How to Apply for Government Jobs in Houston and Get Hired

Overview

• Reasons Houston is a popular place for government employment
• How to apply for government jobs in Houston
• Tips for preparing for an interview

If you’re looking for employment in Houston, Texas, you might want to consider getting a government job. Government jobs provide a steady income and good benefits. However, applying to them can be a bit of a process compared to typical jobs.

This guide will give you insight into how to find and apply for government jobs in Houston. We’ll discuss the government application process and give you some tips on how you can prepare for an interview.

Houstonians enjoy affordable housing, a myriad of fun activities, and a relatively low cost of living compared to other metropolitan cities. Houston is also home to a booming job market. Whether you want to spend your workdays in oil, medicine, emergency management, or technology, you’ll find plenty of employment opportunities.

Houston is massive and there are always open positions to fill. Government positions in Houston offer competitive salaries, great benefits, and high job security. Houston has both the largest health care center in the world and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Johnson Space Center.

There’s also a huge need for applicants in other industries like law enforcement, energy, and manufacturing. If local government or public service interests you, look for employment with the City of Houston or Harris County.

While the recruitment process for federal government jobs in Houston is similar to the process for other cities, submitting an application for any government position can be complex. You can find a list of available federal jobs on USAJOBS.gov.

Another great way to find government jobs and submit online applications is by using a job search platform like Joblist. Our platform allows you to set job alerts and can help you find government jobs that match your interests, skill set, and experience.

While more traditional jobs may have more flexible eligibility requirements, the federal government will not hire you unless you meet every requirement. The government operates with taxpayer money and must be thorough in its hiring process.

Don’t use the same cover letter for every job you apply for. The purpose of your letter is to show hiring managers that your principles and abilities line up with theirs. Research the agency before writing your letter, review the job description, and find the agency’s mission statement.

Many people apply for government jobs in a big city like Houston. Make it easy on employers by keeping your letter short — meaning one page or less. Comb over your letter several times to eliminate any grammatical mistakes. Even small errors can stop your application from reaching the next stage.

You can write an effective cover letter in three to four brief paragraphs. Listed below, you’ll find the elements of a great federal cover letter:

• Header. Include all of your contact information, the date, and all of the employer’s contact information.
• Introduction. Address the employer by name if you have it. If not, address your letter to the human resources department or hiring manager. Get personal. Restate the job and let them know why it’s important to you.
• Applicable experience. Let hirers know about the abilities and work history that make you a great fit. Outline your achievements. This should make up the bulk of your letter.
• Conclusion. Tell the reader you’re looking forward to working with them and thank them for their time.

The goal is to convince employers that your work history and qualifications make you a great hire. Every resume should be tailored to the job you’re applying for. Some federal jobs require a certain number of years of experience.

For most jobs, it’s wise to keep your resume short, typically just one page. However, an ideal resume for a federal job is four to six pages. Federal employers expect you to go into heavy detail about past responsibilities. In a typical resume, you’ll have to include things like your contact information, abilities, work history, and education, but a federal resume will have a few extra categories.

Below are some of the sections that are unique to federal resumes:

• Your legal right to work in the United States. What is your citizenship status?
• The General Schedule (GS) pay grade for which you qualify and your highest security clearance. The GS is the pay scale for federal employees. This is only relevant if you have worked in government before. If not, mark the question as not applicable.
• Your military veteran or Peace Corps status. Some government agencies prefer to hire veterans or recent Peace Corps members.

For the work history portion of your resume, you’ll need to include the following information:

• Job title and company.
• Dates of employment. Month and year are sufficient.
• Full-time or part-time status. How many hours did you work in a week?
• Salary. This can also be your hourly wage.
• Skill level. Was the job an entry-level, mid-level, or senior-level position?
• Experience and accomplishments. How has your experience prepared you for this job? Name specific accomplishments with measurable details. Say something like, “I increased our website’s conversion rate by 23%.”
• Certifications and training. What special training did you receive at your previous position?
• Contact information for references.

It’s also important to be mindful of specific keywords included in the job post. Many companies and agencies utilize keyword software to vet potential candidates, so you’ll need to make sure that you’re tailoring your resume to each job.

Some other materials that could help your application shine include letters of recommendation, good character references, and published articles you’ve written in your field.

The important thing to remember is that these materials should be related to the job you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a job as an aeronautical engineer, for instance, a letter of recommendation from the manager at a department store won’t do you much good.

Be prepared for a very structured job interview when applying for government jobs in Houston; government job interviews must only include questions related to the job, as regulated by federal law.

Before bringing you in for an in-person or video interview, most agencies will perform a phone screening. The phone screening is to see whether you have reasonable expectations for the role and a shot at landing it. They’ll ask you questions about your expected salary, industry knowledge, and any issues on your resume such as gaps in employment. They’ll also ask you if you have any questions for them. Prepare at least one.

Here are some tips for preparing for your government job interview:

• Write a personal story. Give the interviewer a summary of your history. Tell them about your goals, interests, and abilities.
• Show cases of success. Have at least five specific stories of how you’ve succeeded in past roles. Include exact details.
• Do your homework. Study everything you can about the agency before going in, from their website and FAQ to their mission statement.
• Analyze the job post for potential questions. Many interview questions about your skills and qualifications will come directly from the job ad.
• Manage your social media pages. Inappropriate posts or comments can make you look unprofessional and keep you from getting hired, especially for higher-security roles.
• Dress professionally. Dress in proper office attire.
• Practice your answers. Practice giving answers to the questions you might be asked. Rehearse confident body language. Keep your shoulders back, your chest open, and maintain eye contact.

Some government interviews are done by one person, while others are done by a panel of interviewers. Most of the questions that government employers will ask you will be similar to the ones other employers will ask. There will be some penetrating questions. Your answers will be under scrutiny because of the amount of competition you’ll be facing.

Some questions you might encounter include:

• Why are you interested in a career with the Houston government?
• What will be the hardest part of this job for you?
• What do you think your essential functions to the public will be if you receive this role?
• What would you change about the government if you could, and how would you do it?
• Why did you vacate your former job?
• How well do you work in teams?
• What are your core skills and how can you apply them to this job?
• Do you have any questions for us? (Prepare at least one)

Prepare by writing a detailed answer to each question you think you’ll be asked. When in an interview, stay focused, alert, and keep a positive attitude.

Houston is a great place to work for the government. The city is home to so many industries that you’ll be able to find a job that interests you no matter what you get excited about. You also won’t have trouble finding affordable housing in Houston, and a low cost of living means your salary will go further.

Finding government jobs can be time-consuming without a tool to narrow your search. With Joblist, you can get access to curated job openings based on your skills and preferences. Take a look at our quiz page to see how we find personalized positions for job seekers. Get started today.