what it’s like to work for the feds, and (3) advice from current federal employees

Eager to get connected with additional federal resources?

• Check out the UW Career Center Calendar of Events for descriptions of UW events that have a federal government component.
• Subscribe to the UWFedJobs listserve to receive email notices about federal government events on the UW campus and beyond.
• Join the UW’s Federal Careers Facebook Page
• Peruse the National Making the Difference Campaign for excellent, searchable, down-to-earth info about federal agencies, internships, jobs, student opportunities, and more.

Ready to start looking for federal jobs?

• Set up a profile on USAJOBS.
• Join a national email list featuring Hot Jobs & Cool Internships in the US government.
• Visit federal agency websites for specific/unique application instructions.

Recently work for the US government?

• Let us know about your federal government job or internship by filling out the short Federal Career Survey.
• Consider serving as UW Student Ambassador or a National Student Ambassador to encourage other students to consider federal government employment.

How did the UW get involved in this campaign?

In 2009, the Partnership for Public Service named the UW’s Evans School of Public Affairs as one of five Call to Serve grant recipients to help launch the nation-wide Making the Difference campaign. The campaign is the culmination of two years of research the Partnership gleaned during the Call to Serve Recruitment Initiative – a Congressionally-funded project with the Office of Personnel Management to identify cost-effective and sustainable ways to promote federal service on campuses.  The Partnership for Public Service works to revitalize the federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works.