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

[Anonymous]

Connected to this - are there good fed jobs for non lawyers? I’m a mix of both - approaching 50 and a non lawyer who might want to make the switch to Ted work.

[Anonymous]

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

This right here is why it's hard to transition into federal service later. Many people cannot deal with 4 hours pay period. My large agency would not negotiate at all on this but even other divisions within my agency would. No way to know until you ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

This right here is why it's hard to transition into federal service later. Many people cannot deal with 4 hours pay period. My large agency would not negotiate at all on this but even other divisions within my agency would. No way to know until you ask.

Sometimes HR won’t negotiate but if you have a sympathetic manager they can give you 40 hours of leave as your spot award and up to 80 hours of additional leave as performance awards in a year. As a manager I prefer to do this, leaves more $ in the bonus pool for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Connected to this - are there good fed jobs for non lawyers? I’m a mix of both - approaching 50 and a non lawyer who might want to make the switch to Ted work.

There are thousands of good jobs for non lawyers, if you have a project management background and certifications we would hire you in multiple offices at my agency for example

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Actually, the OPM regs say that agencies DO have discretion to credit additional years for the narrow purpose of Annual Leave - based on years of non-government work experience. Many civil service HR people are not aware of this option - and it is an option at the discretion of the hiring agency, and is not an entitlement to the new hire. So, yes, it can be negotiated, but some parts of the USG will not grant this as a matter of agency policy. Wise to ask, and wiser to cite the OPM regulations (on opm.gov) to the hiring agency when asking, but do not be surprised if their answer is no.

[Anonymous]

I’m also 54 and I’ve been applying for the past 10 months with no luck. But I’ve been very picky and only applying to jobs that look better than the one I have now, which is pretty hard to beat. But I’ve been in this role for ten years now and I’m ready for something new. For me (and many old timers), the challenge is finding a high enough grade that doesn’t require taking a pay cut, but also doesn’t require prior federal experience. Such jobs exist but they are few and far between. Someone on this board advised me that the average timeline to land a job is 18 months - but many give up before then, as I’m often tempted to do. Then I screw up my resolve and keep trying. I set a bunch of searches so that makes it easier to filter and feels more purposeful. I’m prepared to lose flexibility and vacation time. But I’ll trade those for the mission, challenge, security, growth potential, and benefits.

I’ve applied to 25 jobs and had one interview and 15 referrals in 10 months. Of the non referrals, 3 went to veterans, 2 were cancelled, 3 gave no explanation, and 2 are still pending. Still waiting on those referrals but I’m not holding my breath. I think my resume is good enough for HR, but not for the hiring manager. It’s a work in progress.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

This right here is why it's hard to transition into federal service later. Many people cannot deal with 4 hours pay period. My large agency would not negotiate at all on this but even other divisions within my agency would. No way to know until you ask.

I did this at age 50. My division refused to give me the 6 hours, but I’ll get there in 3 years anyway. My spouse is a long-time Fed so has plenty of leave for kid stuff.

[Anonymous]

The government sucks.

[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.

This is accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Connected to this - are there good fed jobs for non lawyers? I’m a mix of both - approaching 50 and a non lawyer who might want to make the switch to Ted work.

There are thousands of good jobs for non lawyers, if you have a project management background and certifications we would hire you in multiple offices at my agency for example

What agency? I am really a generalist with a variety of consulting and non-consulting work in my background. I have a PMP. I think i'd like to finish out my career as a fed.... not sure where to begin looking or how.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m also 54 and I’ve been applying for the past 10 months with no luck. But I’ve been very picky and only applying to jobs that look better than the one I have now, which is pretty hard to beat. But I’ve been in this role for ten years now and I’m ready for something new. For me (and many old timers), the challenge is finding a high enough grade that doesn’t require taking a pay cut, but also doesn’t require prior federal experience. Such jobs exist but they are few and far between. Someone on this board advised me that the average timeline to land a job is 18 months - but many give up before then, as I’m often tempted to do. Then I screw up my resolve and keep trying. I set a bunch of searches so that makes it easier to filter and feels more purposeful. I’m prepared to lose flexibility and vacation time. But I’ll trade those for the mission, challenge, security, growth potential, and benefits.

I’ve applied to 25 jobs and had one interview and 15 referrals in 10 months. Of the non referrals, 3 went to veterans, 2 were cancelled, 3 gave no explanation, and 2 are still pending. Still waiting on those referrals but I’m not holding my breath. I think my resume is good enough for HR, but not for the hiring manager. It’s a work in progress.

Good luck!

Wait are you only applying to SES or GS15? What salary are you trying to match?

If it’s easier to soothe your ego, the pension is worth about $30k.

If your current job is stable and great why are you leaving? Most people put a premium on the stability and lack of ageism; which is likely worth $100k if you expect to be cut at 56.

[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.

This is accurate.

So it sounds like it's determined by agency and/or by division. Good to know. But who makes that decision? Was it made at some prior point in time and won't ever change? Or is it up to an individual person like an agency or division head, such that someone who gets replaced could change the division's policy in the future?

[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.

This is accurate.

So it sounds like it's determined by agency and/or by division. Good to know. But who makes that decision? Was it made at some prior point in time and won't ever change? Or is it up to an individual person like an agency or division head, such that someone who gets replaced could change the division's policy in the future?

NP and at my agency there is an administrative memo that permits this. In practice, the applicant has to request it (although how a regular applicant would know to do this is beyond me) although some hiring managers will proactively request it for an applicant. Once you are hired it is too late to make the change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m also 54 and I’ve been applying for the past 10 months with no luck. But I’ve been very picky and only applying to jobs that look better than the one I have now, which is pretty hard to beat. But I’ve been in this role for ten years now and I’m ready for something new. For me (and many old timers), the challenge is finding a high enough grade that doesn’t require taking a pay cut, but also doesn’t require prior federal experience. Such jobs exist but they are few and far between. Someone on this board advised me that the average timeline to land a job is 18 months - but many give up before then, as I’m often tempted to do. Then I screw up my resolve and keep trying. I set a bunch of searches so that makes it easier to filter and feels more purposeful. I’m prepared to lose flexibility and vacation time. But I’ll trade those for the mission, challenge, security, growth potential, and benefits.

I’ve applied to 25 jobs and had one interview and 15 referrals in 10 months. Of the non referrals, 3 went to veterans, 2 were cancelled, 3 gave no explanation, and 2 are still pending. Still waiting on those referrals but I’m not holding my breath. I think my resume is good enough for HR, but not for the hiring manager. It’s a work in progress.

Good luck!

Wait are you only applying to SES or GS15? What salary are you trying to match?

If it’s easier to soothe your ego, the pension is worth about $30k.

If your current job is stable and great why are you leaving? Most people put a premium on the stability and lack of ageism; which is likely worth $100k if you expect to be cut at 56.

I’m trying to match $100k so I’m looking at GS13+ but I’d take a GS12. I haven’t had a raise or performance review in 5 years. There’s no room for growth and I feel like I’m already retiring in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m also 54 and I’ve been applying for the past 10 months with no luck. But I’ve been very picky and only applying to jobs that look better than the one I have now, which is pretty hard to beat. But I’ve been in this role for ten years now and I’m ready for something new. For me (and many old timers), the challenge is finding a high enough grade that doesn’t require taking a pay cut, but also doesn’t require prior federal experience. Such jobs exist but they are few and far between. Someone on this board advised me that the average timeline to land a job is 18 months - but many give up before then, as I’m often tempted to do. Then I screw up my resolve and keep trying. I set a bunch of searches so that makes it easier to filter and feels more purposeful. I’m prepared to lose flexibility and vacation time. But I’ll trade those for the mission, challenge, security, growth potential, and benefits.

I’ve applied to 25 jobs and had one interview and 15 referrals in 10 months. Of the non referrals, 3 went to veterans, 2 were cancelled, 3 gave no explanation, and 2 are still pending. Still waiting on those referrals but I’m not holding my breath. I think my resume is good enough for HR, but not for the hiring manager. It’s a work in progress.

Good luck!

Wait are you only applying to SES or GS15? What salary are you trying to match?

If it’s easier to soothe your ego, the pension is worth about $30k.

If your current job is stable and great why are you leaving? Most people put a premium on the stability and lack of ageism; which is likely worth $100k if you expect to be cut at 56.

I’m trying to match $100k so I’m looking at GS13+ but I’d take a GS12. I haven’t had a raise or performance review in 5 years. There’s no room for growth and I feel like I’m already retiring in place.

Small nonprofit