Students pursuing a degree in Business have a variety of options for employment when entering the work force after graduation. While the private sector has plenty to offer, opting for a government job has the benefit of job security in an unsure market and often government positions offer competitive pay in comparison to private sector jobs. Since a Business Degree covers a broad spectrum of fields, students who graduate with a Business Degree often have a wide variety of skills to offer, providing them a range of options for government work.
Accounting
One option is a career in accounting. A government-employed accountant will be responsible for maintaining and auditing the records of government agencies. They will review financial documents, interpret the files, and audit them to ensure accuracy. On a local and state level, these accountants are often responsible for verifying that the spending of the agencies is in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. They are also responsible for filing and maintaining the financial records of these agencies. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics lists the average annual income of accountants as $63,550.
Human Resources
The Human Resources field is another option for a government job available for those with a Business Degree. The field of Human Resources tends to be as broadly defined as a Business Degree, meaning there are a variety of ways to apply the skills learned in school. In general, Human Resources jobs deal with the managing of employees and inter-office relationships. Human Resource jobs will also involve managing the disbursement of benefit packages and compensation for things like overtime, paid time off, and sick leave. Since a Business Degree offers education in management of administrative duties, these degree holders are well qualified for jobs in this field. The compensation for these jobs is one of the highest for those with a Business Degree with the BLS reporting a median annual salary of $99,720.
Logistics
The field of logistics may seem generalized, but government employees in this position have very specific duties. They are responsible for ensuring the upmost efficiency of the agencies for which they work. Logistics employees, called logisticians, oversee the entire chain of supply for an organization. They use software systems designed to track a product through every step of the production process, from acquisition to distribution. By having an employee follow the entire process, agencies are able to identify the best ways to save time and money in the process. Those with Business Degrees are well qualified for this work, having received extensive education about the process of distribution and management. In this field, the government has more logisticians on its payroll than any other one employer, with the BLS reporting 26,620 government employed logisticians in 2012. The median salary for these employees is competitive too, at $72,780 in 2012.
Management and Analysis
Similar to the job of a logistician, Management Analysts, often called consultants, oversee the processes in government firms and agencies in an aim to increase efficiency and profitability. Unlike logisticians, who are generally limited in overseeing the creation and distribution of a product, consultants in government jobs oversee the entire running of the agencies that employ them. They are responsible for reviewing the revenue of each agency, the allocation of spending, and the efficiency of employees. The aim of such a job is to have someone to see the big picture of each agency in an effort to best reduce inefficient spending and to increase profitability. The demand for these Management Analysis jobs is growing significantly in the government sector as agencies on every level look to reduce spending and adjust to budget cuts. Employees with Business Degrees are well qualified for these jobs as a large focus of a Business education is on the best and newest ways to spend money wisely and increase profit. According to the BLS, the average annual salary for these employees was $78,600 in 2012.
Tips for Finding Government Jobs
When looking for a government job with your Business Degree, the best starting point is the government’s own site, USAjobs.gov. With this site you can narrow your search first by your location, then by degree required or department. If you find one that seems like a good fit, make sure to check the ratings it has. Just like with any job, be sure to engage with your network. Utilizing sites like LinkedIn to plug into the network of government workers in your desired field will increase your chances of landing the job. Also check with your college or university; some have established relationships with government recruiters which can help you to secure a job even more easily.
With such a variety of options available, those with Business Degrees should carefully consider looking for Government jobs that will make the best use of their education. With competitive pay, job security, and generous benefit packages these jobs are a great option when entering the workforce after graduation. Not only that, but government jobs will often be at the front of the pack for progress and industry innovations. Securing a government job with your Business Degree will provide you with the opportunity to use your skills and acquire new ones in the process.