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Jan. 25th, 2013 07:04 amAs of today I've been a gummint employee for 18 years.
I don't celebrate my birthday, when through no action of my own I was pushed out of a pre-existing ax wound. However, getting a government job was the product of years of my efforts - not all perfect, not all smart, not all well thought out - but something was bound to happen job-wise and this was it. I had just received my MA degree (really I dropped out of a program that was supposed to nudge me to getting a PhD). I had unsuccessfully applied for all sorts of work, including Federal, but in my job search I had put my information into the new GMU database at the career center. A fairly rogue manager from the OFCCP of Dept. of Labor hired a group of students from that database - all with 3.5 gpa or higher for the "honors scholar program." The program allowed for a higher grade placement (though I was hosed, hired as a GS-7 when a MA allows me to receive a GS-9) and a career ladder with fast grade progression.
I've always been security oriented, and although AT THE TIME gummint work was looked down on for being low-paid, I was more interested in having one employer for life. I referred to myself as a future federal retiree.
I planned to retire as a GS-11 because in my position that was the top pay grade. During my first years, the job was re-evaluated and found to merit a GS-12, competitively, and I received that grade. I got the achievement bug and applied to become a manager, which made me miserable but also a GS-13. (Perceived) harassment and sabotage (my opinion, subject to review because at the time I was far less mature) inspired me to apply for work outside my position, and in my search I investigated (poorly) within DoL, outside DoL, and even the private sector.
I was hired by USDA-FSIS after someone else who had accepted the job reneged on his acceptance leaving little time before the vacancy would be closed. The hiring official, Robinn (yes 2 nns) told me bluntly I wasn't her first choice - but I was so scared, and they were so desperate, we danced for a time before I accepted. I took a lateral and was trained from the ground up as an employee relations specialist. I earned respect, friends, and a pattern of good performance reviews that I was not able to receive in the DoL.
Still not terribly mature, when a raging bitch was made my supervisor, I started looking to escape again. I took a detail, scanned jobs more, and went to law school. My original plan, as I live simply and had saved up, was to quit either the job or law school when I figured out which was more lucrative. Instead, I stayed in law school through graduation while keeping the job.
Just before graduation, I was moved (without being asked or asking) to the Hearings and Appeals Branch. In that branch, I again earned friends and respect, and without asking was promoted. The entire Agency entered a pay-for-performance project, which has benefited me as I've received outstanding ratings for at least 5 years.
I just choose not to apply for a promotion to be the Director of LERD. I love my job, though right now I'm worn down as there are vacancies that are not being filled for political infighting reasons at higher levels (this is also a large part of why I didn't apply to be the Director). At the least I want to feel more "fluent" in what I do, but once again I'm living simply beneath my income level and feeling comfortable.
Curiously, in my current position I'm hysterically underpaid compared to a private firm attorney (disputed fact, but I totally buy my version). Where I was mocked for taking a low-paid government job, political developments and discourse have convinced the public that I'm part of an overpaid and lazy workforce (an argument that ignores the free market, but who listens to us conservative econ follks). If I can live on this salary level, I may yet retire from this position - but at the least I'm going to keep in this line of work for some time if I continue to enjoy it.
I may seek out more challenge or money in the future, in or out of the government. My experience and financial situation make it possible for me to leave the government with a good chance of being able to return. I could work for a private firm in my field, or branch out into other legal fields within the government. There is a good chance someday I'll enter management, but no guarantee. I still intend to retire as Fed, though I don't know if I'll actually retire. If I can continue to find positions I enjoy, I may work past my retirement date - though my goal is to be able to retire comfortably as soon as I'm qualified.
I don't celebrate my birthday, when through no action of my own I was pushed out of a pre-existing ax wound. However, getting a government job was the product of years of my efforts - not all perfect, not all smart, not all well thought out - but something was bound to happen job-wise and this was it. I had just received my MA degree (really I dropped out of a program that was supposed to nudge me to getting a PhD). I had unsuccessfully applied for all sorts of work, including Federal, but in my job search I had put my information into the new GMU database at the career center. A fairly rogue manager from the OFCCP of Dept. of Labor hired a group of students from that database - all with 3.5 gpa or higher for the "honors scholar program." The program allowed for a higher grade placement (though I was hosed, hired as a GS-7 when a MA allows me to receive a GS-9) and a career ladder with fast grade progression.
I've always been security oriented, and although AT THE TIME gummint work was looked down on for being low-paid, I was more interested in having one employer for life. I referred to myself as a future federal retiree.
I planned to retire as a GS-11 because in my position that was the top pay grade. During my first years, the job was re-evaluated and found to merit a GS-12, competitively, and I received that grade. I got the achievement bug and applied to become a manager, which made me miserable but also a GS-13. (Perceived) harassment and sabotage (my opinion, subject to review because at the time I was far less mature) inspired me to apply for work outside my position, and in my search I investigated (poorly) within DoL, outside DoL, and even the private sector.
I was hired by USDA-FSIS after someone else who had accepted the job reneged on his acceptance leaving little time before the vacancy would be closed. The hiring official, Robinn (yes 2 nns) told me bluntly I wasn't her first choice - but I was so scared, and they were so desperate, we danced for a time before I accepted. I took a lateral and was trained from the ground up as an employee relations specialist. I earned respect, friends, and a pattern of good performance reviews that I was not able to receive in the DoL.
Still not terribly mature, when a raging bitch was made my supervisor, I started looking to escape again. I took a detail, scanned jobs more, and went to law school. My original plan, as I live simply and had saved up, was to quit either the job or law school when I figured out which was more lucrative. Instead, I stayed in law school through graduation while keeping the job.
Just before graduation, I was moved (without being asked or asking) to the Hearings and Appeals Branch. In that branch, I again earned friends and respect, and without asking was promoted. The entire Agency entered a pay-for-performance project, which has benefited me as I've received outstanding ratings for at least 5 years.
I just choose not to apply for a promotion to be the Director of LERD. I love my job, though right now I'm worn down as there are vacancies that are not being filled for political infighting reasons at higher levels (this is also a large part of why I didn't apply to be the Director). At the least I want to feel more "fluent" in what I do, but once again I'm living simply beneath my income level and feeling comfortable.
Curiously, in my current position I'm hysterically underpaid compared to a private firm attorney (disputed fact, but I totally buy my version). Where I was mocked for taking a low-paid government job, political developments and discourse have convinced the public that I'm part of an overpaid and lazy workforce (an argument that ignores the free market, but who listens to us conservative econ follks). If I can live on this salary level, I may yet retire from this position - but at the least I'm going to keep in this line of work for some time if I continue to enjoy it.
I may seek out more challenge or money in the future, in or out of the government. My experience and financial situation make it possible for me to leave the government with a good chance of being able to return. I could work for a private firm in my field, or branch out into other legal fields within the government. There is a good chance someday I'll enter management, but no guarantee. I still intend to retire as Fed, though I don't know if I'll actually retire. If I can continue to find positions I enjoy, I may work past my retirement date - though my goal is to be able to retire comfortably as soon as I'm qualified.
