There are two general ways for you to enter the Executive Branch: Political Appointee or Career Employee.
Political Appointee
- A political appointee is appointed by the President and is usually picked based on qualifications, based on the recommendations of those trusted by the President, and based on loyalty to the President’s values, vision, and agenda.
- Political appointees occupy the highest-level positions in federal agencies, with far more policy-making power than career employees.
- A political appointee, unlike career government employees, need not go through a complex process to be hired but can be brought on immediately, pending any necessary security or background checks.
- Likewise, a political appointee can be fired at any time for any reason; he does not have the job protections that a career employee has.
Career Employee
- Unlike a political appointee, the hiring of a career employee can take months.
- The position he is applying for must be officially advertised (usually online through USAJobs.gov) and can take applications from anyone, sometimes subject restrictions such as incumbent, veteran, etc.
- Once the application period closes, the hiring selection is made based on qualifications and how well the applicant’s background matches the requisites for the position.
- Career Employee positions are more competitive the higher they are in rank.
- It is nearly impossible to fire or discipline career employees, giving the positions far more job security than political appointee positions.
- Career employees can stay on for decades, often accumulating key program knowledge and relations with Congress that enable them to direct policy from behind the scenes.
