Job hunting in the Federal government can be a frustrating experience to anyone unfamiliar with Federal personnel procedures—both written and unwritten. Therefore, it is particularly useful to proceed systematically when investigating this aspect of the alternative job market for Africanists. Otherwise, it is easy enough to waste time and miss specific opportunities. Upon deciding to venture into the Federal job maze, it is helpful to possess an abundance of patience, persistence, and imagination. Most successful graduate students ought to have mastered this trinity to perfection by the conclusion of their graduate careers. A fourth element might also be added—luck!