The U.S. Dept. of Labor has a variety of federal jobs open, and it’s offering a workshop that will help inform you about the application projects.
The positions range from labor investigator and international relations specialist to IT specialist and mine safety and health specialist. Although there are many job openings, “applying for a federal job is very different than applying for a private sector job,” according to Dolores Garcia, selective placement program coordinator for the Dept. of Labor’s Division of Workforce and Inclusion.
You can register for the workshop, which takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. PST, using this link.
This free workshop is being hosted by Garcia, a seasoned human relations specialist who has years of experience qualifying and disqualifying applicants. You will learn, among other things, about who gets referred to a selecting official for consideration and why.
Those who have been incarcerated are eligible for employment in the vast majority of federal jobs. Exceptions to this rule may relate to laws prohibiting employment in certain jobs as a result of the type of crime committed.
Factors considered in hiring those who have been incarcerated
The federal government passed a ban the box law in 2019. Once applicants receive a conditional offer of employment, the next step is to complete a Declaration of Federal Employment and undergo a background check.
Among the things considered are:
- An applicant’s character.
- Potential conflicts that may arise related to national security.
- How long it has been since the criminal activity.
- The seriousness and circumstances of the criminal activity.
- Efforts that have been made toward rehabilitation.
The workshop is being presented by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, but the information gained may help job seekers apply for other federal jobs in other departments, of which there are many. In fact, the federal government employs more than 2 million civilians, who work in every U.S. state and territory. According to the Current Federal Civilian Employment by State and Congressional District issued on Sept. 22, 2023, there are 142,038 federal civilian employees in California alone, with 122,8764 in Texas and 88,646 in Florida.
More info on applying for federal jobs
If you’d like more information about applying for federal jobs, you can check out the Guide to Federal Employment for Second Chance Applicants, which outlines just about everything someone who is considering applying for a federal job needs to know.
In addition, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management offers a series of webinars and workshops on a variety of topics geared to those who want to find a job working for the federal government. You can find current and future events on the USAJobs website. Among recent and upcoming events are:
- Writing your resume for federal jobs
- IRS revenue agent career opportunities
- USDA Forest Service – tips for job seekers webinar
- Bureau of Reclamation, CA Great Basin, Outreach Talent Fair (online)
- Interviewing for federal jobs
