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Return to Article: Public service group promotes networking site, campus program

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  Please take into consideration that because of the flexible retirement system FERS, new employees can move in and out of the federal government. I would recommend trying it out to see if it is a good career fit. If you like it, you can stay. If you do not like it, you can leave and have your retirement rolled over into your new IRA. This is a flexibility not offered people in the previous retirement system, CSRS. However CSRS worked very effectively for me. I retired from DHHS at age 53 under an early out authority and have enough retirement income to exist without working if that was my desire. It isn't; I chose to have a second career in federal resume writing. I was able to parlay my experience as an insider -- a federal Employee Development Specialist -- along with a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology into a federal resume writing business as a second career...not bad for an old girl!

  Karol Taylor Posted August 6, 2007 8:58 AM
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  Exactly how are we to get new blood into the government jobs, when none are advertised to the public. At our installation at least 90% of all jobs are only advertised inhouse. Unless you are already on the rolls, or you have served in the military you can forget about getting a job anywhere on this installation!

  Lajeune Fennell Posted August 6, 2007 7:45 AM
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  This would be a good idea if there were federal employee slots available for recent grads to fill. It makes no sense getting young folks all jazzed up about federal service only to dash their hopes when you tell them, "sorry we don't have any openings."

  At my agency (within DOI) we are so desperate for experienced professionals that any FTE slots get distributed to these must-have personnel. The only openings for recent college grads are contract jobs, either in the form of no-benefits-provided "internships" or low-benefits-provided staffing agency jobs. Most recent grads -- especially the grads who want a long-term career with our agency -- get so frustrated at not being able to convert to federal status (occasionally after being strung along on year-by-year contracts for 3-4 years), that they leave to pursue industry jobs.

  If recruitment efforts are going to work, you need to start with having enough federal employee job slots available for the new recruits to fill.

  JM Posted August 3, 2007 6:02 PM
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  Its a terrible waste of funds. I could understand it if the goverment was having trouble recruiting folks to enter CS, but its never the case there are always 100 people applying for every opening. Its lousy public policy and if folks need a scholarship join the military

  dan ketter Posted August 2, 2007 12:52 PM
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  Another approach is to mirror the ROTC program at universities offering public administration degrees. The program could simply be funded by directing funds towards scholarships for students in this field. Require a three to five year commitment for repayment of a fully or partially funded degree. The summers would be spent interning with local, state, federal, and non-profit organizations. Prof. Van Slyke, at Syracuse University, mentioned a concept like this to a group of us during a class this summer. It sounds viable. This a great use of public funds and good public policy.

  Mac Tonsmeire Posted August 2, 2007 11:20 AM
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  I have one year before I retire. I would not recommend a civil service career to anyone.The reason is that this agency has changed 180 degrees. It is now a real estate business. As a real estate entity they allowed one high grade employee that I know of to work at a real estate corporation for six months and staying on government payroll. My thirty years of experience has show me that rules, regulations,policy etc. are only meant for those with integrity and willing to do the right thing. At this time our Administrator, Ms.Laurita Doan was found to have violated the Hatch Act by the Office Of Special Council.Disciplinary Action was recommended to President Bush. That usually ends with requesting her resignation. During the investigation, amazing revelation were discovered. Go on U-Tube to see the Congressional Committee Hearing on the allegations. I could write a book on my experiences.

  LeonardRKampf Posted August 2, 2007 9:29 AM