GovCentral

Jenna and others interested in Homeland Security jobs - try the state and private sectors first. I just finished up a 7 year stint in the private sector and got some great experience had I decided to stay in the field. States especially are more apt to hire someone just out of school and let them build a resume. The pay isn't always that great, but it is great experience.

Wow, I obviously chose the wrong career path! Jenna, The govt in general is returning to experience over education except in the higher management levels. Honestly, try starting out by getting into a GS-083 police, or GS 080 Security Spec position. Can't do anything about the female thing. :-)

I think chemistry is lumped in with "Biological Sciences", which we intended as a wider category.

why do you have two wait so long to get a job?

According to the 2008 Federal Pay Rates (http://www.fedsmith.com/pay_rates/): If one was a GS7/Step1 (BA/BS degree with honors and no creditable service) hoping to land a job living in the Washington D.C. area (amongst the thousands of other applicants applying for the exact same job), one could expect annual pay of $39,330 (oooohhhh... with a whole $39K per year one could actually be able to afford balogna and hotdogs, a really efficient one-bedroom apartment and a really tricked out Geo Metro!!!); a GS9/Step5 (a MA/MS/J.D./LL.B degree with over five years of creditable service), one should expect an annual pay of $54,525; a GS11/step6 (that is three or more academic years of progressively higher graduate level education leading to a Ph.D., and with over 7 years of creditable service), one should expect an annual pay of $67,908. In Washington D.C., $68K per year is like making $50K per year in Ohio. Sounds thrilling right?