Human Resources Career Compass
Continuous learning equips HR practitioners to be strategic partners in their organizations, fostering workplaces where employees can thrive. Work is rapidly changing due to technology and employee expectations and, like all employers, the federal government has to be ready to innovate to attract, engage, and retain top talent. As federal HR practitioners, you need to be ready with foundational human capital expertise and access to the latest thinking and data in order to guide your agency to meet current and future requirements.
Whether you are just starting out or looking to elevate your federal human resources (HR) career to new heights, the HR Career Growth Platform is your central training and professional development resource. On this site, you can chart a clear path to professional growth and find resources, tools, and insights tailored specifically for human capital professionals.
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HR Career Paths and Training
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HR Resource Hub
HR In the Federal Government
Federal HR practitioners are part of a larger HR community of more than 40,000 professionals across the federal government. HR Specialists provide services and consultation to support strategic goals and produce results that accomplish their agency’s mission.
Agency leaders rely on HR Specialists to help them apply merit system principles to attracting, developing, managing, and retaining a high quality and diverse workforce. Employees rely on HR Specialists to provide information and assistance that supports important aspects of their professional and personal lives, such as benefits and training. As representatives of the nation’s largest employer with 2.2 million civilian employees around the globe, Federal HR practitioners provide products and services for a diverse and complex workforce that involve different systems with different statutory and regulatory authorities.
Each federal agency has its own HR organization responsible for implementing HR practices specific to the agency's mission, goals, and workforce needs. While they operate within the framework of federal HR regulations, individual agencies may have additional policies or procedures that align with the agency's specific mission and operational context.
The Federal Government is an exciting place to work as an HR Specialist. HR in the Federal Government has a combination of distinct characteristics that set it apart from HR in other sectors and can allow you to take on a variety of roles and develop unique expertise, which can contribute to an interesting and fulfilling career:
- Focus on Public Service: You have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on your agency’s mission, tackle diverse human capital challenges, collaborate with agency leaders, and help to ensure that HR practices align with your agency’s mission.
- Diverse and Complex Workforce: The Federal Government is one of the largest employers, with a diverse and complex workforce comprising millions of employees across various agencies and departments. You may have the opportunity to support the unique needs and requirements of a wide range of occupations, from administrative staff to scientists, park rangers, law enforcement officers, and more.
- Merit Principles: The Federal Government follows a merit-based system for hiring and promoting employees. This means that candidates are selected based on their qualifications and skills, rather than favoritism or political considerations. You may have the opportunity to play a crucial role in ensuring fairness, equity, and compliance with merit principles in the recruitment and selection processes.
- Civil Service Rules and Regulations: The Federal Government operates under specific rules, regulations, and policies. You have the opportunity to develop expertise in these rules, which govern areas such as hiring, compensation, benefits, performance management, and employee conduct. You will navigate these regulations and advise others on applying them for effective human capital management and ensuring compliance.