Government jobs- Need input please (employee, consulting, applying, 401k)

[feng21]

Hello,
I am exploring government jobs (Virginia and south eastern states) and need help. I have been working in profit/non-profits in Information Technology since 20 years. Currently in Management role and would like to get into Senior Executive Service (SES). I have a masters degree in Management and a Chartered Accountant and would want to work on the IT side.

- What are the pros and cons of SES?
- Would you recommend any consultants who help navigate through SES prep work?


Thanks so much.

[boxus]

Lol

This cannot be a serious post...

[VAGeek]

Typically, in the Federal Government, a mid-level manager managing 15-25 employees would be a General Schedule (GS)-13 employee. A senior manager overseeing hundreds of millions of dollars, many mid-level managers, and hundreds of employees would be a GS-14 or GS-15.

SES positions are the Federal Government equivalent of CEOs, COOs, CTOs, and CFOs of large and mid-sized corporations. They lead/oversee multi-billion dollar programs with thousands of employees. There are both non-career (i.e., political) and non-career SES positions. The OPM web site has FAQs and a guide to the SES.

Cons...

• Pay. SES pay is significantly less than private sector pay for a comparable level of responsibility. In the Federal Government, a SES'r leading a 70,000 employee organization might make a $180,000/year salary and receive a $40,000 year-end bonus. In the private sector, a CEO of a comparably sized organization might make $1.8 million to $18 million (or more) per year with bonuses. SES pay raises are rare to non-existent.
  
  
• The mobility agreement. All career SES'rs must sign a mobility agreement in which they agree to be reassigned to any position in any location (e.g., rural Alaska) at any time, for any or no reason. If reassigned, as you might if a Presidential appointee wants to place someone else in your position, then your only options are (1) accept the new assignment and relocate or (2) quit.
  
  
• No job security if a political appointee. If you got your job through political connections rather than through a public (competitive) advertisement on USAJobs.gov, then you may be terminated at any time (with no compensation) for any or no reason.
  
  
• Lots of travel. You may be expected to spend half your waking hours traveling to events (and giving speeches) across the country and outside the country.
  
  
• Long hours with no overtime pay. You'll be expected to work 60-80 hours a week with no overtime pay and you'll be on call (e.g., to the President's cabinet level appointees) 24/7.
  
  
• If you make a mistake, your name may end up in the papers. You'll also take the blame for your subordinates' mistakes. Depending on the mistake, you could end up explaining yourself to the President in the Oval Office, or to a Congressional committee.

Pros...

• The power/prestige and sense of accomplishment. You'll interact regularly with people appointed by the President, and you may testify before Congress. You are responsible for implementing the President's agenda/goals for your organization. If the President or his appointee hasn't already set explicit agenda/goals for the organization without consulting you, then your expert advice may help shape public policy.
  
  
• The standard Federal employee retirement and health care benefits. The government pays 70% of the cost of health care plan premiums and you receive up to 5% employer match for 401K/TSP retirement account contributions. You also receive a "pension" equivalent to 1% of salary for every year worked starting at age 62 (e.g. 15% of salary for 15 years worked at age 62) in exchange for a salary deduction of 4.4% per year.
  
  
• Faster leave accrual. From day 1, SES'rs accrue paid leave (i.e., vacation time) at the rate of 1 day (8 hours) for each full biweekly pay period, or 26 days (208 hours) per year.
  
  
• You can carry over more leave. Uncle Sam knows you will rarely get a chance to actually take leave, so SES'rs are permitted to carry over 90 days (720 hours) of unused leave per year.
  

[VAGeek]

Originally Posted by VAGeek

There are both non-career (i.e., political) and non-career SES positions. The OPM web site has FAQs and a guide to the SES.

That should say non-career and career. Career positions are advertised on USAJobs.com.

[feng21]

VAGeek,
Thanks so much. Did not realize that SES was equivalent to Chief's and pros/cons are pretty detailed. Much appreciated.

[MLSFan]

Originally Posted by feng21

VAGeek,
Thanks so much. Did not realize that SES was equivalent to Chief's and pros/cons are pretty detailed. Much appreciated.

Wonder why people underestimate the level of govt jobs

It's been said on here often, but govt jobs/ranks are not like private companies

when a GS7/9 is usually college degree, 9/11 for masters, etc and working way up. Past about gs 12/13, most of them list no educational equivalent, and look at experience with work history

Pointing it out because people on CD from time to time post about applying on usajobs and wondering why they don't have much success, but they apply to jobs out of their current reach. Having a job with a title "manager" or whatever level is not a quick switch to the same role in govt. Being a manager at a retail store is not equivalent to a manager at gs 13 for example

for me, getting a fed job is more about knowing how to work the system/knowing the job grades and less about "knowing" someone to get you in, there aren't that many appointed jobs relative to open positions. If knowing someone has a benefit, it's because they can help with understanding the system and not passing the resume up like people think

+1 to vageek's post from me as well for the detailed info

[DrNewbie]

Thank you for such detailed information. I was wondering the same as the OP.