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Government employee thread! (Being a government employee is sweet) (1 Viewer)

Also realize that you have to get past the key word algorithm in USA jobs to get to the next step.   Tailor your resume to the job description on the posting.  Using exact phrasing and words helps a lot.
This too.  

 
:kicksrock:  tomorrow will be the third day in a row I go into the office. 
i haven’t done that since one week in October when I started the new job and needed to get the computer set up. Before that it was March 2020. 
This won’t be a common thing, just some training and a meeting which the leader wants to be in person. 

 
flapgreen said:
Been out here in Missouri longer than I'd hoped to be. Being in the system hasn't done me any good at getting back home to this point. Might have a lead on a 13 back home that I was recommended for, but a LTC might also be interested, which would count me out. 
DoD? The LTC will have to deal with a 180 day waiting period or waiver. Which can be really hard to get, depending on command. 

 
belljr said:
Serious answer.....I think that depends on agency and position.

First start with USAJOBS..... They have external positions posted.   Here it helps if you know someone obviously but the most common path is to find postings by contractor companies.   It's easier to start as a contractor then flip later if spots open up. That is for my tech job in my agency


Gally said:
Also realize that you have to get past the key word algorithm in USA jobs to get to the next step.   Tailor your resume to the job description on the posting.  Using exact phrasing and words helps a lot.
:yes:  If you can show it to be true, you can practically copy and paste, then change the verbs so instead of:

“Advise management on appropriate disciplinary or other corrective techniques in order to assist them in responding and resolving a wide range and complex issues for conduct and performance problems.”

 You write

“Advised management on appropriate disciplinary and other corrective techniques, enabling them to respond and resolve a wide range and complex issues for conduct and performance problems.”

 
DoD? The LTC will have to deal with a 180 day waiting period or waiver. Which can be really hard to get, depending on command. 
VA. I'm currently DOD, though. A former classmate of mine has the same position but off post. Her position at the VA on post is coming available and she put in a recommendation for me when her boss asked if she knew of anyone. Then, she said a LTC is interested in the position but may not be completely out by the time the job opens up.  He's also not vaxxed and unsure if he will get vaxxed. VA won't hire anyone not vaxxed, so there's still a little hope. 

 
DoD? The LTC will have to deal with a 180 day waiting period or waiver. Which can be really hard to get, depending on command. 
Easier to get a waiver if they're a medical related doctorate. The troops need healthcare professionals. Likely working for DHA pending site transition.

They would be changing from a Chief level position to a worker bee. I know... comical... as much as a MD or DPT or whatnot is a worker bee. Drone bee with a God complex. 🤣

 
What’s the best way of getting a government job?
As mentioned, contractors showing their worth get the networking connections. Builds proof that you work well with the team.

USAJobs to apply.

It's a computer filtering system, followed by an HR person that doesn't know the job - mainly has some text description of what the hiring team is looking for. And then the sorting of levels of 'qualified'. Then the sampling size of interviews. Unless you are a specialist or applying for some random remote place no one wants to go to, the stack of applicants can get 100+.

Ensure you select the right options/radio buttons so you don't filter yourself out. Can't read directions.

Ensure you attach all requirements. 1 missing form or transcript and you filter yourself out. Can't follow directions.

Resume loaded with the key words that are on the job bid.

Questionnaire loaded with Expert ratings and your resume backs all the Expert ratings.

Resume written simply enough so the HR person can believe you are qualified, but detailed enough so the hiring team believes you know the real work.

Pray to your deity of choice to get put in the most qualified stack.

Sacrifice a small animal when you get an interview.

Rock said interview.

Grand gesture to deity to ensure no one with a hiring preference trumps your awesomeness.

Don't 'f up' the security applications.

Pass your urine test, if applicable.

Get your COVID shot, Flu shot, etc, if applicable.

Don't show your true slacker self for 2 years while in a vetting status.

Enjoy your career as a civil servant with all it's perks and stability. Complain about a somewhat lower salary until you retire and live the good life.

G'luck!

 
As mentioned, contractors showing their worth get the networking connections. Builds proof that you work well with the team.

USAJobs to apply.

It's a computer filtering system, followed by an HR person that doesn't know the job - mainly has some text description of what the hiring team is looking for. And then the sorting of levels of 'qualified'. Then the sampling size of interviews. Unless you are a specialist or applying for some random remote place no one wants to go to, the stack of applicants can get 100+.

Ensure you select the right options/radio buttons so you don't filter yourself out. Can't read directions.

Ensure you attach all requirements. 1 missing form or transcript and you filter yourself out. Can't follow directions.

Resume loaded with the key words that are on the job bid.

Questionnaire loaded with Expert ratings and your resume backs all the Expert ratings.

Resume written simply enough so the HR person can believe you are qualified, but detailed enough so the hiring team believes you know the real work.

Pray to your deity of choice to get put in the most qualified stack.

Sacrifice a small animal when you get an interview.

Rock said interview.

Grand gesture to deity to ensure no one with a hiring preference trumps your awesomeness.

Don't 'f up' the security applications.

Pass your urine test, if applicable.

Get your COVID shot, Flu shot, etc, if applicable.

Don't show your true slacker self for 2 years while in a vetting status.

Enjoy your career as a civil servant with all it's perks and stability. Complain about a somewhat lower salary until you retire and live the good life.

G'luck!
Nailed it

 
I have to hope and get lucky to get to post back home, or just switch over to the VA when a spot comes available near there. Apparently, the base near my home is a popular location and retired or former active duty PTs want to work there. I'm about to have all of the big certs you can acquire in my field and just have to keep applying until there's a position that comes available where no former officers apply to it. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Change of command today. Ceremony this morning and cookout all afternoon at the river on post. Working for the DOD is so nice. 

 
I have to hope and get lucky to get to post back home, or just switch over to the VA when a spot comes available near there. Apparently, the base near my home is a popular location and retired or former active duty PTs want to work there. I'm about to have all of the big certs you can acquire in my field and just have to keep applying until there's a position that comes available where no former officers apply to it. 
St Augustine? I’ll be sure to keep an eye out. ;)  

 
Good news. One of my former classmates works at the VA back home and they have a staff position opening up soon and are going to do a direct hire of me there. Looking like my time in Missouri is limited now. Thanks goodness 

 
Still no word on anything back home. Kind of over it at this point. The job is great but I'm not going to spend my life in the middle of nowhere waiting on something. Considering going back to the private sector back home and then just waiting on something to open and keep applying until I get it. Being in the system has not helped me any on getting a job back home. Can't even get a damn interview. 

 
Looking good for a 4.6% raise in January. Highest increase in a while...but half of inflation.
Finally got a call from the VA back home 2 weeks ago. Looks like I'm headed home whenever everything gets transferred, and it's a 13 position, which is a grade above what I make now. Will be looking forward to that and the additional 4.6% raise.
 
Looking good for a 4.6% raise in January. Highest increase in a while...but half of inflation.

I'll take the 6k raise, not close to what my equivalent gets in private. Guess that explains why I can't maintain 75% staffing levels in my engineering teams.
I'm lucky that my profession pays the same as the private sector, and a ton more if you get into a higher grade position.
 
The 4.6 and if you get a step increase is a nice monthly bump for sure.
No step for us, we’re in acqdemo 🤷 usually we get about the same as a step.

Same here. I like acqdemo more than GS. A lot more.
I like the concept, I’m just not convinced it works as advertised. But this is my first year in this job and the majority of the organization, those in the union, are still GS.
 
We switched to core comp. It's supposed to make your raises "merit based", guess what that doesn't happen. So we'll get a bonus here and there.
 
The 4.6 and if you get a step increase is a nice monthly bump for sure.
No step for us, we’re in acqdemo 🤷 usually we get about the same as a step.

Same here. I like acqdemo more than GS. A lot more.
I like the concept, I’m just not convinced it works as advertised. But this is my first year in this job and the majority of the organization, those in the union, are still GS.

Imo, GS and other similar pay systems are part of the reason federal workers get a bad rap. There is no motivation other than not to get fired which is hardly ever done. With acqdemo, if you want a pay raise you got to earn it.
 
i don’t understand this thread at all and i probably should
Being a government employee is easy money with consistent raises and great benefits and job security.
He's one of those military pukes that thinks he's better than us.......and he be right :P :)
hahaha but i’m looking to get out in the next year and so the gs jobs definitely interest me
Retire or ETS? Either way, going active duty to civilian is a nice change when you’re ready. Even staying in the same agency is a major change.
 
The 4.6 and if you get a step increase is a nice monthly bump for sure.
No step for us, we’re in acqdemo 🤷 usually we get about the same as a step.

Same here. I like acqdemo more than GS. A lot more.
I like the concept, I’m just not convinced it works as advertised. But this is my first year in this job and the majority of the organization, those in the union, are still GS.

Imo, GS and other similar pay systems are part of the reason federal workers get a bad rap. There is no motivation other than not to get fired which is hardly ever done. With acqdemo, if you want a pay raise you got to earn it.
I work around some of the laziest people on Earth. You have to basically commit a crime to get fired.
 
The 4.6 and if you get a step increase is a nice monthly bump for sure.
No step for us, we’re in acqdemo 🤷 usually we get about the same as a step.

Same here. I like acqdemo more than GS. A lot more.
I like the concept, I’m just not convinced it works as advertised. But this is my first year in this job and the majority of the organization, those in the union, are still GS.

Imo, GS and other similar pay systems are part of the reason federal workers get a bad rap. There is no motivation other than not to get fired which is hardly ever done. With acqdemo, if you want a pay raise you got to earn it.
I work around some of the laziest people on Earth. You have to basically commit a crime to get fired.
Yeah, part of my duties (like 10%) include advising on discipline and PIPs. You’re right.
 
The 4.6 and if you get a step increase is a nice monthly bump for sure.
No step for us, we’re in acqdemo 🤷 usually we get about the same as a step.

Same here. I like acqdemo more than GS. A lot more.
I like the concept, I’m just not convinced it works as advertised. But this is my first year in this job and the majority of the organization, those in the union, are still GS.

Imo, GS and other similar pay systems are part of the reason federal workers get a bad rap. There is no motivation other than not to get fired which is hardly ever done. With acqdemo, if you want a pay raise you got to earn it.
I work around some of the laziest people on Earth. You have to basically commit a crime to get fired.
Yeah, part of my duties (like 10%) include advising on discipline and PIPs. You’re right.
We had a GS employee who came into work inebriated multiple times and was hooking up with multiple patients and posting it on her Facebook. Took a year of this happening before she was let go and even then it was only because the new NCOIC pushed the hand of the OIC to do it. Crazy town

Oh and she even rolled her van on the way home from work one say and got a DWI
 
The 4.6 and if you get a step increase is a nice monthly bump for sure.
No step for us, we’re in acqdemo 🤷 usually we get about the same as a step.

Same here. I like acqdemo more than GS. A lot more.
I like the concept, I’m just not convinced it works as advertised. But this is my first year in this job and the majority of the organization, those in the union, are still GS.

Imo, GS and other similar pay systems are part of the reason federal workers get a bad rap. There is no motivation other than not to get fired which is hardly ever done. With acqdemo, if you want a pay raise you got to earn it.
I work around some of the laziest people on Earth. You have to basically commit a crime to get fired.
Yeah, part of my duties (like 10%) include advising on discipline and PIPs. You’re right.
We had a GS employee who came into work inebriated multiple times and was hooking up with multiple patients and posting it on her Facebook. Took a year of this happening before she was let go and even then it was only because the new NCOIC pushed the hand of the OIC to do it. Crazy town

Oh and she even rolled her van on the way home from work one say and got a DWI
It’s great when supervisors do their damn job.
 
With acqdemo, if you want a pay raise you got to earn it.
Until you get to the top of the band and there is no where for you to go. Then they have to open the next level billet which isn't always possible. So then you are stuck at the top.
You’re more likely to get to the top in GS over time if you don’t get promoted. But frankly I’d be perfectly fine if I got to the top in my band, most likely never will and there’s zero chance of me trying to become an SES.
With acqdemo, if you want a pay raise you got to earn it.
Until you get to the top of the band and there is no where for you to go. Then they have to open the next level billet which isn't always possible. So then you are stuck at the top.

That is the case with GS as well. acqdemo has a higher limit, no?
At least here, pretty sure everywhere, the acqdemo bands are linked to GS. except my old job had a cap for NH4 at 14 while the band really caps out at 15 step ten.
 
Some of these government employees are the sorriest sacks I've ever seen. Don't hear anything for months after getting my references. Finally call them today. Then, they turn around and call me saying they haven't been able to reach two of my references. I'm like lady they freaking work, too, unlike you, apparently.
 
Some of these government employees are the sorriest sacks I've ever seen. Don't hear anything for months after getting my references. Finally call them today. Then, they turn around and call me saying they haven't been able to reach two of my references. I'm like lady they freaking work, too, unlike you, apparently.
In my experience, HR and IT are the two weakest areas of government.
 
Some of these government employees are the sorriest sacks I've ever seen. Don't hear anything for months after getting my references. Finally call them today. Then, they turn around and call me saying they haven't been able to reach two of my references. I'm like lady they freaking work, too, unlike you, apparently.
In my experience, HR and IT are the two weakest areas of government.
I'm cool though right
 
Finally some freaking progess on these VA morons. Emailed me yesterday for my SF 50 for my salary. Probably hear back in another 6 months
 
Any GS employees hear of any downsizing or hiring freeze in their respective departments? It looks like a couple departments where I work are having to downsize about 10% over the next year or two. Not terminating anyone, but instead just not going to re-hire positions after people leave or retire.
 
Some of these government employees are the sorriest sacks I've ever seen. Don't hear anything for months after getting my references. Finally call them today. Then, they turn around and call me saying they haven't been able to reach two of my references. I'm like lady they freaking work, too, unlike you, apparently.
There is a crisis right now with military members not getting administratively separated. It used to be done by local PSDs and assisted by military members. Over the last 12 years, all of the PSDs slowly have closed and now it is strictly done from civilian GS employees. I know people who retired 6 months ago who still have no health insurance and not getting retirement pay. I know people who have left the service several months ago and the government is still paying them as if they were in. I know people who retired at 20 years but their time of service doesn’t reflect that and aren’t getting any retirement benefits. I have read about, heard of, or assisted in literally hundreds of these cases. Several people have had to get their congressman involved in the process. Let that sink in. Congress is having to get individuals their military retirement benefits on a case by case basis because the process is now so broken.
 

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