June 2006

GW Students Rank First in Federal Job Interest

By Jamie L. Freedman

Always dreamed of that corner office with a view? Then, federal employment might be a good bet! With 44 percent of the nation’s 1.9 million civil servants eligible to retire within the next five years, federal recruiting efforts are quickly becoming the talk of the town.

As one of six pilot universities participating in the Call to Serve Recruitment Initiative, launched in October by the Partnership for Public Service (PPS), GW is playing a central role in boosting awareness of government career opportunities among college students. On May 2, the University hosted a well-attended panel discussion in the Marvin Center Amphitheater to announce the results of a recent PPS-commissioned survey assessing student perceptions and knowledge of public service careers.

The benchmark survey, reflecting the views of some 3,200-student respondents at GW and the five other pilot schools, Clark Atlanta University, Louisiana State, Ohio State, Stanford, and the University of New Mexico, revealed that interest in federal service is high among college students, but knowledge is low. More than 42 percent of juniors and seniors surveyed said that they were extremely or very interested in public sector employment—just seven points lower than the percentage of students expressing interest in large private sector companies. A mere 13 percent, however, stated that they felt extremely or very knowledgeable about federal job opportunities, and 54 percent indicated that they were not knowledgeable, posing a key barrier to converting job interest into applications.
GW students topped the charts on the positive side, with 53 percent expressing great interest in working for the federal government. Twenty-seven percent of GW juniors and seniors indicated that they felt extremely or very knowledgeable about government careers. Seventy percent responded that there are jobs within the federal government that are right for them and 61 percent have sought information about government jobs.

Chief reservations among GW respondents included the perception of low pay, with 47 percent stating that earning modest federal salaries was a major reason not to pursue a public service career. Students stated they’d most likely consider careers in the federal government if they were offered incentives such as repayment of college loans.

The government’s reputation for “red tape” was the biggest deterrent to federal employment among all respondents, with 53 percent citing “too much bureaucracy” as the main reason not to work in government. Top draws included “working on interesting issues” (82 percent), “good benefits” (77 percent), and “the opportunity to make a difference” (74 percent).

A number of recommendations for improving federal recruiting of college students are highlighted in a report released by the PPS at the May 2 meeting. “Young people have become an endangered species in our federal workforce, with only 3 percent of the federal workforce currently under 25,” says Max Stier, president and CEO of PBS. “In order to fulfill the promise of American democracy, we need to reestablish the federal government as an employer of choice for our country’s best and brightest young people.”

The partnership’s report, “Back to School: Rethinking Federal Recruiting on College Campuses,” emphasizes that the government must market itself aggressively and intelligently to attract talented young people to federal service. Federal agencies should commit to a sustained investment in on-campus recruitment, building long-term relationships with faculty, academic advisers, and career center professionals, the report states. The PPS also advises agencies to work cooperatively to market federal jobs to college students by profession rather than agency, to utilize tailored outreach with as much face-to-face contact as resources allow, and to stress the public service rewards of government work.

“This report reveals that students are eager to learn more about federal job opportunities,” says Stier. “It is up to the federal agencies to change their approach and take the message to students in a way that resonates with them.”
Living and studying on the doorstep of the nation’s halls of power, GW students are uniquely positioned to capitalize on government service opportunities—one of the foremost reasons that GW was selected by the PPS to help spearhead the program.

“GW is blessed with passionate, energized, creative students who come here eager to change the world and make society better,” says Peter Konwerski, assistant vice president for student and academic support services and coordinator of GW’s Call to Serve campaign. “It’s a big part of our mission as a university to prepare the next generation to serve, and, because of our privileged location, our students are well positioned to take advantage of the many job opportunities in the federal government.”

Since the launch of Call to Serve last fall, GW has implemented a number of successful initiatives to help students connect with public sector career options. The University set up a Web site promoting federal government opportunities and benefits, which has averaged over 2,000 hits per month since October. It also established a listserv, which sends weekly updates on federal “hot jobs and internships” to more than 90 students. In February, GW hosted a panel discussion on the benefits of working for the federal government featuring six recent graduates who have gone on to fulfilling government careers. GW Call to Serve also has sponsored numerous informational sessions, social events, and guest speakers throughout the year aimed at enticing college students to consider federal careers. The grant-funded program runs through June 2007.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu