Over 2 million people work for the Federal government, yet it’s really hard to get a foot in the door. Changes in Administration (whether term to term or a new Administration) create new opportunities for smart, science-minded people to enter Federal service. Join the Women’s Aquatic Network as we discuss the value of public service; opportunities for entering Federal service, such as special hiring authorities and needs during Administration transitions; and what the future of the Federal workforce can and should look like.
Featuring:
Christy Goldfuss
Senior Vice President, Energy and Environment Policy, Center for American Progress and WAN Honorary Board Member.
(Former Managing Director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality during the Obama Administration.)
Sara R. Gonzalez-Rothi
Counsel, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and WAN Advisory Board Member.
Sarah Lim
Chief Counsel, House Committee on Natural Resources (Democratic Staff)
Makeda M. Okolo
Southeast & Caribbean Regional Lead, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management
Jerry Miller
President, Science for Decisions and WAN Advisory Board Member.
(Former Assistant Director for Ocean Sciences at the White House Office of Science and Technology during the Obama Administration.)
JOB SEEKER RESOURCES:
House employment bulletin: https://www.house.gov/employment
Senate employment bulletin: https://www.senate.gov/employment/po/positions.htm
Library of Congress jobs (including Congressional Research Service): https://www.loc.gov/crsinfo/opportunities/. (Library of Congress lists its positions on its website, but you still have to apply through USAJobs)
One additional unconventional entry point to federal service is the Direct Commissioned Officer program into our military services. This can include lawyers, engineers, and other specialized skills that are desired. NOTE PLEASE that you must be younger than 41 to be eligible for DCO. Because we are the Women’s Aquatic Network, I will share the Coast Guard DCO information here https://www.gocoastguard.com/active-duty-careers/officer-opportunities/programs/direct-commission-programs
Some caucuses on the Hill also offer internship and fellowship opportunities. Search the websites of Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Asian Pacific American Caucus
A LIST OF CONTRACTING COMPANIES:
This list does not indicate WAN’s support of any single company or contracting position.
For NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (Fisheries scientists, Statisticians, Ecologists, Techs, Observers etc)
ERT Corp (www.ertcorp.com)
Ocean Associates (http://www.oceanassoc.com/)
Integrated Statistics (http://integratedstatistics.com/)
IMSG (www.imsg.com)
Riverside (http://www.riverside.com/company/careers.aspx)
Acentia/2020 (http://www.acentia.com/careers)
TechSea Internatl (http://www.techsea.com/employment.html) (Observers)
MRAG Americas (https://www.mragamericas.com/employment-opportunities/) (Observers etc)
Caelum Research Corp (http://www.caelum.com/Employment_Opportunities.htm)
For National Ocean Service (Research, Technicians, Cartography, GIS)
Baldwin Group (http://tbgva.net/careers.html)
The Mind Finders (http://www.themindfinders.com/)
CSS-Dynamac (http://www.dynamac.com/)
Industrial Economics Inc (http://www.indecon.com/iecweb/WorkingOpenPositions.aspx)
ERT Corp (www.ertcorp.com)
Freestone (http://www.gofreestone.com/careers/)
Cobralink (http://collabralink.com/careers/)
Systems Integration & Development (http://www.sidonline.com/current-openings/) (GIS, Software)
Genwest Systems (http://www.genwest.com/jobs)
ABT Associates (http://www.abtassociates.com/Careers.aspx)
LynkerTech (http://www.lynkertech.com/) (Coast Survey/Cartography)
IIC Technologies (http://careers.iictechnologies.com/) (Coast Survey/Cartography)
A list of other vendors for NOAA line offices.
TERMINOLOGY
KSA: Knowledge Skills Abilities (Competencies)
IPA: Intergovernmental Personnel Act
QUESTION AND ANSWERS FROM THE CHAT, ABRIDGED AND EDITED
(some of these were also answered during the panel conversation)
Q: Is there any reason why a person wouldn't be contacted once they are considered "referred"?
A: It’s possible that so many people ranked highly that they only selected a certain amount of referred candidates. It’s also possible that the position was filled by an internal candidate. If you do get referred, talk to people that you know at that agency who have been through the process as they may have some tips or give you an idea of the process before you jump into the interview.
Q: How do executive branch offices decide which positions are contract and which ones are federal?
A: What we have seen in the last several years (basically since the Budget Control Act and sequester) is that contract positions have become more and more relied upon by the agencies because they have tremendous hiring backlogs, but the work still needs to get done. So, we have seen contract employees that are then hired to do the exact same job as a career employee.
Q: Does anyone have any tips on getting hired as a Fed in the same job we are currently working as contractors? Seems like it takes years to get a contract position converted into a fed position, if it happens at all.
A: You may want to have a very direct discussion with the Fed supervisor in your office about the plan for creating a federal position for the role. It’s possible that there may not be a plan to create one. If that’s the case, I would begin looking for other open positions of interest within your Agency. Once in, you can lateral to where you really want to work. Also, perseverance! It will happen - but it may take longer than you’d ideally like.
Unfortunately because federal hiring is so slow, even hiring managers are frustrated… and so their succession plans are actually dependent on their contract workforce. The hiring backlog has gotten worse, even as the agency has been working to address it. The committees of jurisdiction on Capitol Hill are getting to a breaking point on this, on both sides of the aisle. I do think that it’s a question of good governance, and we have to fix it, or the system will simply break.
Q: When applying and interviewing for fed positions, they all seem to hire based on VERY specific experience, as opposed to your overall skillset/ability to be flexible and learn how to do a job. Any thoughts on how a “generalist” can market themselves for a position when they might not have the EXACT right experience?
A: Generalists are GREAT Capitol Hill staffers. And then you can gain depth that you can translate into a more specific role.
Q: Although fed jobs are different, is there a particular personality/character that is better suited for these kinds of jobs?
A: It varies greatly. For example, if you are interested in the legislative branch, House offices are smaller and very connected to the district, so having a tie to the district (being born there, going to university there, living there now) is a big plus. Senate offices, this is also true, but you have a whole state to which to have a connection. The Senate tends to move a little slower. We like to say, deliberatively, but my House colleagues may frame it differently. Work ethic (and enthusiasm) will get you far in any federal job.
I wanted to note that you can do everything right and still not get hired. Just wanted to put that out there, as I’ve been there and its rough.
Q: I have heard from others that if you aren’t referred to a job it is sometimes worth reaching out to find out why (assuming you meet all qualifications). Do you think this is valid/helpful?
A: Definitely ask for feedback! It could be invaluable.
Q: Is it somewhat easier applying for federal jobs not based in D.C? Whether it be New England, West coast, etc.?
A: With legislative jobs outside of DC, yes.
On Salary and Benefits:
A: Use fedcenter — lists every federal employee’s position and salary!
The reason the salary of that first hire matters so much is that within the GS system, raises and promotion are very circumscribed and relate very much to your prior salary.
On the House side, there’s a student loan repayment fund available to each office that is often considered outside of the “salary” because it doesn’t come out of the office’s budget. If you’re interviewing for a Hill office, be sure to ask whether that would be available to you.
After October 1, 2020, there will be 12 weeks of paid leave for Federal employees in the Executive branch.
Q: Can you speak more on the timing of the application and hiring process for the Hill, both in this election cycle, and throughout an administration?
A: On the House side, members won’t get their seat assignments on committees until after the second or third week of Jan, +/-, so they won’t necessarily know that they need an energy or environment legislative assistant, for example, networking early really helps!
Q: Do you all have any advice for early career folks who are trying to transition from Executive side to Leg side? And helpful experience or skills?
A: writing, communication, and project management.
On Parenthood:
A: As you are considering parenthood, find out whether your agency or office has a relationship with a daycare and get on the waitlist for that daycare ASAP. The House daycare was a three year wait, when I got on! It was recently expanded, thankfully.
