Overview of Government Careers
Careers in Government focus on providing leadership, public services, national security, economic security, economic assistance, and maintaining order. Opportunities to serve the public exist at the federal, state, and local levels.
A George Mason alum explains their role as a legislative staffer on Capitol Hill.
Get details on the salary and job security of these Government careers
- Political scientists
- Management analysts
- Urban and regional planners
- Foreign Service Officer
- Intelligence Analysts
Learn more about careers in the government
- GoGovernment
- Federal Occupations by College Major
- Leadership Connect (free access through George Mason library)
- GS Pay Scale
- Careers in Public Administration and Policy
Careers in Government
Check out these videos to learn about the typical workday and workplace for Government professionals and get tips for success in this industry.
Get Career Ready for Government
Find out what it takes to land a career in Government
Earn a Degree
To work in the Government field, a foundation in political science, public policy or administration, economics, community health, criminology, or global affairs can be helpful. Check the George Mason Catalog for degree requirements.
In addition to your degree, the ability to pass a background investigation and/or obtain a security clearance will increase your employment options in the field of government. Join George Mason’s Clearance Ready program to learn more.
Graduate students in the Schar School of Policy and Government are also welcome to meet with a career advisor within their college at the Career Development Office.
Federal recruitment programs:
- The Pathways Internship Program is open to current students and is designed to provide paid, hands-on experience in federal agencies while exploring careers in Government.
- The Peace Corps Prep program is open to students from all majors and is designed to help prepare undergraduate students for volunteer service and careers in international development.
Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
- This program is open to students and recent graduates with a disability looking to gain experience in the federal sector or private sector. For additional information on enrolling in WRP, contact George Mason’s Office of Disability Services
Gain Experiences
Employers expect at least six to twelve months of related experience to be competitive for full-time positions. Gain experience while you are a student at George Mason.
Here are the types of experiences most valued by Government employers, and where to find them:
Jobs/Internships
- USAJobs
- Federal Internship Portal
- Intelligence Careers
- House Bulletin
- Senate Internships
- Senate Resume Bank
- Fairfax County Jobs
- GovSkills
- Great for Government Jobs (Handshake login required)
George Mason Opportunities
Public Service
Volunteering can show your commitment to public service and a connection to your community. Identify your area of interest and get involved!
- Get involved with your local jurisdiction
- Fairfax City Volunteer Opportunities
- Fairfax County Volunteer Opportunities
- Prince William County Volunteer Opportunities
- Alexandria City Volunteer Opportunities
- Volunteer on a political campaign
Study Abroad
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Studying abroad can be a great way to prepare yourself for a career in Government. Learn to work within other cultures, gain problem-solving and foreign language skills, and grow as an individual. Visit the Global Education Office for additional information.
Market Your Skills
It is important for you to be able to clearly communicate the knowledge, skills and experiences you have gained in and outside of the classroom.
Review the guidance from USAJOBS on how to create a federal resume.
Get ideas on how to showcase your qualifications to government employers from the resume samples below:
Resume
- Undergraduate-level Federal Government resume sample (docx)
- Undergraduate-level Non-federal Government resume sample (docx)
- Graduate-level resume sample (docx)
Interview
Interviewing well is key to standing out with employers in the government industry—and the best way to build confidence is through practice. Use InterviewPrep, George Mason’s free virtual mock interview tool, to explore industry-specific interview questions and sharpen your responses at your own pace.
- Register for an account at InterviewPrep using your George Mason email.
- Once you're logged in, use the following code to access a curated interview set for this career area: [qqzqrdz34qVV]
Career Ready
Career ready George Mason grads have gone on to work for Government employers, such as:
| City of Alexandria | Department of Homeland Security | National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency |
| Defense Intelligence Agency | Department of State | Peace Corps |
| Department of Defense | Fairfax County Government | USAID |
Join the Government community
Get involved with academic and professional societies to grow your network while you're still a student.
Professional Associations
- American Federation of Government Employees
- American Political Science Association
- Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
- International Association for Political Science Students
- The Intelligence National Security Alliance (INSA)
- Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association International (AFCEA)
- Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
- Foreign Policy Association
- Women in International Security