If the idea of continuing to serve your country by keeping it safe from domestic threats appeals to you, consider a job with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Comprising more than 20 agencies, DHS employs thousands of civilians who perform a wide variety of tasks ranging from border patrol agent and agricultural inspector to intelligence analyst and IT specialist. 

Because of its newness and sprawling responsibilities, DHS does not yet offer a single point of contact for its jobs. The best bet for finding most homeland security jobs is to visit the DHS section of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s job Web site at www.usajobs.opm.gov/homeland.asp. However, if a Coast Guard position appeals to you, check out www.gocoastguard.com for both military and civilian opportunities. The DHS Web site (www.dhs.gov) also features a number of links to its member agencies’ Web sites to help you learn more about their various needs and functions.

One thing to remember is that what could be considered a great résumé in the civilian world might not cut it when it comes to landing a federal government job. While civilian résumés usually are concise, brevity isn’t a virtue when you’re dealing with the more bureaucratic federal hiring process. Your résumé should highlight specialized training as well as your specific knowledge, skills, and abilities (known as KSAs), which often are requested in the job posting.

For help tweaking your résumé, use TOPS, MOAA’s career transition service. For more information, visit MOAA’s Web Base at www.moaa.org.