[ID:0891]While there have been major improvements to make applying to the federal government and its agencies more transparent, the process is still confusing for outsiders, and particularly for young people. Those outside the system often don’t know what job series they qualify for, can’t figure out what grade they could qualify as and/or don’t understand KSAs. Most of the job application advice is written in bureaucratic-speak or it is so vague that it is not really helpful. If you don’t have previous experience on an internship or as a student employee, it is very difficult to be successful in an entry-level competition, given the number of people involved and the inside knowledge of people, processes and policies that is required to navigate the system.

Finding the perfect job in government requires a combination of experience and smart networking. Know who to talk to, what to apply for and when it's appropriate for you to do so.

Many federal agencies fill their jobs as private industry does, by allowing applicants to contact the agency directly for job...