Young Blood

n the 1960s, when federal agencies were creating new social programs to help the poor and aspiring to such ambitious scientific goals as sending man into space, the idea of working for the government carried cachet. Idealistic young college graduates happily flocked to public service.

A lot has changed since then. Deservedly or not, government has largely lost its reputation as an innovator. Bureaucrats, thanks to years of negative portrayals by politicians and the media, are viewed by many as inefficient and wasteful. Because it has become fashionable to denigrate federal service and government jobs often pay less than those in the private sector, the idea of working for the government is a far less attractive option for young college graduates.

"The image does not sit well with my graduate students who would like to go into government, but are concerned about the image," says Rosslyn Kleeman, executive-in-residence at George Washington University's Department of Public Administration. Indeed, a 1998 study conducted by researchers at George Washington for the Pew Charitable Trusts and the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) found that college Phi Beta Kappa honor society members generally have unfavorable views of government careers. "Most Phi Beta Kappas envision good benefits and job security, but not much else that is positive about federal employment," the study found. For example, only 22 percent said they believed federal service provided good opportunities for personal growth and skill development, and only 21 percent said they believed they would have capable co-workers in a federal job.

Private Prospects

More of today's graduates are seeking jobs with the private contractors who are doing an increasingly large portion of the government's business. "This is the first generation of my students that are going more with contractors," says Kathryn Newcomer, chair of the GWU public administration department. Most students still go into public service or the nonprofit sector, she says, but a rising number are taking contractor or other private-sector jobs. Indeed, the number of college graduates with public policy and public administration degrees who began their careers in federal, state and local government dropped from a high of 76 percent in 1973 to 49 percent in 1993, according to The New Public Service, a forthcoming book by Paul Light of the Brookings Institution. Of that 49 percent, only 30 percent joined the federal government.

Julie Helm, who graduated from George Washington University's public administration master's program this year, is one of those who opted for private-sector work. She applied for some federal jobs but was frustrated with the amount of paperwork required. Helm also was worried that government work might not be exciting enough. "I tend to really thrive in a fast-paced environment," she says. "I don't think it's impossible to find that kind of environment in the federal government, but I think it's more common in the private sector." Salary was also an issue. Helms had spent several years working hard to get experience and had earned her master's degree. "I was expecting to be compensated for that," she says. Helms now works as a lobbyist with Ford Motor Co.'s government affairs office in Washington.

Even among those graduates who do enter government ranks, many don't see it as a long-term career move. Michael Tyler, who joined the Commerce Department as a budget analyst five years ago after finishing a public administration master's degree, views his government service as one experience of many that will likely fill his working years. Before entering the government, he worked for several years in the telecommunications industry. If an attractive private-sector opportunity comes along in the future, Tyler says, he may well take it.

Image Makers

Hoping to boost government's image on college campuses, NASPAA is launching a campaign this fall to reinvigorate student interest in public service. "The idea is for college students to get more information about what's out there and more excited about the prospect of a public service career," says Katie Morrill, director of public service initiatives at NASPAA. "There are a lot of stereotypes. But a lot of it is ignorance. Many students don't even know what a bureaucrat is."

The association, which is the accrediting body for public administration schools, will distribute to colleges glossy promotional pamphlets profiling nine young men and women who hold dynamic federal, state and local public-service jobs. Included are a NASA scientist and an Energy Department employee who has worked on negotiating international treaties.

NASPAA also will send a "tool kit" to faculty and career advisers on college campuses designed to help them establish a link between "service learning," where students do volunteer work while in school, and student interest in public-service careers. The service learning concept has been a big success, Morrill says. "But it ends there. It doesn't transfer to people considering careers in public service." NASPAA also is working with the Office of Personnel Management to boost on-campus recruiting.

NASPAA's and individual agencies' efforts to raise the profile of federal service among students likely will take years to bear fruit. In the meantime, agencies can be glad there are still some people like Michael Campbell around who wouldn't choose any other career. Campbell joined the Labor Department two years ago as a Presidential Management Intern.

As a policy analyst in Labor's inspector general office, Campbell says he's had the chance to work on varied projects and to develop a broad range of management skills. He's also made some good friends among other PMIs across government, whom he describes as a tight-knit group of people who are always willing to help each other.

What does Campbell like best about government work? The ability to effect change on a large scale, he says. And he's not at all bothered by the salary. "I would definitely welcome" a long career in government, he says, adding, "The rewards that you get from the public service are pretty profound."