Investigate the field of
Government & Public Administration

These are elected or appointed officials. From the President of the United States to the Mayor of a small town, these are jobs with great responsibility.

The things you could do:

- Represent the needs and desires of another group of people.
- Try to make changes to rules and laws.
- Lobby people in elected positions to vote a certain way.
- Act as an aide to an elected official.

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard—these ladies and gentlemen work together protect our country, whether they’re in a plane or in a military office.

The things you could do:

- Help operate tanks or submarines.
- Provide support to troops (this could take many forms!)
- Work in a military hospital.
- Study encrypted codes and try to decipher them.

Most of these jobs are in Washington, D.C. or in foreign countries. Travel is often part of the job description.

The things you could do:

- Work to enhance the relationship between the U.S. and another country.
- Study global struggles, such as AIDS, drug trafficking, or terrorism.
- Work in a U.S. Embassy located in another country.

These are the people that help promote the best use of a community’s land and resources.

The things you could do:

- Develop a plan to revitalize an aging area of a city.
- Plan a new road system.
- Help a city or region attract new businesses.
- Develop plans for a new park.

Taxes and fees are what funds government operations and programs. These are the people that collect and account for this money.

The things you could do:

- Work as a clerk in a city’s bill collections office.
- Audit tax returns for the IRS.
- Decide what homes and businesses are worth as an assessor.

These jobs relate to how government intersects with businesses, especially as it relates to laws, rules, permits, etc.

The things you could do:

- Make sure a building is built correctly as a Building Inspector.
- Investigate incidents, such as hazardous materials spills.
- Supervise voting to make sure the votes are counted correctly.
- Inspect cars entering the country at the border.

These are the people that help carry out the specific standards of taking care of public resources.

The things you could do:

- Process paperwork as a court clerk.
- Manage the “main office” of a town or city government.
- Review bids and contracts for government purchases.
- Work for a public, non-profit organization.