HOW TO GET A HIGH-PAYING JOB WITH THE GOVERNMENT "What really qualifies you to hold a government job is not your job skills or past work experience, but your determination." One common misconception about government jobs is that they are hard to obtain. that is just not true. They are, however, hard to find out about. In fact, the most difficult part about getting a government job is finding out about it. In some cases a government position may go unfilled for weeks or even months because word never gets out that it is available. What really qualifies you to hold a government job is not your job skills or past work experience, but your determination. First, find a position that interest you and, keep trying for it--even if is currently filled by someone else. (You'll want to be prepared in the event they quit, move, or get promoted.) So, where do you go to find a government job? And if they are so hard to locate, how do you find out about them? Once you find out a job you are interested in, how do you go about applying for it? The answers are so simple that they may surprise you. Once you find a position your are interested in, you'll need to fill out STANDARD FORM 171., better known in the government as SF-171. This is the standard federal government application form. No matter what other forms you are required to fill out during your application process, you'll need SF-171, but more on that application later. WHERE TO LOOK People tend to think that the only jobs advertised in the