There are four basic types of positions within the federal government:

1. Career. The career position is the one to which most federal workers ultimately subscribe. This is full-time, entitled to all rights and privileges of government employment. A three year probationary period must be completed first before you achieve this category classification.

2. Career-Conditional. This position of a probationary nature, lasting three years after which you become eligible for a career classification. During this period of time, employees are measured on their abilities and effort in an attempt to decide if they can be upgraded to career at the end of the three year period. Since the career employee is generally the last one affected by cutbacks (like those being experienced now), this probationary period is a critical one for the individual aspiring to full-time permanent status within the US Government.

3. Term. These are positions filled for a finite period of time. Generally, an agency may be given a project or research study lasting for a set period of time (one, two, three years, for example) after which a report is due. Since assistance may be needed to complete this project, the grant money awarded is used to hire term employees, hired until the end of the project. Health benefits will likely be available. Pension benefits probably will not. The term employee who perform well may have an inside track to future employment within the career-conditional employment level mentioned above.

4. Temporary. These positions are less than one year in length and do not carry any special privileges or benefits like health insurance. However, work well done is generally remembered. In addition, you may be privy to hearing about other openings and if your work has been satisfactory, a supervisor's recommendation can help move you into position for other work.

As you can see, these are stepping stone types of positions. This is the way the federal government works. Within this structure is a pre-programmed format within which one moves slowly up the ranks. There is little room for diversity and flexibility within this framework, but there is a certain amount of stability and security the farther along you go. There is also the chance for part-time work on either a temporary or term basis and that information would be listed along with the posting of the position itself.

All necessary information will be supplied with the allfederaljobs.com source.