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Roughly one-third of young adults seriously would consider a career in public service if asked by a parent or the next president of the United States, according to survey results released Tuesday by the Gallup Organization.

Of the respondents, 60 percent under the age of 30 reported that they hadn't been asked ever to consider a job in government. But 33 percent of the same group of millennials said they'd give the idea "a great deal of consideration" if their parents suggested public service as a vocation, while 29 percent reported they'd do the same if the next president called on them to serve.

Additionally, 70 percent of Americans older than 30 said no one had asked them to consider a government job, but 30 percent of those respondents stated they'd be more likely to give the matter serious thought if the country's new commander-in-chief requested it.

The results were released and discussed by six panelists at a May 6 breakfast hosted by the nonprofit Council for Excellence in Government and Gallup.

"This shows what possibilities there are with this new [presidential] transition," said Patricia McGinnis, president of the Council for Excellence in Government. "This is a transition that is more sweeping than we've seen in decades. No incumbent president or vice president is running, and we have new possibilities in Washington."

When asked how appealing a job in public service would be, 70 percent of those ages 18 to 29, and 53 percent older than 30 said "very" or "fairly appealing." Both age groups indicated that the best motivators for considering a public service career would be opportunities for growth and advancement based on performance (51 percent) as well as a flexible schedule and the chance to telecommute (45 percent). Millennials also said student loan forgiveness (27 percent) and continuing education benefits (26 percent) would be strong incentives for a career in government.

When it comes to exploring jobs in the federal government, respondents from both age groups said they would be most likely to look at government Web sites as their primary source of information. Of millennials, 11 percent said they would use search engines like Google and Yahoo to learn about federal jobs, compared with 6 percent of those older than 30.

Still, several panelists said Tuesday that the federal government's current processes for advertising federal jobs and hiring new applicants were too rigid and burdensome, turning off many young applicants.

Adam Lusin, a millennial who is a management analyst at the State Department, said the federal hiring process takes too long, especially when compared to private companies that can hire applicants instantly. He recommended that agencies educate potential applicants on how to navigate the government's hiring process through various sources, including online message boards and blogs and career centers on college campuses.

McGinnis added that all federal agencies could benefit from having direct hiring authority, noting the practice currently is available only to a handful of agencies. "Members of Congress and those who are shaping the rules and regulations need to be in this conversation as well," she said. "Creating this kind of flexibility is going to require a collaborative effort that goes beyond the executive branch."

Still, Warren Wright, managing partner at Gallup, warned against suggesting that the government's sole focus should be on recruiting millennials. "We don't want to leave the impression that we'll give up on anyone over 30," he said.

Elizabeth Kolmstetter, deputy chief human capital officer for the National Intelligence Directorate, said agencies should work to attract workers of all ages, noting that hiring and placing experienced workers into the executive ranks is a relatively new concept to the federal government. She recommended avoiding generational stereotypes, pointing out that government offers attractive benefits -- such as job security, career advancement and training -- to all age groups.

Lusin said the federal government had the mission and values that match the ideals of many millennials, and he encouraged agencies to capitalize on those strengths to attract and retain younger hires. "The type of work agencies do is noble and honorable," he said, "and that's not a message that is all the time communicated to younger millennials."

COMMENTS

• The US Government is not a place for the best and the brightest. The hiring process takes too long to fill vacancies. We've lost several of our top developers to the private sector because they couldn't stand working in an environment that makes it more suitable to come up with reasons for not doing something and offering no alternatives, than implementing solutions. Finally, to those criticizing Jennifer - agreed, we owe a to our veterans, but being forced to hire someone without the skillsets required to do the job doesn't help anyone. Her statement is 100% factual, it's very hard (if not impossible) to hire anyone from the outside that is not a veteran, whether they possess the necessary skills or not. SC Fed Posted May 19, 2008 3:01 PM
• As a Federal retired annuitant after 20+ years of civilian service in Germany & the metro area, I was "called back" after September 11th to lead important national programs and do strategic planning. I am now encouraging my granddaughter to consider Federal Service; she has her MBA and a good job w/an international firm, but the challenges and opportunities in the private sector cannot compare w/those I've experienced in the federal sector, particularly DoD. OPM needs to do a better job at marketing & attracting -- through a better website -- professionals of all ages. Managers have to teach, be good role models, communicators & leaders, if we're to retain the best candidates! Carol Drury Posted May 13, 2008 12:40 PM
• Why must they be asked? The rationale of these younger Americans sounds like an excuse in their hesitation taking a stance one way or the other. If they really have the desire to work for the Government, they would take that leap of faith, knowing at the outset their choice can have positive or negative connotations. If the work assigned, is not up to their expectations, look for employment elsewhere in Government or, in the private sector, since age is not a detriment in pursuit of a desired goal. Dependent upon which specialty you apply, the rewards can be endless. In my particular specialty I consider 'thank you' and 'I learned a lot today' from service members to be the highlight of my day. When on deployments, it is most fulfilling providing troubleshooting/isolation assistance, resolution of parts problems and/or training to service members when dealing with a multitude of situations or, in newly fielded equipment. My job is not only challenging its rewarding. CAE Posted May 12, 2008 8:15 AM