Working for America: Opportunity is Knocking! Dr. Johari M. Rashad U.S. Environmental Protection...
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Transcript of Working for America: Opportunity is Knocking! Dr. Johari M. Rashad U.S. Environmental Protection...
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
Dr. Johari M. RashadU.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
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Myths About Federal Employment
The political science major myth
The low pay myth
The Washington myth
The bureaucracy myth
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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.
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Busting Myth #1: Find Your Federal Fit
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Occupation # Employees
Medical and Public Health 12,847
Legal (e.g., paralegal specialist or attorney) 11,557
Investigation (e.g., border patrol agent) 11,119
Business and Accounting 10,704
Natural Resources and Biology 7,053
Social Science, Social Work and Psychology 4,138
Engineering and Architecture 3,213
Education 1,424
Information 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.
MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORG
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
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Busting Myth #2: General Schedule Grade Criteria
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Grade Qualifying education
GS-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”
GS-5 and GS-7 are considered “entry-level”
Busting Myth #2: Sample 2009 Starting Salaries
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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 $50,408
Source:http://opm.gov/oca/09tables/indexGS.asp
Busting Myth #2: Sample 2009 Starting Salaries
MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORG
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 $60,989
Source:http://opm.gov/oca/08tables/indexGS.asp
Then, 2-3 years later… possible career
progression
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.
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Busting Myth #3: Jobs Are Everywhere!
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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.
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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)
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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
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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.
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Partnership Resources
www.makingthedifference.org
Academic Quick Guides
www.bestplacestowork.org
www.wherethejobsare.org
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Resources: Making the Difference
04/19/2304/19/23 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
• 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
www.makingthedifference.org
Resources: Academic Quick Guides
04/19/2304/19/23 MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORGwww.makingthedifference.or
gwww.makingthedifference.or
g
Resources: Best Places to Work
04/19/2304/19/23 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
• 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.orgwww.bestplacestowork.org
Resources: Where the Jobs Are
04/19/2304/19/23 MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORGwww.wherethejobsare.orgwww.wherethejobsare.org
• Identifies 273,000 mission-critical employment opportunities in government
• Search by professional field and agency
• View profiles of individual agencies
• 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])
www.makingthedifference.org
MAKINGTHEDIFFERENCE.ORG
www.makingthedifference.orgwww.makingthedifference.org