Unit 1: Government Jobs Outlook

Clerical and Administrative Support Positions

The main point of this lesson is still true: many law enforcement and homeland security careers are support positions rather than sworn officer roles. Modern agencies also need analysts, dispatchers, records specialists, cybersecurity staff, evidence technicians, HR specialists, budget staff, IT specialists, inspectors, and administrative professionals.

Some federal law-enforcement officer positions have age, physical, medical, or retirement requirements, but many mission-support roles do not follow the same standards. These roles may involve records, evidence, dispatch, investigative support, report writing, digital systems, cybersecurity, data analysis, case management, courts support, and program administration. IT specialists, analysts, technicians, and administrative staff remain important across public-safety agencies.

Many jobs are also found throughout the prison system, which is growing faster than ever. For instance, Correction Officers, Security Guards, Social Services, even Recreation Aids and Assistants deal with prison systems and procedures, and also with senior citizens and youth care.

One of the largest Law Enforcement positions that no one thinks of is the food assistance area. Food Inspectors for dairy, vegetables, and meat, inspectors for labeling of foods and products call for many workers in this field of work. And investigators have been working hard to try to stop the fraud that is being found in the Food Stamps system.

Customs and Immigration is another large area of Law Enforcement that has many different categories. Inspection of various merchandise and food shipped in from overseas. The calculation of duties and taxes placed upon these items-both imported or exported. There are even many custom warehouses that maintain effective control of merchandise stored in what is called “Custom Bonded Warehouses.” Thousands of people are employed to oversee these activities and to insure compliance with Customs regulations. These employees do not carry guns and do not have to pass strict physical exams. However, they do have to pass an entrance exam, a drug test and background investigation. Customs and Immigration also deal with people entering and leaving the United States. Reviewing, evaluating, and examining applications for U.S. Passports as well as other privileges and services involving citizenship and Visas. Finally, oversight and attention for other privileges and services is necessary in determining the fitness and health of many aliens who seek to be allowed admission into this country.

Throughout our numerous court systems, there are all levels of Law Enforcement work. Microphone reporters record and transcribe conferences, hearings, and court proceedings. Numerous Court Clerks are needed to deal with the work of reviewing legal documents for completeness and accuracy. Preparation of statements and reports, recording of fees received in criminal and civil cases, juvenile probation, child support, guardianship, adoption, etc. The Bailiff who maintains order in the court room and his work involves providing court operation services. He announces the Judge, calls the witnesses, and is responsible for ejecting persons disturbing the court proceedings. He even arranges for food and lodging for the jurors, when necessary, and is responsible for their security too. There are even special Messengers that work in the court system. They receive and deliver special documents, publications, records, files packages, and various other items.

These are just some of the many job-titles that are included under the name of Law Enforcement jobs. There are payroll clerks, information clerks, actuaries, attorneys, language specialists, fingerprint technicians, telephone operators, dispatchers, etc. Today, applicants should also search by mission area and skill, such as program support, mission support, intelligence analyst, emergency management, security specialist, IT specialist, human resources, budget analyst, public affairs, and investigative analyst.

Remember also, that if you begin a job with the government, you may later apply for other opportunities as your qualifications grow. Federal employees often compete for internal merit-promotion announcements, but movement is not automatic. You still must meet the qualifications, eligibility rules, time-in-grade rules when applicable, and required documents for the new position.

The above statement is very important, because too many times potential employees have rigid and fixed ideas as to what they desire in a certain job. Two students once wrote to us about this subject. One said, “I want to be a Guided Missile Expert.” The other said, “I want to drive a postal truck.” And naturally, this could very well mean that the position of their “dreams” may not materialize, (especially for the one who wanted to be a Guided Missile Expert). When a particular job title that you are interested in is not available, or a job title you like requires qualifications you lack—then the logical solution is to “get into some kind of a civil service job,” or as they say, “get your foot in the door!” Once you gain civil service status, then you can later look to change your job title.