Job Responsibilities
I am an Electronics Equipment Specialist for the Department of
Defense. I support acquisition functions and supply chain
functions.
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Job Requirements
If you are contemplating working for the federal government you
shuld begin your application process at least 6 months in advance
of the day you wish to begin working for them. The hiring process
is slow and labored.
Qualifications for my occupation are a minimum of an Associates
Degree in an engineering or technical field. The military
training for an electronics technician, machinist, or othe
engineering related field and bench experience is the most
preferred for selection for my career field.
Formal education is a substitute for experience for entry level
positions only.
If selected for hiring you will enter service as an intern and be
put on an uoward mobility training plan GS-5, 7, 9, 11 for a
period of three years. If hired as of the street regular hire you
shall be placed on a one year probationary period during which
you can be fired for any reason or no reason at all. If you are
hired under authority of the Veterans Readjustment Act you are
subject to a two year probationary period. The intern program is
a three year program which includes formal classroom training and
On The Job Training.
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Uppers
The federal government has a great pension plan if you can tolerate working for
them until you reach retirement age.
There is excellent flexibility in setting your work hours after completion of
the internship.
There are decent health insurance programs to select from. The more you pay in
premiums the better the coverage. The government pays 72% the employee pays 28%.
My plan costs me $354.00 a month for self and family.
The pay is decent but is generaly aroung 16% less per annum than what the
private sector pays.
The work is personally rewarding as we directly support the war fighter and his
weapons platforms to enable them to complete the missions.
You are part of something bigger than yourself and contribute to the security of
the nation and defense of the american way of life.
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Downers
When I started my career with the DOD job security was a big
factor in my decision. Not so now. DOD has been given authority
to overhaul its personnel system and is removing employees Title
5 USC job prtections and due process rights of its employees and
is severely restricting collective bargaining and Union rights
for them as well.
Management is gaining more control over determining pay by
shifting to pay bands from the General and Wage Schedules
currently utilized. Behavior will play a bigger part than
performance of work to determine your annual salary each year.
This will increase the good old boy/girl network and politicise
the work environment more. It will also create a more hostile
work environment as employees will not be as willing to help one
another learn new processes and techniques of the job as the more
competent an employee is the higher his pay as his performance
will be greater. The concept of teamwork will entirely disappear.
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Lifestyle
This is a very diverse workforce.
Professional office setting.
Relaxed dress code.
There is potential for greater busines travel and longer Temporary Duty
Assignments up to six months in duration to extremely hostile environments (war
zones) as DOD has new authority to deploy civilian employees where needed when
needed.
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Compensation
Pay is lower than the private sector.
Bonuses are strictly subjective in nature. Given at the wim of
the senior leadership. No matter how much work you perform if he
don't like you you won't get one.
No dental, vision or hearing benefits.
Very weak Union protection from unwarranted adverse personnel
actions. Extremely weak due process job protections.
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Advice to Jobseekers
I would not recommend working for the federal government to
anyone just entering the workforce. Private industry is the way
to go if you want to live in one place and live the average
american family lifestyle.
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