Working for America: Opportunity is Knocking!

Working for America: Opportunity is

Knocking!Dr. Johari M. Rashad

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Penn State UniversityHarrisburg, PA

November 20, 2009

The Partnership for Public Service

MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORG

The Partnership works to to revitalize our federal government

by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way

government works.

Agenda

Breaking down government stereotypes My federal story Resources you can use to learn more about

federal career and internship opportunities Question and answer session


Myths About Federal Employment

The political science major myth The low pay myth The Washington myth The bureaucracy myth


Myth #1: The Political Science Major Myth

Breaking down myth #1: Federal employees are all liberal arts

majors. The government doesn’t need people with other backgrounds.


Busting Myth #1: Find Your Federal Fit


Occupation # EmployeesMedical and Public Health 12,847Legal (e.g., paralegal specialist or attorney) 11,557Investigation (e.g., border patrol agent) 11,119Business and Accounting 10,704Natural Resources and Biology 7,053Social Science, Social Work and Psychology 4,138Engineering and Architecture 3,213Education 1,424Information Technology 1,289

In FY 2008, roughly 101,805 people were hired in the federal government at the entry level (GS-5, GS-6, GS-7, GS-9) into some of the following occupations:

Myth #2: The Low Pay Myth

Breaking down myth #2: Salaries for federal employees are low.

You’re better off going to work in the private sector.


Busting Myth #2: The General Schedule

Most Federal salaries are set by the General Schedule (GS) pay system, which goes from Grades 1-15

Each pay grade has 10 steps Varies by geographic location Within a few years, you could progress

through several grades


Busting Myth #2: General Schedule Grade Criteria


Grade Qualifying educationGS-5 4 academic years above high school leading

to a bachelor’s degree OR a bachelor’s degree

GS-7 Bachelor’s degree with one of the following:• Class standing (upper third of class)• 3.0 or higher GPA; 3.5 or higher GPA in major • Honor society membership

GS-9 Master’s degree (or equivalent)GS-11 Doctorate degreeSource: opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp

GS-5 and GS-7 are considered “entry-level”

Busting Myth #2: Sample 2009 Starting Salaries


City GS-5 GS-7 GS-9

Atlanta $32,039 $39,687 $48,545

Chicago $33,639 $41,669 $50,969

Seattle $32,718 $40,527 $49,573

New York City $34,582 $42,837 $52,398

San Francisco $36,309 $44,976 $55,015

Washington, D.C. $33,269 $41,210 $50,408Source:http://opm.gov/oca/09tables/indexGS.asp

Busting Myth #2: Sample 2009 Starting Salaries


City GS-5 GS-7 GS-9 GS-11

Atlanta $32,039 $39,687 $48,545 $58,734

Chicago $33,639 $41,669 $50,969 $61,667

Seattle $32,718 $40,527 $49,573 $59,428

New York City $34,582 $42,837 $52,398 $63,397

San Francisco $36,309 $44,976 $55,015 $66,562

Washington, D.C. $33,269 $41,210 $50,408 $60,989Source:http://opm.gov/oca/08tables/indexGS.asp

Then, 2-3 years later… possible career

progression

Busting Myth #2: Federal Service Benefits Student loan repayment assistance

• Some agencies may repay up to $10,000 of your student loans per year

• In 2007, 33 agencies provided 6,619 employees with $42 million in assistance

• The average loan repayment in 2007 was $6,345 Flexible work schedules and generous leave

benefits

Training and professional development

Competitive health and retirement benefits

Myth #3: The Washington Myth

Breaking down myth #3: Most federal jobs are located in

Washington, D.C.


Busting Myth #3: Jobs Are Everywhere!


Plus 50,000 jobs overseas

16% in the Washington, DC metro region

Myth #4: The Bureaucracy Myth

Breaking down myth #4: Federal employees are only paper pushers

who are caught up in bureaucracy. Your work as a federal employee doesn’t make a difference.


Busting Myth #4: My Federal Career Path

Started Federal career after graduation from Howard University (B.A., 1976) as a GS-4 clerk-typist

Administrative Intern, U.S. Civil Service Commission (1979) Personnel Management Specialist/instructor, U.S. Office of

Personnel Management (OPM), 1980-86 Senior Training Specialist, U.S. Coast Guard (1986-90) Chief, Office of Employee Development, Bureau of Land

Management BLM) (1990-93) Management Analyst, BLM (1994-2000) HR Workforce Effectiveness Advocate, OPM (2000-2004) Management Analyst/HR Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) (2004-present)


Busting Myth#4: My “Piece of the Action”

Human Resources (HR) Specialist (Policy writer/analyst), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Headquarters)

Helping Agency managers to effectively carry out their HR duties by providing advice, guidance, and policies for managing EPA employees to carry out EPA’s mission.

Representing the Agency to other federal agencies, professional associations, and educational institutions and private sector organizations as a leader/member on interagency teams, workgroups, and task forces on a variety of HR issues

Serving as EPA’s Telework Coordinator


Busting Myth #4: My Federal Career Legacy

Helping thousands of Federal employees to advance their careers; using my knowledge to help others to apply for Federal jobs.

Adopting & supporting the 5,500 sailors on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, the first aircraft carrier to depart for “Operation Enduring Freedom” after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.


Partnership Resources

www.makingthedifference.org Academic Quick Guides www.bestplacestowork.org www.wherethejobsare.org


Resources: Making the Difference

04/22/23 MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORG

• Hot Jobs/ Cool Internships

• Student Programs• 17 interest-specific

career guides• Agency profiles• KSA writing and

federal resumes• Security clearance• Student loan

repayment

www.makingthedifference.org

Resources: Academic Quick Guides

04/22/23 MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORGwww.makingthedifference.or

g

Resources: Best Places to Work

04/22/23 MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORG

• Provides overall rankings for agencies and subcomponents

• Also ranks agencies based on Best in Class scores in areas including Teamwork, Effective Leadership, Support for Diversity and Pay and Benefits

www.bestplacestowork.org

Resources: Where the Jobs Are

04/22/23 MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORGwww.wherethejobsare.org

• Identifies 273,000 mission-critical employment opportunities in government

• Search by professional field and agency

• View profiles of individual agencies

Questions?

Dr. Johari M. Rashad, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ([email protected])




Documents

Working for America: Opportunity is Knocking!