12 Years a 12?

Money isn't everything I know but there is something to be said for being able to show on paper career advancement even if you have the same job. I have been a GS-12 for almost five years. I have no chance of a grade increase because when I got this job the ladder was to a 12 and I was already a 12. My boss says she is willing to explore increasing the grade but hasn't done anything that I can tell about it. We also have some serious HR issues going on at my agency, which she says mean that HR won't be doing any desk audits or position description rewriting anytime soon. Someone actually told me that I should use the time to have another baby and maybe in a couple years I will have some more opportunity. I would/am considering going someplace else--even outside my agency. The problem with going elsewhere in the agency is that all hiring is frozen until a long list of potential candidates that may have been discriminated against have had their cases reviewed. They will likely be given the first right of refusal to any positions that are open.

I like working for the government and my job isn't all bad but I have worked very hard and seen little payoff. If I can stay in the public sector for three more years I should be able to get my student loans forgiven by the federal government. Is it going to be worth it? Should I stay where I am and tough it out? Does anyone have any advice for me?

Time to Say Good-Bye

I have been at my new position for seven months and I am about to pack my bags and move on, hopefully to something better.

Last month a federal agency in my home town (West Coast) flew me out there to interview for a job. They offered it to me a few weeks later. It's not with the same agency, but positions are very difficult to get in my home town and that is where husband and I want to go next so that is what we are doing, except that I am going first and he is coming two months later to join me. Not idea but could be a lot worse.

I will miss DC. I will miss the PMF friends that I have made. I will miss the walkability of my neighborhood in Georgetown. I may even miss the bureaucracy that is my agency. What I won't miss: g-boys and girls who are so passionate about their cause that they treat people like shit on their race to the top of the agency or the Hill. Am I just a public administrator who wants to work in an agency where people are nice to each other? Maybe so. Could be worse. I am not sure if I will miss more than I won't miss. It might be a wash.

Regardless the lesson to be learned here is about how to depart and frankly I still have some learning to do. I told the boss as soon as I got something in writing, about 6 weeks before my expected departure date. Then I told him again today that this move was going to happen because I found out that my security clearance went through, the last remaining hold up. He told me he was going to keep it a secret until I knew for sure but it turns out he told at least one person. I feel really dissapointed that he told someone because now I am getting paranoid that everyone knows and I don't like putting on the front that I will be around for the next phase of this or that project.

He wants me to stay for another two weeks to coordinate our part of a big event on the National Mall. Sounds kind of fun. We will see how it goes.

Good Fun on this Website for Government Workers

I was stumbling around Google looking for info on whether I would lose my annual leave and sick leave it I jumped ship and switched to another federal agency. I not only got the information I was looking for from "Bureaupat" but also got to play a great government trivia game and donate clean water to someone in Africa. Not sure I can verify that last part but it still felt good. Check it out at http://ohmygov.com/pages/realunreal.aspx

BTW

It is a terrible tragedy that thousands of Haitians were killed this week in the huge earthquake there. I am impressed by how easy the powers that be made it for us to donate money to relief efforts using our mobile phones and promptly went to my phone and texted 90999. I noticed that many other online retailers were offering a portion of the proceeds from a sale to that cause also and gladly participated.

Applying for federal jobs

I recently applied for a job with another agency. I spent days--many days, on the application. I scrupulously looked at all 5 pages of the criteria for the resume format that they wanted, answered their essays, attached all of the SF-52s, etc., etc. I applied as a GS-12 as a regular person and through merit promotion. Funny thing is that today I got an email that said that my application did not make it through the screening process. Argh!!! Did I do something wrong? I mean did I make a silly mistake and not include my reference's telephone number? Or did they disqualify me because of my knowledge, skills, and abilities? I really wish I could find out.

Ironically, I am having coffee tomorrow with the manager for this job. She didn't cancel the meeting so I guess I should perservere. Maybe I didn't make it through the screening for one of my applications and not the other. That would be funny---sort of. Will keep you posted.

To CFC or Not to CFC

My friend told me that if we contribute to the CFC that we get some sort of matching or we reduce our tax base, but from what I can tell the only perk of the CFC is that you are giving money to many deserving charities and nonprofits. If anyone can explain this to me better, please do.

Back in Black!!!

I actually was in black today and a lot lately since I have been back in DC after my four-month sojourn in Oregon--not because I am in mourning, but because I have to wear a suit again. Oh what a joy it was to be able to get a little crazy with my professional wear. Now it's back to the grindstone with a new job in our nation's capital. Once again, a lot of exciting interagency meetings, which all require the suit. I need to find a suit in a different color. There must be some other cool ones.

Oh and on my way to work today on the bus, with new handbag in tote, I had an epiphany: use something old to protect the new. Why? To solve an age old problem-- preventing my thermal coffee mug from tipping over and spilling all over my new bag. Yes, I could carry my mug in my hand the whole ride to work, but sometimes I just have to hang on for dear life and need both hands to prevent myself from hitting the windshield. They may say that those coffee mugs are leakproof, but don't believe them. There are one or two models out there that are, but most of those, after you drop them once or wash them twenty times just don't seal quite the same again. If you find a good one, let me know.

So here is the solution and I will try it tomorrow and let you know how it goes: put a clean, empty, quart-sized yogurt container in your bag, (if it doens't fit then your bag is too small and you probably couldn't put your coffee in your bag, even if you wanted to). In the morning after you make your delicous soy latte of plain silk and Stumptown Coffee, seal your lid and insert in empty quart container, put all other necessary things in bag (wallet, sunglasses case, keys, etc) that will take up the rest of the bottom of the bag so as to stabilize the yogurt container and thus your cup, then proceed to your WMATA bus stop/Metro station at ease, knowing your new bag is protected and your black suit will not have latte stains before you get to your important meeting with OMB. Now you are back in black.

The Endless Opportunities in DC

I am about to leave the capital to head out West for a detail to one of our small regional offices. It's bitter sweet. As soon as you commit to something, all sorts of exciting sounding opportunities knock. Opportunities that you want to take advantage of. The old adage, when it rains it pours, holds true. I am trying not to get caught up in the would have/could have thinking. The opportunities will always be here at headquarters, I think. Not sure if that's the case in the region.

Anyhow, the same thing seems to be true of my social life. We had a nice little going away thing last night and all of my favorite people were there. All of the people it took a year and a half to meet and make friends with and now here I go. I wonder if it usually takes a year and a half to feel established when you move to a new place.