At the risk of personal exposure, I am a federal employee. All comments are my own and do not reflect the views of my agency, and I am providing this response during my personal off work time. What is my background? Prior to working for the Department of Labor (Office of Job Corps), I spent a career as an officer in the US Army, to incl…
At the risk of personal exposure, I am a federal employee. All comments are my own and do not reflect the views of my agency, and I am providing this response during my personal off work time. What is my background? Prior to working for the Department of Labor (Office of Job Corps), I spent a career as an officer in the US Army, to include 8 years working for Army Accessions Command, responsible for filling the ranks with the soldiers and skill sets needed to defend our country. I have now been a federal employee for more than 7 years. Throughout my time, I’ve (almost) never discussed my personal political views, and when I have, it was subtle with a “read between the lines” response. I cannot begin to tell you the complete ignorance JD Vance has displayed in his comments. People like me aren’t sitting in some cushy office shuffling paperwork, or looking to out Lib my co-workers while secretly supporting secret pedophile groups in some basement in DC. I happen to dedicate my entire working day/week/month and year working directly with poor, unemployed, undereducated young folks (75% of them are high school drop outs) learn and earn job skills/trades so that they can be placed in dignified career paths and become productive members of society, and avoid a future of crime, prison, or dependence. And let me be clear - MOST of the young people we serve are from TRUMP zip codes in rural locations, in addition to inner city youth. Firing people and agencies like mine would be like putting a hand grenade in the conservative idea of “Give a person a fish, feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish, feed them for a lifetime”.
The stress of working as a federal employee has almost reached my limits. I’m fucking TIRED of not knowing whether I will get paid or not being able to work because of some performative asshole (looking at you Ted Cruz) flirting with government shut downs. I can earn MUCH more in the private sector, but I work where I do because my HEART is in my work. I grew up in the type of poor, white working class family that JD Vance wrote about in Hillbilly Elegy. Only I'm not writing about the problem, I'd like to believe I am DOING something about the problem. For the life of me, I can’t understand these fucking assholes (looking at you Newt Gingrich) who supposedly hate government, but spend their ENTIRE career grifting as political operatives. Vance’s comments are not just words, by the way. In the last months of Trump’s presidency, Trump's policy minions tried to change the ability to fire senior government workers for simply having different personal policy views, even though positions like mine are non-political. Look around the world - the best functioning democracies also have the best bureaucracies. People hate us, but we help make the trains run on time, and in my case, help the helpless learn to help themselves. People like me are the opposite of JD fucking Vance. While he sucks up to Trump in the most demagoguery way imaginable for his own self interest, people like me are doing the blocking and tackling in the trenches to help the lives of other Americans. But yeah, go ahead and fire me.
My mother worked in the court system; 100% agree with you! My daughter would LIKE to work for the government (in cybersecurity, no less) but the application system is a nightmare. You’d think they would be trying to hire young folks like her instead of throwing up obstacles.
I agree, it's awful that they make applying for federal jobs so difficult. I remember my son wanted to work for the CIA and he planned on taking foreign relations major in College. Then he found out from his cousin that you need to start in HS making connections, volunteering in a politicians office, getting references from people in the government, plus being on a sports team. I guess you need to be dedicated, but what 15 year is that disciplined? Certainly not my kid. It's a racket.
Did your son check the CIA employment requirements on line? "For us to consider you for a job at CIA, you must be: Physically in the United States or one of its territories when you apply, A U.S. citizen (dual U.S. citizens also eligible), At least 18 years of age, Willing to move to the Washington, DC area, Able to successfully complete security and medical evaluations, including a background investigation, a polygraph interview, and a physical and psychological examination." Nothing about references, working in politician's offices (I rather think that would be a big no-no), etc. With all due respect, the cousin's been watching too many spy movies.
As for applying for federal jobs, I took a federal test before graduating college, the results of which were sent to agencies looking to hire. I passed, got a job interview and after an investigation, was hired. The agency provided all the professional training in laws and regulations I needed to do the job for 33 years. For most agencies, that's it.
Not according to their website. Now, there are more stringent requirements for their student fellowships. Number reference? If you mean references in general, I needed to provide 2 references for the investigation into my background and character when I was hired. That's standard for any federal job.
Yep - and folks like me are like shooting fish in a barrel because of the Hatch Act. The politicians can spend an entire career pointing fingers at people like me, and we can't respond back without looking over our shoulder and worrying about violating a rule or getting fired. We're easy targets. Strange, considering the fact that we are in the service of our country.
It's amazing and infuriating that people don't realize just how much they depend on career civil service employees for day-to-day living. Yet when they need something and can't get it immediately, they scream bloody murder. Witness the screams when the IRS can't handle their one phone call when there are literally millions calling in!
At the risk of personal exposure, I am a federal employee. All comments are my own and do not reflect the views of my agency, and I am providing this response during my personal off work time. What is my background? Prior to working for the Department of Labor (Office of Job Corps), I spent a career as an officer in the US Army, to include 8 years working for Army Accessions Command, responsible for filling the ranks with the soldiers and skill sets needed to defend our country. I have now been a federal employee for more than 7 years. Throughout my time, I’ve (almost) never discussed my personal political views, and when I have, it was subtle with a “read between the lines” response. I cannot begin to tell you the complete ignorance JD Vance has displayed in his comments. People like me aren’t sitting in some cushy office shuffling paperwork, or looking to out Lib my co-workers while secretly supporting secret pedophile groups in some basement in DC. I happen to dedicate my entire working day/week/month and year working directly with poor, unemployed, undereducated young folks (75% of them are high school drop outs) learn and earn job skills/trades so that they can be placed in dignified career paths and become productive members of society, and avoid a future of crime, prison, or dependence. And let me be clear - MOST of the young people we serve are from TRUMP zip codes in rural locations, in addition to inner city youth. Firing people and agencies like mine would be like putting a hand grenade in the conservative idea of “Give a person a fish, feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish, feed them for a lifetime”.
The stress of working as a federal employee has almost reached my limits. I’m fucking TIRED of not knowing whether I will get paid or not being able to work because of some performative asshole (looking at you Ted Cruz) flirting with government shut downs. I can earn MUCH more in the private sector, but I work where I do because my HEART is in my work. I grew up in the type of poor, white working class family that JD Vance wrote about in Hillbilly Elegy. Only I'm not writing about the problem, I'd like to believe I am DOING something about the problem. For the life of me, I can’t understand these fucking assholes (looking at you Newt Gingrich) who supposedly hate government, but spend their ENTIRE career grifting as political operatives. Vance’s comments are not just words, by the way. In the last months of Trump’s presidency, Trump's policy minions tried to change the ability to fire senior government workers for simply having different personal policy views, even though positions like mine are non-political. Look around the world - the best functioning democracies also have the best bureaucracies. People hate us, but we help make the trains run on time, and in my case, help the helpless learn to help themselves. People like me are the opposite of JD fucking Vance. While he sucks up to Trump in the most demagoguery way imaginable for his own self interest, people like me are doing the blocking and tackling in the trenches to help the lives of other Americans. But yeah, go ahead and fire me.
Anyone who has doubts about what federal employees and agencies do needs to read The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis. Hat tip to ya from a fellow fed 👍
Preaching to the choir. JD Vance is a self-serving liar.
you are a good person.
My mother worked in the court system; 100% agree with you! My daughter would LIKE to work for the government (in cybersecurity, no less) but the application system is a nightmare. You’d think they would be trying to hire young folks like her instead of throwing up obstacles.
I agree, it's awful that they make applying for federal jobs so difficult. I remember my son wanted to work for the CIA and he planned on taking foreign relations major in College. Then he found out from his cousin that you need to start in HS making connections, volunteering in a politicians office, getting references from people in the government, plus being on a sports team. I guess you need to be dedicated, but what 15 year is that disciplined? Certainly not my kid. It's a racket.
Did your son check the CIA employment requirements on line? "For us to consider you for a job at CIA, you must be: Physically in the United States or one of its territories when you apply, A U.S. citizen (dual U.S. citizens also eligible), At least 18 years of age, Willing to move to the Washington, DC area, Able to successfully complete security and medical evaluations, including a background investigation, a polygraph interview, and a physical and psychological examination." Nothing about references, working in politician's offices (I rather think that would be a big no-no), etc. With all due respect, the cousin's been watching too many spy movies.
As for applying for federal jobs, I took a federal test before graduating college, the results of which were sent to agencies looking to hire. I passed, got a job interview and after an investigation, was hired. The agency provided all the professional training in laws and regulations I needed to do the job for 33 years. For most agencies, that's it.
I think the CIA might be different. She was pretty definite that you needed a number reference to even be considered.
Not according to their website. Now, there are more stringent requirements for their student fellowships. Number reference? If you mean references in general, I needed to provide 2 references for the investigation into my background and character when I was hired. That's standard for any federal job.
That was more than 10 years ago. He probably wouldn't have like it anyway.
:-)
It's hard to watch these prima Donna's complain when they are pocketing cash for doing nothing essential. They are all grifters.
Yep - and folks like me are like shooting fish in a barrel because of the Hatch Act. The politicians can spend an entire career pointing fingers at people like me, and we can't respond back without looking over our shoulder and worrying about violating a rule or getting fired. We're easy targets. Strange, considering the fact that we are in the service of our country.
God bless you. Really.
It's amazing and infuriating that people don't realize just how much they depend on career civil service employees for day-to-day living. Yet when they need something and can't get it immediately, they scream bloody murder. Witness the screams when the IRS can't handle their one phone call when there are literally millions calling in!