The wonderful part about these jobs is that the economic crunch hasn't had a grave impact on the openings. With several baby boomers already in their retirement years or at least close to them, an increased demand for social services and improved homeland security, there are several employment prospects in the federal as well as state government sectors. The benefits and the security that you can get with a government job is like no other which is what makes them the most sought after employment prospects in the country.
If you are interested in government jobs, start by visiting one of the leading job sites online that has listings for jobs with the federal and state government. Even though the official US government website is available, other popular sites on the internet are equally good resources of government employment prospects so visit at least a few of them.
Most of these job sites will let you store your resume, apply for jobs, offer help with resume writing and offer insightful tips on handling interviews. Some sites will also let you check on the status of your job application.
If you are looking for a government job within you state or city, simply enter the name of your state and zip code to get details about available jobs in your area. If you live in a mid sized city, you should have no problem finding simple, 'no brainer' jobs like that of a parking patrol officer or a street sweeper. Most sites also have a listing of government jobs in the construction sector. The United States government spends million in infrastructural projects each year and they always have the requirement for more workers to handle the construction tasks.
If you are inclined towards a desk job there is no dearth of these either; however, you need to remember that you are going to be one among several hundred or even thousand applicants so the only way to stand a chance is to stand out. So when writing your resume don't just offer the cookie cutter information, go out of your way to highlight the fact that you are well suited for the job and try to impress the interviewer. Of course you will have to accomplish these goals without resorting to bragging or lying. But, mentioning your experience relevant to the job opening and the qualities that make you an ideal candidate for the job will certainly go a long way.
Like all other employment prospects, be ready to apply for more than one position and be patient. You have to understand that the application screening only begins after the last date for application submission. If you do receive any inquiries, ensure that you respond to them at the earliest.
The best part of applying for a job with the US government agencies is that they are kind enough to let you know through mails or email if you have not made it.