Bringing Generation Y Into the Fold

Growing up, speedy communications and technology have been constants in their world, and young Americans are used to interacting with their friends instantly. "They just bing, bang, boom with their text messages. They have information shared and the topic discussed," she noted.

Then there is the perception that the government is not an interesting place to work. In a survey conducted by the Gallup Organization and the nonprofit Council for Excellence in Government last year, the majority of Gen Y respondents said the private sector does a better job of providing innovative and creative workplaces, does a better job of hiring and offers higher salaries.

To recruit young Americans, federal agencies will need to stress their strengths and what makes them unique, Erickson said. "Each agency needs to come up with a strategy for how it can position itself and market itself to this group."

A number of agencies have stepped up their recruiting efforts, and Linda M. Springer, the OPM director, is championing a "career patterns" initiative that encourages agencies to think about how jobs can be made more attractive and draw a broader mix of applicants.

Sameem Siddiqui, a senior at the University of Maryland majoring in mechanical engineering, agreed that federal agencies "will have to market in a very specific way to get our attention." He suggested that agencies play up the perks of technology -- laptops and BlackBerrys -- and a willingness to be geographically flexible about where people work.

He said he is interested in a federal job, especially at a place like the Environmental Protection Agency, where he could do policy research.

Siddiqui and Alan Coleman, a senior majoring in civil engineering at the University of Maryland, cited health insurance, vacation time, and pensions and other job benefits as reasons to look at federal employment.

"The sheer size and variation of projects allow a young engineer/employee to thoroughly understand the field and find a niche," Coleman wrote in an e-mail.

Still, Coleman said he remains uncertain: "I know that the federal government is a stable and smart choice, but I am not sure whether it would be the best fit for me."

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.