Trying to get a Government Job

over the mountain · 06-15-2010, 10:54 AM

i worked a md state gov't job on a 1 year contract. it was great. my experience and everyone in all the depts i became friends with have it freaking easy. they work at their own slow pace. have great benefits. decent pay. you can make more in the private sector if you have a specialized degree but if your looking for any entry level 35k a year job that will turn into 60-90k after 10 years or so, gov't is the way to go.

like you said, govt jobs allow for a great balance of work and life. when you get off at 4:30 you are done for the day. no work to take home, no weekends spent in the office for a big deadline. you show up, with a pulse, maybe do some work, goof off with your co-workers then at 4:30 you draw straws to see what employee (out of 50 ina division) is going to stay for the last 30 minutes the gov't is open to answer phone calls.

i wanted to get back into a govt job but now im working for 2 firms and am way to invested in it to back out.

good luck.

like matty said, theres lots of requirements. sometimes degrees or certs, sometimes you need to be a level I employee to apply for a level II job, etc so i say get your foot in the door on an entry level job, make friends and a good impression, then 6 mos or a year down the line a level II type job opens up and you are a lead candidate.

good luck my man.

Dirtbag59 · 06-15-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpayne5

You are fire-able within the first year, but after that, all you need is a pulse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstdown

The hard part is getting a goverment job the easy part is keeping it. Good luck.

Is this what they refer to on the listings as the one year probationary period?

cpayne5 · 06-15-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Is this what they refer to on the listings as the one year probationary period?

Probably, yes.

BDBohnzie · 06-15-2010, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saden1

It seems to me Business Analyst or Project Management jobs would be something that might appeal to you. You get to work with computers and there's quite a bit of demand for these types of people in both the government and the private sector in NOVA area. As a business analyst you'll get to use a suite of software to do some number crunching and you can always get a project management job where you get to interact with people with a software/hardware government contractor.

Bingo. Each agency has a budgets (sometimes multiple) department, so you could search budget analyst, marketing analyst, finance analyst along with business analyst and see what is out there. And be sure to search the contractor websites for these jobs as well, because the Fed outsources a lot of analyst positions.

johno · 06-15-2010, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mredskins

Very true!!! I work for a contractor and we basically carry the government office that we support.

dude story of my life.

as for the OP, you are surely qualified for plenty of entry level financial analyst jobs. i am a finance contractor for a federal agency, and you would be qualified get a job with companies like mine. many of the men and women i work with get the skills as a contractor and then work their way into a govt job. 2-3 years as contract support and you can be more than qualified to make the switch.

if you are looking in nova exclusively, i would keep an eye on jobs on base at quantico. there are jobs to be had in acquisitions. if you are willing to work in dc, there are opportunities to be had there too. all federal agencies spend money, and as a result, there are jobs to monitor said funds.

tryfuhl · 06-16-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Good with computers in that I'm very good with the basics in Microsoft Office (Access, Powerpoint, Word, Excel) especially when it comes to making queries, designing formulas, or dressing up powerpoint presentations. I also frequently get asked by my friends and family to set up programs and teach them how to use it. In the past month I've done task such as importing songs from an iPod onto a computer, increasing the sharpness on a scanned picture, converting files so we can play our avi home movies on my brothers 360, and importing files over a media server on a PS3. Basically a laundry list of odd jobs. Nothing along the lines of programming or physically installing RAM, though I do have a friend thats about to teach me how to install extra RAM.

Still if my job relied on learning navigating and learning a certain type of software theI'm fairly confident that I would be able to pick it up quickly. To put it in more relateable terms, if there was a such thing as a technology IQ mines would be around 130.

Still I like the idea of Business Analyst or Project Manager. Those actually sound a lot like the type of jobs I would be suited for. Thanks Saden. When I was training for accounting it was so much easier to know what types of jobs would be waiting after school since if worse comes to worse you go to Monster and simply type accounting. With a business administration degree it's a little bit wider in terms of scope but it's harder to search for jobs and right now the ones listed on our schools career net aren't exactly the type of jobs I'd consider.

Good with computer won't get you any IT job.. if you want to do stuff like that you might get on with a non-profit if you have other things to offer as well, such as writing, fundraising, etc

Otherwise get your A+ and do desktop support (you'll probably start in helpdesk) or basic comp tech work. I do it on the side and if you get in with the right networks there is plenty of work. Be prepared to do everything from installs, data transfer, POS rollouts, etc.

Otherwise what you say that you're good at really only qualifies you to be a secretary.

Dirtbag59 · 06-16-2010, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

Good with computer won't get you any IT job.. if you want to do stuff like that you might get on with a non-profit if you have other things to offer as well, such as writing, fundraising, etc

Otherwise get your A+ and do desktop support (you'll probably start in helpdesk) or basic comp tech work. I do it on the side and if you get in with the right networks there is plenty of work. Be prepared to do everything from installs, data transfer, POS rollouts, etc.

Otherwise what you say that you're good at really only qualifies you to be a secretary.

Yeah, I figured as much. Probably best to stick to something along the lines of Business Analyst.

tryfuhl · 06-16-2010, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Yeah, I figured as much. Probably best to stick to something along the lines of Business Analyst.

That's a little more "fun" and guaranteed anyways.

Monkeydad · 06-16-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstdown

The hard part is getting a goverment job the easy part is keeping it. Good luck.

So true. I tried for YEARS to get an Auditor job or a position in the NSA (with a person inside helping me).

With 3 degrees, I think I am overqualified.

They had "testimonials" on the one job site for my auditor positions and I noticed something...most of them were from a.)minorities b.)women c. minority women. Their quotes did NOT make them look very intelligent either...hate to say it, but it's a legitimate observation.

So I'm apparently overqualified and too white.

I more than meet the requirements outlined in the job listings and understand they have a very strict formatting preference with their resumes (had tips from someone in NSA), but I applied for probably a dozen positions over years and never even heard a response.

Maryland was my locality focus, as well as some Federal jobs in PA (near Harrisburg).

I suppose I'll keep trying. I am not unhappy with my current job, in fact I love it...but I'm always looking to improve myself and my family's life.

saden1 · 06-16-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster

So true. I tried for YEARS to get an Auditor job or a position in the NSA (with a person inside helping me).

With 3 degrees, I think I am overqualified.

They had "testimonials" on the one job site for my auditor positions and I noticed something...most of them were from a.)minorities b.)women c. minority women. Their quotes did NOT make them look very intelligent either...hate to say it, but it's a legitimate observation.

So I'm apparently overqualified and too white.

I more than meet the requirements outlined in the job listings and understand they have a very strict formatting preference with their resumes (had tips from someone in NSA), but I applied for probably a dozen positions over years and never even heard a response.

Maryland was my locality focus, as well as some Federal jobs in PA (near Harrisburg).

I suppose I'll keep trying. I am not unhappy with my current job, in fact I love it...but I'm always looking to improve myself and my family's life.

Maybe you're just a POS human being? I could see why anyone wouldn't want to hire you, you have serious character flaws.

GMScud · 06-16-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saden1

Maybe you're just a POS human being? I could see why anyone wouldn't want to hire you, you have serious character flaws.

Are you joking?

saden1 · 06-16-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMScud

Are you joking?

If his posts here are any indication I am afraid not.

Monkeydad · 06-16-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saden1

If his posts here are any indication I am afraid not.

Wow...I won't even directly respond to that immaturity. You seem to really keep the stereotype about people from Seattle alive though. Politics aren't everything to normal people.

saden1 · 06-16-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster

Wow...I won't even directly respond to that immaturity. You seem to really keep the stereotype about people from Seattle alive though. Politics aren't everything to normal people.

You did directly respond. And no, my opinion isn't based on your politics but the quality of you posts. It's shit. If you want to land those jobs don't keep it real when you interview, don't be yourself cause that clearly hasn't worked.

p.s. I will try to keep the stereotype of Seattle going.

SmootSmack · 06-16-2010, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMScud

Are you joking?

Go back and read Buster's post again. I could see why saden wrote what he wrote. Take the high road next time saden

I'll keep my opinion of Buster to myself but I think I can safely assume that Buster doesn't think much of me. I work for ESPN, am part Hispanic, and can pass for Muslim. So in Buster's mind I'm an idiot who wants to steal everything he has...and then blow it up

06-15-2010, 10:54 AM	#16
over the mountain Playmaker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: baltimore Posts: 2,690	Re: Trying to get a Government Job i worked a md state gov't job on a 1 year contract. it was great. my experience and everyone in all the depts i became friends with have it freaking easy. they work at their own slow pace. have great benefits. decent pay. you can make more in the private sector if you have a specialized degree but if your looking for any entry level 35k a year job that will turn into 60-90k after 10 years or so, gov't is the way to go. like you said, govt jobs allow for a great balance of work and life. when you get off at 4:30 you are done for the day. no work to take home, no weekends spent in the office for a big deadline. you show up, with a pulse, maybe do some work, goof off with your co-workers then at 4:30 you draw straws to see what employee (out of 50 ina division) is going to stay for the last 30 minutes the gov't is open to answer phone calls. i wanted to get back into a govt job but now im working for 2 firms and am way to invested in it to back out. good luck. like matty said, theres lots of requirements. sometimes degrees or certs, sometimes you need to be a level I employee to apply for a level II job, etc so i say get your foot in the door on an entry level job, make friends and a good impression, then 6 mos or a year down the line a level II type job opens up and you are a lead candidate. good luck my man. __________________ Fails to lock onto the defender, at times, preferring to violently shove his target to the ground and look for others.

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Trying to get a Government Job

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