UNITED STATES -- We recently sat down with Samuel “Jim” Seaman (ret.) who was recognized this past month for his 45 years of fidelity within the federal service. Jim, who serves as a Marine Corps Installations Command Transportation Services Branch employee, had some useful advice to offer for aspiring candidates on how to get such a job and have a successful and lasting career.
“I began my career by enlisting in the Marine Corps and completed 23 rewarding years of active-duty service,” Jim recalled. “Timing, knowledge, skills, and experience [then] paved the way for my transition after retirement. “What appealed to me about transitioning to the Marine Corps in a civilian capacity was the opportunity to serve alongside Marines and continue to contribute to the mission.”
Jim, who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1978, would earn the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. During that time, he learned valuable skills in his military occupational specialty that qualified him for follow-on government service jobs.
“I’ve also had the privilege of helping others begin their federal service careers with the Marine Corps.”
Jim said the first place an aspiring employee should look is USAJOBS.gov, a U.S. government website where hundreds of federal agencies and organizations post their open positions. Interested applicants can search by their given skill set, agency, and region that appeals to them. Whether someone has had prior experience in the uniformed services or is a civilian looking to serve in a federal position, USA JOBS is the gateway to these opportunities.
This site also contains resources which offer a vast amount of assistance for job seekers, such as resume development and formatting, assistance in aligning experience with federal requirements, hiring path explanations, and many more. These resources are all found here.
For Jim, this career path has defined his life in profound ways. It has instilled in him a sense of belonging to a team with a clear purpose and high standards. Pushing himself to meet those standards, he said, brought him immense satisfaction and accomplishment. Furthermore, Jim added that the federal service offers a generous retirement plan and retirement investment opportunities that ensure a secure financial future. In the federal service, hard work is rewarded even after retirement.
“Serving as a Civilian Marine much like serving as an active-duty Marine is not for everyone, but serving as a Civilian Marine, in many ways, provides the best of both worlds,” Jim said. “It's a chance to contribute to the world's finest military service, serve alongside active-duty Marines, share in the experiences they treasure, and support our great nation.”
Jim said for someone who wants to have a successful career in the federal service, they need to take advantage of all the benefits and advantages government employment provides. They should also be looking 3-5 years in the future to set goals for their career and identify the things they need to do to get there.
“I attribute my success to joining groups focused on progressing where the Marine Corps was going in the future,” Jim said. “If we were looking to promote an initiative, I would jump on them to be a part of the solution. And above all, this helped me with my future outlook on my career progression.”
Jim also mentioned that mentorship is an important part of moving forward in one’s career.
“I would observe and take the best qualities of the leaders I’ve worked with over the years and learn from those less desirable traits as well,” Jim said. “And then, pay it forward to the people you are responsible for by providing them opportunities for mentorship and to learn from what I do well and my own shortcomings.
As we congratulate and honor Jim Seaman for his incredible 45 years of dedicated service, we also extend a warm invitation to those who aspire to follow in his footsteps. To those considering a career in the federal government, the journey begins here, where service meets opportunity and dedication knows no bounds.
Would you like to know more about how you can become a Civilian Marine? Explore the possibilities and join us in shaping the future of the Marine Corps. U.S. Marine Corps jobs, federal job-seeking tips, and resume builders can all be found at USAJOBS.gov.