Cover -- Book Title -- Dedication -- Copyright -- Contents -- Top Ten Reasons to Consider a Government Job -- Introduction -- Chapter 1: So You Want to Work for the Government -- Why Choose a Government Job? -- A Short History of the United States -- How the President Is Elected -- State and Local Governments -- Some Issues to Consider -- Government Bureaucracy Versus the Private Sector -- A Wealth of Opportunities -- Chapter 2: An Overview of Federal Jobs -- Where the Jobs Are -- Who Works for the Government? -- Job Requirements -- The Federal System -- Incentives and Benefits -- Chapter 3: National Security -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security -- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) -- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) -- U.S. Department of Justice -- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) -- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) -- Airport Security -- Chapter 4: The Military -- Selective Service -- Qualifying for Service -- U.S. Army and U.S. Navy -- U.S. Air Force -- Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, West Point -- U.S. Marine Corps -- U.S. Coast Guard -- Does Uncle Sam Want You? -- Chapter 5: The Finest and the Bravest -- Police -- Fire Department -- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) -- 911 Operations -- Animal Control -- Other Enforcers -- Chapter 6: The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) -- A Little History -- Today's Postal Service -- In the Office -- In the Field -- Requirements -- Postal Police Force -- Chapter 7: Infrastructure -- Engineering -- Requirements and Opportunities -- Mass-Transit Operations -- Public Works -- Chapter 8: Walk on the Wild Side -- National Park Service -- State Jobs -- Zoo Workers -- Fish and Wildlife -- Life Guarding -- Landscaping -- The Nature Conservancy -- Chapter 9: Government Jobs in Communications -- Nonfiction and Copy Writing -- Technical Writing -- Editing -- Freelancing.

Writing and Editing Job Requirements and Opportunities -- Advertising and Public Relations -- Chapter 10: Social Services -- Social Workers -- Psychologists -- Child Care -- Juvenile Services -- Social and Human Services -- Social Security Administration (SSA) -- Department of Veterans Affairs -- Chapter 11: Office Support Staff -- Administrative -- Secretarial -- Customer Service -- Labor Relations -- Personnel Assistants -- Chapter 12: The Judicial System -- Court Officer -- Court Clerk -- Court Reporter -- Corrections Officer -- Chapter 13: Technological Wizards -- Information Technology (IT) Specialists -- Computer Scientists and Database Administrators -- Computer Programmers -- Data Entry -- Chapter 14: Hands-On Jobs -- Carpenter -- Electrician -- Mechanic -- Painter -- Printer/Reproduction -- Other Jobs in the Construction Trade -- Chapter 15: Science and Medicine -- U.S. Food and Drug Administration -- Biologists -- Chemists -- Pharmacologists -- Microbiologists -- Medical Officers -- Chapter 16: The Money Managers -- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) -- Treasury Department -- Government Accountability Office (GAO) -- Chapter 17: Other Agencies -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -- U.S. Department of the Interior -- U.S. Department of Education -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- Department of Motor Vehicles -- Chapter 18: Applying for a Government Job -- USAJOBS -- The Application -- Background Checks -- Drug Tests -- Security Clearances -- Credit Checks -- Chapter 19: Your Resume and Cover Letter -- Preparing Your Resume -- Cover Your Resume -- Other Types of Correspondence -- Communication, Not Simply Application -- E-Mail Versus Snail Mail -- Phone and Fax -- Chapter 20: Preparing for the Interview -- The Resume and the Interview -- Stress-Free Interviews.

Your Resume As a Guide for the Interview -- Pre-Interview Resume Review -- Two Key Phrases -- Common Questions -- Conversations, Not Cross-Examinations -- What to Wear to the Interview -- Chapter 21: Testing One, Two, Three -- Civil Service Tests -- Study Techniques -- Before the Test -- Strategies for Success -- Appendix A: Web Sites and Contact Information -- Appendix B: Federal Salary Ranges and Pay Grades -- Index.