Current college student--is there still opportunity out there?

[Anonymous]

The federal government is still under a defacto hiring freeze except for a few agencies like ICE and possibly the VA that aren't really looking for a lot of people for policy/general government work. Your GAO contact should have told you that GAO is on the naughty list for issuing reports/ decisions critical of the administration and is at risk of funding cuts. And most people who work there are auditors, which requires majoring in accounting (or a lot of accounting credits). I'm not sure how things are looking at the Congressional Budget Office.

Lobbying or trade associations might be options. State and local government might be options because you're not in the DMV area, which is facing cuts. It's hard because a lot of the places doing analysis for the public good have gotten funding cuts too.

Can you pull together enough credits in the next 3 semesters to minor in something else or change your major? Hang in there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not going to be a "decision maker" anywhere right out of college in an entry level position. Except a startup you start.
Learn terminology.
Lobbying is eternal. It's also called government relations, public affairs, crisis management. Sight variations in approach but look into those types of firms.
GAO is awful if you are at all creative, a free spirit, a selective rule abider. It used to be the Accounting office and the AUDIT process underlies all the work. I had a flowchart on my door that covered the door showing all the required steps. It sounds good but the reality is the installed base of employees who will be your colleagues and seniors. I left quickly despite being recruited as a manager.

Regarding GAO, have you ever considered that maybe you just weren't a good fit? GAO hasn't been the Accounting office for over 20 years now, so I'm not sure why that difference would be an issue today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is still under a defacto hiring freeze except for a few agencies like ICE and possibly the VA that aren't really looking for a lot of people for policy/general government work. Your GAO contact should have told you that GAO is on the naughty list for issuing reports/ decisions critical of the administration and is at risk of funding cuts. And most people who work there are auditors, which requires majoring in accounting (or a lot of accounting credits). I'm not sure how things are looking at the Congressional Budget Office.

Lobbying or trade associations might be options. State and local government might be options because you're not in the DMV area, which is facing cuts. It's hard because a lot of the places doing analysis for the public good have gotten funding cuts too.

Can you pull together enough credits in the next 3 semesters to minor in something else or change your major? Hang in there!

GAO already received their FY26 appropriations when the shutdown ended. Also, it's not true that you need to major in accounting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is still under a defacto hiring freeze except for a few agencies like ICE and possibly the VA that aren't really looking for a lot of people for policy/general government work. Your GAO contact should have told you that GAO is on the naughty list for issuing reports/ decisions critical of the administration and is at risk of funding cuts. And most people who work there are auditors, which requires majoring in accounting (or a lot of accounting credits). I'm not sure how things are looking at the Congressional Budget Office.

Lobbying or trade associations might be options. State and local government might be options because you're not in the DMV area, which is facing cuts. It's hard because a lot of the places doing analysis for the public good have gotten funding cuts too.

Can you pull together enough credits in the next 3 semesters to minor in something else or change your major? Hang in there!

Who wouldn’t want to work for ICE to defend the homeland? Traitors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is still under a defacto hiring freeze except for a few agencies like ICE and possibly the VA that aren't really looking for a lot of people for policy/general government work. Your GAO contact should have told you that GAO is on the naughty list for issuing reports/ decisions critical of the administration and is at risk of funding cuts. And most people who work there are auditors, which requires majoring in accounting (or a lot of accounting credits). I'm not sure how things are looking at the Congressional Budget Office.

Lobbying or trade associations might be options. State and local government might be options because you're not in the DMV area, which is facing cuts. It's hard because a lot of the places doing analysis for the public good have gotten funding cuts too.

Can you pull together enough credits in the next 3 semesters to minor in something else or change your major? Hang in there!

GAO already received their FY26 appropriations when the shutdown ended. Also, it's not true that you need to major in accounting.

Sure, but who knows what will happen with GAO in the future, and accounting is a big help for positions there.