<p>Is it necessary to major in political science if I want to possibly work in the government? Right now I am a philosophy major, which I really enjoy but I don’t want it to keep me from possibly pursuing a career in somewhere like the State Department. I am also considering going into law.</p>
<p>No, Political Science is not necessary to do government work, not at all.</p>
<p>While Poli Sci isn’t required, Philosophy sure doesn’t provide any transferable skills, at least not with a traditional Philosophy curriculum.</p>
<p>Government jobs really don’t care what you major in, given you have the right work experience.</p>
<p>Absolutely not. A PS degree is not needed. Govt. recruits the EXACT same majors as the private sector.</p>
<p>No, but you might be able to understand the government a little better.</p>
<p>^ Ha - there is no understanding government until you are a part of the ridiculousness.</p>
<p>No degree prepares you to understand govt. It works in very strange ways.</p>
<p>I have read on several govt websites, as well as military, that any major is good and useful (at least as much as they would be in the private sector). </p>
<p>Bigeastbeast: what would the right experience be?? I understand from prev threads you work in the govt, or have in the past, which are the most sought major for analysis jobs? or which majors would you consider are in most demand (other that computer related ones)?</p>
<p>^ It doesn’t matter. What they care about is transferable work experience. </p>
<p>If you don’t like working on computers, don’t waste your time being an analyst. It’s all database and other computer related functions.</p>
<p>^ Of course, it depends on what kind of analyst you want to be.</p>
<p>Being an analyst for the IRS will be different than being an analyst for the DOE or the Dept. of Education, or the DEA.</p>
<p>Point taken.
BTW I have no grudge against computers. I can deal with regular stuff… but won’t be writing programs (softwares or so) any time soon. ahahaha
I’m really trying to make a career path leading to the govt, and you usually post related info. Thanks!</p>
<p>The most important thing is work experience. If you want to be an analyst become a military officer.</p>
<p>I am seriously considering the military… at least for a couple years. I’m evaluating my options. How long have you been working in the govt?</p>
<p>You don’t just join “for a couple years” then decide to leave.</p>
<p>All enlisted contracts are a minimum of 8 years. Usually 4 years active and 4 years inactive reserve. However, they can vary, 5x3, 6x2.</p>
<p>The only way you could get a short contract (2 years or less) is if you have prior military experience and are re-enlisting through the Guard.</p>
<p>2 and 3 year active duty contracts are pretty much a thing of the past.</p>
<p>Officers are a bit different, as they can resign their commission anytime after fullfilling their obligation and it is accepted by a senior Officer, which is usually 4 years. Technically, an Officer can resign their commission at anytime, but if their obligation is not fullfilled it will not be accepted.</p>
<p>Also, Poli Sci is a great degree to have for Officers, especially in the Army.</p>
<p>However, there is no gaurantee you will get Intel out of OCS, in fact I heard it’s very unlikely.</p>
<p>Actually I’m finalizing my senior year of college abroad, and after speaking to recruiters all I’d need to join as an officer is to get my degree evaluated. But I have a few short term plans I’d like to try before I go through with it. </p>
<p>Thanks for the info on the amount of years, I guess I really need to look that up. I’ve heard Intel jobs are pretty hard to get, but it would be a great job (according to my interests of course) if I could get it. </p>
<p>I’ll look up to see if there’s some threads about this particular interests of mine. Don’t want derail from OP question. Hahahaha a little late I guess…hopefully it’ll help OP too.</p>
<h2>I’ve heard Intel jobs are pretty hard to get, but it would be a great job ~ Twinkletwinkle</h2>
<p>If you went enlisted, you could have a job as an intel analyst tomorrow, given you meet all the criteria to join the military.</p>
<p>When enlisting you can pick your MOS via guaranteed contracts. Finish college, walk down to the recruiter and say, “I’d like to be an intelligence analyst”, and they will hook you up. Whether you pass the training is up to you.</p>
<p>Currently, it is very tough to become an intel analyst in the federal government. It seems like they are rarely doing mass hiring at a GS 5/7 level, which is the best route.</p>
<p>If you really want to be an analyst, don’t overlook the enlisted route. Plus, when you get deployed you are doing intel that can actually save lives - sometimes having some closure on your work is nice. Often times in other analyst roles you just submit a report and there is never really any direct action from it, which can get tiresome.</p>
<p>There are also plenty of civilian intel jobs. You do not need to be in the military to work intel.</p>
<p>Joining the military helps, but seriously DON’T join just because you want to have a leg up on the competition when going for a gov’t job. Join because you want to be in the military and are prepared for all that goes with it (being stationed wherever they need you, being deployed for a year or so many times during your contract, actually being in the middle of a war zone, being away from your family & friends, etc)</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments BigEastBeast!</p>
<p>Shibbychic… don’t worry, that’s definitely not the point. It’s something I really would enjoy. The whole travelling/deployed scenario I find to be thrilling. And as for the rest, I think it can be handled. Not only do I think it’s honorable/heroic to be a part of our armed forces, but in the long run I like the fact that it’ll quite possibly help me secure an office job (which depending on what you do can also be thrilling- depending on your interests). I won’t lie to you, of course I think of the benefits joining can bring… but I wouldn’t even consider doing it just for the sake of having an edge for a govt job, who knows… if I do join and love my job I’d give it a go for a good 20 years and retire 
Bottom line, I do aspire to work a civilian job, but if the military can offer me good training and work experience I’d give it a shot… I’d just like to finish as much as I can with my education first and assess well all my options (and I have maaany things on my mind) before taking such a big step. Precisely because I’d like to be 100% sure it’s the right step and the right moment to take it. </p>
<p>I apologyze to the OP, we’ve kinda taken over the thread. I hope if anything, this will also be useful to you!</p>
<h2>There are also plenty of civilian intel jobs. ~ Homer28</h2>
<p>As an experienced professional, I disagree.</p>
<p>I suppose this depends on your defintion on “plenty”, but intel jobs are not “plentiful”, not when compared to most other careers.</p>
<p>For example an Accountant is a job that has plenty of jobs, as they can be found nearly everywhere and every company.</p>
<p>Intel is completely different. It’s a very narrow career path with very few possible employers, mostly federal government agencies and the military. Out of the entire federal soup of agencies, only a handful employ intel analysts, and the number of intel analysts will vary from agency to agency.</p>
<p>So to show what I’m saying. There might be 10,000 organizations that hire accountants, but only 50 that hire intel analysts. See what I’m saying? I’m not saying they don’t exist, I’m saying they aren’t plentiful. </p>
<p>There are private intel positions available at federal contractors but those are for cleared professionals from the government or military, so we won’t factor them into our scenario (can’t have C unless you have A or B first) .</p>
<p>Due to budget issues, agencies are hiring less and less intel analysts, and when they do, they are not hiring at GS 5-7 (entry level), they are hiring at GS 9 (non-entry level). So it is becoming increasingly more difficult to get an analyst position. </p>
<p>I pay close attention to job postings for intel positions and it’s pretty dead right now. I think within the last year only one agency hired entry level intel analysts, that’s it.</p>
<p>No, military isn’t required, BUT it sure puts you at a competitive advantage. Also, if a person wants to work as an intel analyst, the military is the obvious best choice, as they guarantee you the job, training and experience.</p>