Government Job Application Tips for Diverse Job Seekers
Luke Smith is a writer and researcher turned blogger. Since finishing college he has been trying his hand at being a freelance writer. He enjoys writing on a variety of topics but technology and digital marketing topics are his favorite. When he isn’t writing you can find him traveling, hiking, or gaming.
A lack of diversity is hardly a unique problem, unfortunately. The government isn’t spared from this issue either. The Office of Personnel Management researched diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the government workforce in their 2022 annual report Government-wide DEIA: Our Progress and Path Forward to Building a Better Workforce for the American People.
They found that over 60% of the total workforce was white. Black employees had the closest majority with just only 18%, and Hispanic/Latino workers comprised 9.5% of the workforce, rounding out the top three.
This discrepancy proves we need more people of color in the government workforce. Diverse workforces are full of varying experiences, skillsets, perspectives, and energy, making them incredibly productive and growth-inducing.
If you’re a person of color looking for a government job, these tips will help you navigate your job hunt successfully so that you can be a part of the movement for a more diverse and inclusive government workforce.
Define the Job You Want
First and foremost, you have no chance of landing the job you want if you’ve yet to define what that job is and why you want it. To avoid this, ask yourself questions like: what’s your ideal position? Where do you want to work and why?
Make an initial list of the government positions you see yourself in. Once your list is complete, delve into each of those jobs a little deeper. Thoroughly research the requirements for each one and weigh them against your skillset and work experience.
After this, choose the positions that mesh well with your experience, skillset, and wants in a government job. Then, move on to researching the organizations that offer the positions you’re looking for.
Research an Organization’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Of course, getting the job you actually want is important. But what’s just as critical is getting that job at the right organization. The culture in the workplace must align with you who are to ensure you’re able to do your best work each day.
Looking at the organization’s commitment to DEI is especially important. A lack of diversity in the workplace is bad for any organization. It leads to constant complaints of discrimination, less engagement, a high turnover rate, and difficulty attracting top talent.
A diverse workplace, on the other hand, helps employees feel seen, heard, and understood. They’re more productive. And diversity improves the company culture, providing employees with a positive, fun, and inspiring place to work.
You should be looking for signs of a diverse workplace in the organizations you’re hoping to work for. Go to the organization’s website and visit the About page for information on its mission and core values. Visit the employment page as well. That’s where you’ll be able to see details about commitments the organization is making to its employees.
Finally, see what other employees are saying. Visit job review sites like Glassdoor to see what current and former employees are saying about their experiences at particular organizations. You could also search social media for insights. These two spaces are where you’ll get the most honest accounts of people’s work experiences.
You should be looking for signs of a diverse workplace in the organizations you’re hoping to work for.
LUKE SMITH
Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter to Each Job
Once you find some companies that fit your needs that offer the positions you’re after, tailor your resume and cover letter to each application. Sending in a generic cover letter and resume won’t help you stand out.
Instead, show potential employers that you took your time understanding the role and your fit in the organization by highlighting what makes you the right fit.
For example, take a couple of key requirements from the job listing and talk about how you can meet them in your cover letter. Then, move the skills and experience up in your resume that also corroborate what you say in your cover letter.
In addition to highlighting what makes you the right fit, your resume should be polished. Use the appropriate font for your resume, preferably one that’s simple and easy to read, like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman.
Your resume should also be formatted correctly. Make sure it’s organized and concise with clear sections. There should be no punctuation or grammar errors. And your resume should have a flow to it that makes it a pleasure to read.
Finally, never feel like you have to change or omit your real name. Many people of color fear being discriminated against right off the bat because their name tends to tell their ethnicity. And unfortunately, many studies have shown that certain employers have turned away candidates in the past simply for their names — even if the resumes looked identical to a Western, white-sounding name.
However, this implicit bias among others doesn’t mean you should hide who you truly are. Wear your name, culture, and background proudly. It’s part of what makes you unique and ready for the government job you’re applying for.
Join Professional Networks
Professional networks can be a haven for people of color seeking government roles. You face unique challenges in landing the job of your dreams. It’s great to be a part of a network that understands these challenges wholeheartedly and provides resources and support for you to navigate them successfully.
Start with a Google search for professional networks that represent your cultural, racial, or ethnic background.
The National Urban League for Black job seekers, The National Association of Asian American Professionals for Asian job seekers, and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian internships sector for Native job seekers are great examples of professional networks for people of color.
Join those that make sense for you and engage with the other members to form relationships that end up being incredibly valuable in your search for a government job.
Finding a government job as a person of color may feel like murky waters at times. But you can wade through them successfully with a commitment to implementing the tips above.
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