Regret being sup GS-15 and just want non-sup GS-14

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - this is no way to go through life. Any chance of transferring to a different department or agency?

I'm mid-40s myself and was extremely stressed in the same way (no therapy or meds - just b*tched a lot to my DW). I was responsible for hiring, firing and managing staff who reported to me. Likewise, I had to manage up a lot and deal with backstabbing colleagues who were looking to undermine me in order to take over my team (which had the reputation of being the best in the department).

Not OP, but this my life right now AAUUUGGGGHHH

[Anonymous]

I regret it too, but at my agency at least I don't have many (any?) options. It would look weird, liekly bad, if i took a step down to a 14 - or more likely 13 - as if I wasnt really dedicated to the mission. I could probably move to another agency and step down without issue, but given the hiring restrictions going on I"m not inclined to jump agencies right now.

My plan is to focus on the parts of the job I like, and then put my real efforts into the rest. My staff is feeling the same stress and anxiety I am (e.g., adminsitration uncertanties, budget cuts, hiring freezes) and I can help them feel better and allow them to do better work because of my efforts. I'm not a people person, so this takes a lot out of me, but I also think it's where I can get the most 'bang for my buck'

And really - I'm planning a vacation in early August (prior performance reviews/end of year chaos) and another in November (post all that) - and I can visit those plans in my head in the meantime

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP. I’m 30 and just got my GS-14. Management wants me to go into management, but I have no interest in being a first line manager. The stories of problem employees are estounding. It sounds that you like people to like you. In that case, if you have to make decisions that not everybody is going to like, then be as transparent as you can be. Make them respect the decision process/methodology. Also, OP do you have a hard time telling people no that ask things of you? You don’t have to do everything. Delegate, have promising employees go in your place to some meetings, turn down TDYs, etc. Wish you the best of luck!

[Anonymous]

I'm a non-supervisory GS-14, and I have been actively shunning becoming a GS-15 for about 8 years. In my series at my agency, I would have to be a supervisor, and I think that gig looks like a really bad deal. I have tons of autonomy and flexibility in my current position, which I would lose if I took a promotion. No thanks, it's not worth the few extra bucks in my paycheck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about a nonspervisory 15? I love it.

Op here, that would be my dream job, but I'm in mgmt analysis/HR and that's likely non-existent. I think you mainly see those non sup 15s in attorney type positions.

The best job in Govt - a nonsupervisory 15!! I love it too (801 series).

Try non-supervisory 16 at SEC, or comparable positions at other non-GS agencies. That's the good life.

So true. I always feel sorry for the supervising 15s. They’re clearly getting screwed compared to non-supervising 16s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP. I’m 30 and just got my GS-14. Management wants me to go into management, but I have no interest in being a first line manager. The stories of problem employees are estounding. It sounds that you like people to like you. In that case, if you have to make decisions that not everybody is going to like, then be as transparent as you can be. Make them respect the decision process/methodology. Also, OP do you have a hard time telling people no that ask things of you? You don’t have to do everything. Delegate, have promising employees go in your place to some meetings, turn down TDYs, etc. Wish you the best of luck!

This is what's so difficult for me as a manager. I do like people to like me and struggle with how my decisions impact the work and lives of others. I shouldn't, of course, but it's just in my makeup and probably why I need to step back and seek peace in an individual contributor role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow does it differ by agency. It's very rare to get above 12 or 13 without being supervisory in mine.

@ CIA you can get into their version of the senior exec service (Senior Intelligence Service) in the DI. They did it to keep great analysts that just wanted to do research, write, and work on products without the managing bullshit and realized it wasn't worth seeing people with built up knowledge leave if they didn't want to manage but their level was being capped due to that.

That's what my manager told me. It was a big selling point when I went through recruitment there.

New poster, I thought SIS was like SES for the CIA? I didn't know they were non supervisory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow does it differ by agency. It's very rare to get above 12 or 13 without being supervisory in mine.

@ CIA you can get into their version of the senior exec service (Senior Intelligence Service) in the DI. They did it to keep great analysts that just wanted to do research, write, and work on products without the managing bullshit and realized it wasn't worth seeing people with built up knowledge leave if they didn't want to manage but their level was being capped due to that.

That's what my manager told me. It was a big selling point when I went through recruitment there.

New poster, I thought SIS was like SES for the CIA? I didn't know they were non supervisory.

The vast majority are supervisory. Sorry I wasn’t clear - what I was trying to say is that there are non-supervisory SIS positions in the DI.

I don’t know how common they are though or how competitive they are. My thesis advisor helped start that type of position when he was deputy director there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow does it differ by agency. It's very rare to get above 12 or 13 without being supervisory in mine.

@ CIA you can get into their version of the senior exec service (Senior Intelligence Service) in the DI. They did it to keep great analysts that just wanted to do research, write, and work on products without the managing bullshit and realized it wasn't worth seeing people with built up knowledge leave if they didn't want to manage but their level was being capped due to that.

That's what my manager told me. It was a big selling point when I went through recruitment there.

New poster, I thought SIS was like SES for the CIA? I didn't know they were non supervisory.

The vast majority are supervisory. Sorry I wasn’t clear - what I was trying to say is that there are non-supervisory SIS positions in the DI.

I don’t know how common they are though or how competitive they are. My thesis advisor helped start that type of position when he was deputy director there.

Non-supervisor promotions to 15 and higher are crazy competitive from what I hear, and the supervisors (even bad ones!) get promoted MUCH faster.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this post as my situation is quite similar to OP. I am miserable supervising and think I need to find a Lower grade individual contributor role. The pay cut will hurt, as will my pride, and the fact that others in the organization will be talking about me, but I need to get over that and do what’s best for my mental and physical health.

[Anonymous]

What is so hard about a federal supervisor position? You just sit around until the second line tells you to do something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is so hard about a federal supervisor position? You just sit around until the second line tells you to do something.

your f'ed between staff who don't listen, upper mangers who are clueless... but other than that, it's peachy

[Anonymous]

What is so hard about a federal supervisor position? You just sit around until the second line tells you to do something.

People that you supervise are often crazy and do no work or provide poor work product. Then, you are responsible for fixing it. People above you often have unreasonable demands, or won't listen to good advice. I did it in an acting role for four months when my supervisor had a health issue, and it was just horrible. Not worth the small amount of additional money. At all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What is so hard about a federal supervisor position? You just sit around until the second line tells you to do something.

People that you supervise are often crazy and do no work or provide poor work product. Then, you are responsible for fixing it. People above you often have unreasonable demands, or won't listen to good advice. I did it in an acting role for four months when my supervisor had a health issue, and it was just horrible. Not worth the small amount of additional money. At all.

You know, it is really telling that nobody wants to manage in the federal govt. it's really time to clean house

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What is so hard about a federal supervisor position? You just sit around until the second line tells you to do something.

People that you supervise are often crazy and do no work or provide poor work product. Then, you are responsible for fixing it. People above you often have unreasonable demands, or won't listen to good advice. I did it in an acting role for four months when my supervisor had a health issue, and it was just horrible. Not worth the small amount of additional money. At all.

You know, it is really telling that nobody wants to manage in the federal govt. it's really time to clean house

Clean house how?