Possible to get a government job if you are in your 50's?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a federal hiring manager in my late 40s, I prefer hiring people in their 50s to people in their 20s and regularly choose the older candidate when it's a close call. Best of luck.

So you discriminate based on age. Nice.

In the federal government you can't discriminate against people for being 40 or older, and I'm not doing that. People in their 50s are usually easier to manage and better colleagues, there are exceptions but I'd rather have someone with 30 years of professional experience.

Not just the federal government, this is true everywhere. There is no such thing as discriminating against someone for being too young (unless, I guess, you prefer 60 year olds to 40 year olds--age discrimination doesn't "kick in" until age 40). That is of course commonsense because age does in fact bring experience and hopefully brings some wisdom. As someone who works with a lot of 20 year olds, I envy those who can write off the entire decade and not have to deal with anyone learning how to be in a professional environment for the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a federal hiring manager in my late 40s, I prefer hiring people in their 50s to people in their 20s and regularly choose the older candidate when it's a close call. Best of luck.

So you discriminate based on age. Nice.

It’s not “discrimination “ when it’s about experience— of multiple types, including lengthy track record of successfully negotiating professional environments .

[Anonymous]

We just hired a 61 year old, and they're a fantastic, talented addition to the team. Go for it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How easy it is to negotiate on things like vacation? I'm in this boat now...

If you can prove that you used to have a lot of vacation in your old job you can negotiate for up to 8 hours a pay period which is 26 vacation days per year plus the 11 federal holidays that everyone gets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a federal hiring manager in my late 40s, I prefer hiring people in their 50s to people in their 20s and regularly choose the older candidate when it's a close call. Best of luck.

So you discriminate based on age. Nice.

It's perfectly legal to discriminate against those who are under 40. Perfectly normal to prefer work and life experience. Nice.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. I'm the one who asked about more vacation time. Excuse my ignorance - what is the standard the feds offer per pay period?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How easy it is to negotiate on things like vacation? I'm in this boat now...

If you can prove that you used to have a lot of vacation in your old job you can negotiate for up to 8 hours a pay period which is 26 vacation days per year plus the 11 federal holidays that everyone gets.

My division doesn’t negotiate leave unless you have prior Fed service. No harm in asking but it might not happen.

[Anonymous]

How old can you be hired (or re-hired) in fed gov?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How easy it is to negotiate on things like vacation? I'm in this boat now...

With the federal government? You don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP. I'm the one who asked about more vacation time. Excuse my ignorance - what is the standard the feds offer per pay period?

4 hours for pay period for the first 3 years, then 6 hours a pay period until 15 years. Then 8 hours a pay period.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/leave-administration/fact-sheets/annual-leave/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How easy it is to negotiate on things like vacation? I'm in this boat now...

If you can prove that you used to have a lot of vacation in your old job you can negotiate for up to 8 hours a pay period which is 26 vacation days per year plus the 11 federal holidays that everyone gets.

My division doesn’t negotiate leave unless you have prior Fed service. No harm in asking but it might not happen.

How do divisions decide whether to negotiate leave or not? Does that mean it can vary within an agency? Is it up to a specific director and could change in a few years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How easy it is to negotiate on things like vacation? I'm in this boat now...

If you can prove that you used to have a lot of vacation in your old job you can negotiate for up to 8 hours a pay period which is 26 vacation days per year plus the 11 federal holidays that everyone gets.

My division doesn’t negotiate leave unless you have prior Fed service. No harm in asking but it might not happen.

How do divisions decide whether to negotiate leave or not? Does that mean it can vary within an agency? Is it up to a specific director and could change in a few years?

It’s arbitrary, anyone can do this but some choose not to. In my office we would typically honor non federal service, so someone with over 3 years of professional employment would start with 6 hours a pay period and someone with over 15 years would start with 8 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old can you be hired (or re-hired) in fed gov?

There is no limit. Guy down the hall from me is in his 80s and talks about seeing president LBJ walk down our hallway. We’ve definitely hired people pushing 70.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How easy it is to negotiate on things like vacation? I'm in this boat now...

If you can prove that you used to have a lot of vacation in your old job you can negotiate for up to 8 hours a pay period which is 26 vacation days per year plus the 11 federal holidays that everyone gets.

My division doesn’t negotiate leave unless you have prior Fed service. No harm in asking but it might not happen.

How do divisions decide whether to negotiate leave or not? Does that mean it can vary within an agency? Is it up to a specific director and could change in a few years?

It’s arbitrary, anyone can do this but some choose not to. In my office we would typically honor non federal service, so someone with over 3 years of professional employment would start with 6 hours a pay period and someone with over 15 years would start with 8 hours.

My large agency absolutely does not do this. I’ve only seen it done where you are a very niche job and they’re desperate for you. And it was 6 hours a pay period, not 8

[Anonymous]

I’d be fine with 6 but 4 would be hard to do and feels like going backwards.