Career of the Week: Government

Following on from this morning's revelation that government hiring has remained strong even as the rest of the economy tanked, we've nominated careers in government as our "career of the week." (See the hiring stats here.) As a sampling of some of the content we've got for anyone considering entering the public sector, check out this profile of the Government Accountability Office.

Be warned, though, that a career in government isn't all roses in the garden. Sure, you'll probably care a lot less about the outcome of the current healthcare debate what with the bumper plan you'll be entitled to as a federal or state employee, but there are drawbacks too. As one former State of Illinois employee told us in a review, chances are you won't be making serious bank any time soon: "Working for the government - state or federal - is not the road to a luxurious lifestyle measured in dollars." Not that that's the be all and end all, of course. The same source goes on to say that "it is a very satisfying career personally." You can find the rest of that review here, as well as many more opinions from current and former government employees right here.

Those truly interested in the field might also want to keep an eye out for the upcoming "Vault Guide to Government Agency Careers," which is due for release in a few short weeks.

--Posted by Phil Stott, Vault Staff Writer