Re: Boomers Retiring

It is unfortunate that more of the VA employees are not retiring after 30+ years of service. In the cases I have observed, these employees stay, because of an entitlement attitude and the knowledge they do not have the training for the jobs they occupy. Having 30+ years of civil service does not necessarily reflect capabilites or good job performance. The VA is in desperate need of skilled management, and employees willing to accept the old VA way is no longer working or appropiate. VA should be guided into an agency with less bureaucracy and employees who truely understand the value of caring for our veterans.

Re: Boomers Retiring

Not suprising because I was told that VA does not have to oblige by OPM rule.

Re: Requesting PDs from HR?!?!?!?

I guessed we have not "network" with the right person for that right position.

Re: Requesting PDs from HR?!?!?!?

One of the reasons HR offices don't provide PDs to candidates is that often the contents are parroted back in the candidates' KSAs. You don't need the PD to write to KSAs. Your experience, education, and training are what are important. If you don't understand what the KSAs are trying to get to, you probably don't have the background to be a successful candidate.

Re: Requesting PDs from HR?!?!?!?

I'm with you bitter! Looking around my agency it's not what you know that gets you ahead, it's who you know, what minority group these individuals are in (I didn't think the government had hiring quotas), and how fast you can kiss someone's butt.

Yes, I too am bitter. After 30+ years of Federal service I'm seeing us old timers in my agency being pushed out. They are doing everything in their power to make us miserable so we will leave.

The newbies, who think they know everything, are dumb as dirt and have absolutely no common sense. Book knowledge will only get you so far.

So, as I make plans to leave, the stuff in my head will remain there as not one soul is asking me to share it! I hope the government of the future survives!

Re: Requesting PDs from HR?!?!?!?

Actually, some agencies have Position Descriptions online (probably intranet for employees only) in what is sometimes called a "PD Library."

I am not convinced by the comment that people use them for preparing their job applications because if you extend that to everyone, then all the applicantions would look quite the same.

The author is correct. Find ways to stand out in your present job. That means, do something that makes a difference, and write about it on your resume.

You should be able to describe what you did today (this week, month, or year) that made a difference in specific terms. If you can not identify any special projects or accomplishments, you won't stand out and you don't deserve to be promoted.

It takes creativity and marketing to position yourself for advancement. When all things are equal, "networking" is how most people get jobs. People have to know who you are and what you can do to help them in order for them to have confidence in you and hire you

Re: Requesting PDs from HR?!?!?!?

I agree, one doesn't need the exact PDs to apply, but Somewhere must have a more amiable HR office or hiring official. I agree more with the theory of the who-knows than the what knows. Experience, awards, graduate degree, and even outstanding scholar status doesn’t mean a thing if you haven’t had your nose deeply buried somewhere or your DNA results don’t match that of the upper-echelon. Of course it’s the same in the private sector, and often times worse, but come on, who are we fooling thinking the federal service is any different or that cronyism or nepotism is not alive and well in civil service…get real! Berry, you have your work cut out for you when all along promotions have been based on other than the best interest of the agencies they represent.

Re: Requesting PDs from HR?!?!?!?

The truth is if you are not a member of a minority, female, a member of an elite group, young and highly educated, you don't really stand a chance in getting promoted above a basic level. Advanced promotions are for the few, not for an older white male or the under educated young white male...Oops, did that slip out? In the culture of political correctness, that is a big "No No", but the truth is the truth. The US government of today is just as discriminating as it has always been. The only difference is that it has shifted who it is discriminating against. What happened to the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.? "People are not judged by the color of their skin, but by their content of their character". Look at all the staged photos which broadcast "diversity" and "inclusiveness". Do you ever wonder who was skipped over? Was a less qualified person promoted for the sake of political correctness? Sadly, how little we have really changed.

Re: Upward Mobility

I thought the VA was unique when we experienced the practice that you mentioned. The agency wants employee to perform but when there is an opportunity for promotion, those opportunity was deny or make unavailable by excuse. And the agency wondered why the morale is low?

Re: interesting

The fact that you are a "supervisory" IT specialist means that you were selected for something, at some point. Nobody is born a supervisor. While I obviously don't know the circumstances of each time you were passed over, there may have been things that were out of your ability to control. You are to be respected for your willingness to improve your social skills instead of wallowing in self-pity and victimization.

Re: interesting

Actually, when I was passed over, and was told the competition was keen, what I do not have was "VA supervisor" experience. While the position was a Technical Lead, my experience as a supervisor providing defense contract to the DoD does not count as supervisory because it was not VA. This is not self-pity or vitimization, this is a case of not kissing the right behind.

Before I came to work for the government, my friends and coworkers wondered why I decided to take a federal job? They said I was too energetic to become a fat and lazy federal employee. Now from the inside I can tell you that federal employee are not lazy, most seemed to be that way because the wind was knocked out of their sail and they are tired of trying.

Re: interesting

Computer Spec, a couple of things: while having direct supervisory experience with VA is not the most important attribute, it does mean something. There are many nuances & quirks about VA that don't apply to DoD (& vice-versa) & if you're going to supervise, it helps greatly to know the lay of the land of the agency & specific organization. It's more than a matter of kissing the right behind. Also, & not to criticize, it's interesting that you refer to yourself as a "Computer Specialist" when the position has been retitled "I.T. Specialist" for several years now - no big thing, maybe, but for someone aspiring to a supervisory role, presumably in the IT/Computer world, something that a selecting official might wonder about.

Re: interesting

While the title maybe officially change to IT Specialist. Our position title is still "Computer Specialist" for all official paper work. After spending the last 13+ years at the VA, I am convinced that kissing the right behind is the ticket to promotion. Sometime I wondered why I came to work for the federal government, I should have stayed with defense contracting. Oh, I remembered, my goal was to become a fat and lazy federal employee, or I was tired of trying because I was told that "you are with the VA now, throw common sense out of the window?".

Re: interesting

Computer Specialist, with your cynical attitude, I can see why you've been passed over. It's bound to come across in interviews and in everyday contacts. I was a supervisor for some of my career and the riskiest, most important decision most supervisors make is hiring people - especially those who will themselves be leading or supervising others. You don't want some loser with a bad attitude which would infect the entire workforce, no matter how technically qualified they might be. Since you have such a low opinion of VA - which may be justified, I don't know - why don't you leave and go someplace where you'll be happier?

Re: interesting

My Retired - CSRS, exit strategy is being work on.

Re: Boomers Retiring from Federal Jobs Could Equal Opp

You have that old government ENTITLEMENT attitude. Sorry for your life, but that should not guarantee you a lifetime position in an agency. When I write OLD, I am not referring to your age, it is the attitude.