Comments on: Uncle Sam’s hiring spree

By: W. Hunter / Easley, SC

W. Hunter / Easley, SC — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:13:32 +0000

After reading a lot of the comments here, I am kind of happy that I am not the only persont that is frustrated with the hiring system of the government.

I am a retired Marine with endless experience in communications and aircraft maintenance. I had worked for Lockheed Martin for three years doing depot level maintenance on US Navy aircraft, but I was laid-off at the end of last year.

Even before the lay-off, I had been pursuing a government job. Someone please tell me… do you ever hear from them? I have applied for many job, and I have never heard a single word from the hiring personnel.

It does take quite some time to apply for one job, and I would think that someone would, at least, let me know that my application was reviewed.

If the government is looking for “good” people, then here I am. I just can’t spend eight hours a day submitting online resumes that may never be reviewed.

If anyone has had this problem, please leave a comment here. Thanks!

By: Tyrone columbus georgia

Tyrone columbus georgia — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:23:54 +0000

I have a question, is there any hope for men who has messed up in the past, but if given the chance; will serve my countyr, and become an officer of the law?

By: M Saubert New York NY

M Saubert New York NY — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:45:34 +0000

Annie

I am curious . Has anyone recently been hired by any agency? or is all the so called hiring really going to contractors such as Staney. Despite a good resume, good agency interviews and reasonable expectations of an offer I have not received any offers. What is really going on? I am told the agencies are waiting for funding , then the budget has to be approved etc….. Why does the government website continue to show vacancies when no one is being hired.?

By: Christian, Fairfax, VA

Christian, Fairfax, VA — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:13:27 +0000

Please look very closely at the GS schedule before you even apply for a govt job. GS-7 TOPS OUT at $48,933, GS-9 TOPS OUT at $59,852 in the DC/MD/VA area (an expensive area to live in). Govt pays *way* less than the private sector, especially in expensive-to-live areas.

The hiring process (and I know this from personal experience) not only takes long but is usually so confusing, frustrating, and onerous…even to longtime insiders! Trust me! You could apply to 20 private sector jobs via an internet job board in the time it would take you to apply to a govt job.

Also note that the govt pension is not any where near as good as it once was. Pension is 1/3 to 1/4 what it used to be. The onus is on the employee to dump a lot into his TSP (the govt’s version of the 401k) to make up for the difference and prepare for retirement. But if you’re being paid so much less, how will you be able to do this while providing for your family? Govt sector is not worth it, in my opinion. Not until a lot of the old-school mechanisms change.

And PS, you may not get laid off, but you could get “RIF”‘ed (Reduction in Force) especially if exposed to “cut-able” programs/initiatives. Will spending for the “war” on terror continue at this rate indefinitely? Want to bet your career on it?

By: Green, Orlando FL

Green, Orlando FL — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:24:54 +0000

I read the same statistics about +2 years ago, so I applied through the USAJOBs website and made contact with a IRS recruiter in the Jacksonville, FL office. I am a CPA (BS in Accounting) and hold an MBA in Finance. Guess what?? In the 9 months I kept updating my information on the website and calling the recruiter, no one at the IRS was interested in me. I think they want uneducated people at the IRS.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:20:29 +0000

i have worked for the fed for 15 years,don”t

By: Dr Jack Ryan, DC

Dr Jack Ryan, DC — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:18:57 +0000

I am a Desert Shield/Desert Storm Veteran. I hold a BS in Accounting, honorable discharge, accolades and awards, secret clearance and some goddamn HR rep from the IRS emailed me after an interview for entry level Revenue Officer and had the audacity to tell me they hired someone “more suitable” for the position. “More suitable”? I have applied to many federal agencies and never respond back. Since my discharge, I have never been able to gain employment. HR departments are operated by racial minorities and women, so a white male does not stand a chance in hell. When you apply, you have to put your SSN on the app. Well can they not check your age, race, gender with the SSN?

By: JB Windsor, CT

JB Windsor, CT — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:53:37 +0000

I was recently awarded a prestigious position with a well known government agency. I have been waiting for my clearance for 10 months: in fact no one is even working on it (no one has called any of my references). In April I was told to pack my bags I was moving to DC. For months I called my contact and calls went unreturned. It turns out my contact got fired; probably for not returning calls. Well my bags have been packed and I told my landlord I was moving. In order to find out who the new contact was, I had to do some serious investigating. Once I got a name I had to call that person 60 times (I counted) before somebody picked up. When I got the information it was wrong. Finally I found out who the new contact was and was told that I will be delayed 9 months. My marriage and health have suffered tremendously. The backup for clearances is over ten thousand. The system cannot process 193,000 jobs- it is not possible. Those jobs will not be funded and it is just as well because the people in those positions were not doing their jobs in the first place. To apply for one of those jobs on http://www.usajobs.gov will take you about 4 hours per job (if you are lucky). If you get called back- play the lottery. DO NOT WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT- If you are a brilliant person, your abilities will never be fully appreciated or utilized. If you are looking for job security-as a concerned citizen- do not work for the government. We need hard chargers, who are on the precipice of being fired every day, not slackers. I would never do this again…ever. I do not recommend anyone working for the government-EVER.

By: Liz, Sacramento, CA

Liz, Sacramento, CA — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:43:52 +0000

I’ve worked for two federal agencies (FAA and DOE) and neither situation required me to “know somebody”. I got in through hard work and demonstrated skill.

Do I like working for the feds?Consider:

- I work 80 hours every 2-week pay period and get overtime (real overtime, not capped) for even the shortest delay in my departure for home.
- I never take the job home with me. My time off is completely my own.
- I get so much vacation time my friends think I’m a German citizen – over 5 weeks per year.
- Last but not least, I earn a 6-figure income.

Oh, and should I forget to mention it, my work is actually relevant to millions of Americans – I’m the “air traffic controller” of the high voltage power grid. I keep the lights on.

What’s not to like about working for Uncle Sam? Give me “Club Fed” any day of the week.

By: DW, Columbia, MD

DW, Columbia, MD — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:12:25 +0000

I supported Dept of Justice for 6 months. The motto we gave the Human Resource group was “We Hire The Best Of The Desparate” because who else would wait the 9-18 months to go through the hiring and clearance process. In the agencies (DOE/DOD/DNI/DON/DOJ) I’ve worked at each is unique and has its own culture. The government workers are good people but even they discuss the negatives of no accountability or accountabilty with no responsibility, the politics, slow advancement, inability to change skill mixes of employees which would require lay offs and the general number of those who have retired but not left. Give me the private sector any day!

By: Gil, Chester, VA

Gil, Chester, VA — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 02:43:19 +0000

I have been working for the Federal Government for almost two years and I have noticed how difficult it is to move up (get promoted). Only advice I can offer is to get in as high a position as possible because once you are in, it almost impossible, with all the rules, to move up quickly.

By: Charles Johnson,Tallahassee,Fl.

Charles Johnson,Tallahassee,Fl. — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 21:48:03 +0000

Yes,there are pluses and minuses in working working for the Feds,as in any job.I thoroughly enjoyed my career as an Education Specialist with DOD.
I always wanted to travel overseas,and was fortunate enough to have had 2 (4year) “tours of duty” in Germany and
managed to visit 8 European countries
on weekends and holidays.I enjoyed providing educational services to the
soldiers,Marines, and sailors and took great satisfaction watching them advance in their military (and later civilian) careers. Oh yes,I forgot to say was lucky enough to spend 11 years in San Diego,Ca.as well.Tough
duty.

By: Paul S. Tulsa, oK

Paul S. Tulsa, oK — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 17:22:31 +0000

Whenever I deal with anything goverment,,whether a real in person or on the phone experience,,,coupled with the daily debacles by government,,I get the impression that they are a bunch of low caliber people that could not get hired in the private sector. The government has way to many jobs that could be eliminated and would never be missed, except the moron that had it.

By: Anne Parks-Johnson, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Anne Parks-Johnson, Oak Ridge, Tennessee — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:47:12 +0000

I graduated in law and worked for the State Legislature (Tennessee)in the Judiciary Committee. I noticed that the government is very rule-conscious, and was more concerned that you come in on time, go through the proper channels than the quality of work you do. I took extra hours of my time researching the proposed Rules of Civil Procedure in order to make a report to the Committee. This was not factored in, if I wanted to come in after breakfast, instead of before.
Also, if you want a job with the government, you must know somebody within the department. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

By: Brad, Washington, DC

Brad, Washington, DC — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:14:11 +0000

I made the transition from private (oil sector) to public (Diplomat – State Department) 5 years ago. Yes, it was a large pay cut…but since then I have worked in India, Hungary, Malaysia, Belgium, Slovenia, and Germany. The perks are good – free housing, school for the children, a decent retirement plan. I can’t speak for the non-State Department Foreign Service jobs, but this job is stimulating, interesting, rewarding, and I have met a lot of extremely well qualified Americans who enjoy serving and representing their country overseas.

By: n,Columbus, Ohio

n,Columbus, Ohio — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:27:39 +0000

Why Not outsource all the work that needs to be done by the government. I think that might solve alot of problems.

By: Bethesda, MD

Bethesda, MD — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:19:58 +0000

I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelors degree in criminal justice/criminology a year ago. I have been working at NIH (National Institue of Health) as a contractor for 4 years now, doing accounting clerical work. I live in the Baltimore area and would like to get a job in the government near there. Does anyone have any suggestions of agencies around there that my background (criminology degree and NIH work experience) would help with? Thanks.

By: Annette, Nashville, TN

Annette, Nashville, TN — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:57:07 +0000

Good things:
- Stellar benefits
- Work anywhere
- Actually make a difference at work
- Good odds of working with smart, dedicated people (I’m sure it varies but where I worked it was pretty hard to not pull your weight)
- Ability to spit in the face of anyone who accuses you of not being a “patriot”
- Once you’re in, you’re in — it’s pretty hard to get fired, and the government’s never going out of business

Bad things:
- Pay is usually lower than private sector (sometimes substantially lower)
- You think your HR’s incompetent now? Normal parts of being an employee like getting hired, raises, promotions, etc. all take FOREVER
- Tried pot one time in high school? You might not get the job
- Your hard work is frequently ruined by the people at the very top or very bottom of the ladder
- The entire culture changes every 4 years (with new president, cabinet, etc)
- You will never get a new computer. Ever.

By: Santo, New York, NY

Santo, New York, NY — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:45:14 +0000

I work in an investment bank and looking to make a transition to a Fed job. I am a Project manager- IT (10 years exerience) but very well versed in Finance side. I actually have MBA (not from Ivy) and will appear for CFA Level 3 in 2008.
Can anyone suggest how difficult it would be to get into a regulatory Fed jobs like SEC etc.? I understand that there is a lot of demand. Also, any indication on compensation to expect.

By: Steph, Wash, DC

Steph, Wash, DC — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:43:33 +0000

If you like to work hard and make an impact, you can do that in the federal government. If you want to be lazy, you can probably get away with it. But why? I’ve worked in the federal government in for nearly 30 years and some time in the private sector. I’ve seen some of the worst and some of the absolute best in civil service. Most are good and hard working, with just a few bad apples. The private sector has it’s problems too–with some of those folks, it’s all about the “billable hours” and “selling business,” which is necessary to get promoted. And they’d sell their grandmothers to get ahead. But some of the folks in private sector are terrific too. Any place you go will be what you make it.
And, BTW, when I came back to civil service, I was hired 3 months after I submitted my application, 3 weeks after I interviewed. It would have gone quicker, but the hiring authority became seriously ill which slowed things down.