Burning Question: Do young feds know their place?

There's been much talk in government lately about attracting the next generation of federal employees and grooming them to be the managers and executives of tomorrow. But for some people, this apparently is a case of too much, too soon.

In a post on GovLoop, Ed Abetski says newly hired federal employees need to know their place -- and it's not at the top of the hierarchy. (You need to be a member of the site to view his post.)

"Do you have new hires at your agency come in trying to take charge?" he asks. "With all the focus in colleges on 'leadership' we have been getting a few twenty-somethings coming in fresh out of school looking to be supervisors and above. One was so obnoxious that he was let go after a few weeks. When we hire GS fives and sevens, we're looking for infantrymen, not captains. Captains we've got."

Even experienced managers new to government often come in with guns blazing, Abetski says: "Don't you just love a new boss who was an executive in some company and knows absolutely nothing about how things are done in the government?"

Stop Trying To Be A Leader If You Are Not!
(GovLoop)

Burning Question is a recurring feature that looks at key issues and compelling stories being explored at other publications and social media sites covering the federal government.