GS 12 versus GS 14?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will note that you said you interviewed for both, but have not yet been offered both, this may very well be decided for you.
Are you currently a fed? Are you a 13?

You don't make any sense. If one a 13 why would they apply for a 12? I'm guessing she's from the outside as you have more flexibility applying for various grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me, quality of life has value. I’d take the job where I think I’d be happier.

I agree, but I wonder if OP really knows what office dynamics are like at the 12. They paint the 12 as a respected key contributor. If never seen a 12 with much autonomy or who gets a strong voice in the room. My experience is that both of those start at 13 and by 14 you really get a voice

This really depends where you are. In my agency, program leads with PhDs or significant experience are 12s, and they make a lot of the day to day decisions. 13s do as well but tend to have an unfortunate combination of individual contributor duties plus supervision of staff. 14 is where you're basically a staff and funds manager all the time and not doing IC work at all. So it really depends what autonomy and voice mean to you - in my experience the work is fundamentally different.

OP here. This is basically the 12 role, re: significant experience. As for the 14 role, if I hypothetically get it, the person could make my life (more) miserable/push me out so then I'd end up without a 14, etc. My supervisor said that this person may be intimidated by my credentials and I have no idea why. I try to be nice, but this person just...isn't.

If the other person is also a 14 and you don't work for them, pay for therapy and take the money and run.

[Anonymous]

Wait until you get offers and then decide! The unprofessional person could torpedo your application and make the decision for you!

[Anonymous]

Keep looking. Once you start at a grade level, you can’t jump around. As others said, a 12 has to be a 12 for a year, then a 13 for a year, then compete for a 14, etc. so you’re eligible for a 14, just keep looking for the right one.

[Anonymous]

Take the gs 14. My sister took gs 14 step 10 over gs 15 step 10 because she thought the gs 14 job was more interesting and the hiring manager of the gs14 job promised to get her to 15 within one year. it did not happen. She is very regrettable.

[Anonymous]

As someone working for horrible people take the 14. Do the job well and get a better job or wait them out, stay in the driver’s seat. Yes it will suck but you can do it. And you can get a better job on your terms if you can’t fix the current environment or wait them out. Now if you are independently wealthy then take whatever job you want including a volunteer position. Otherwise do not let the losers win. Get paid.

[Anonymous]

Yes, that is nuts. Take the 14. You could spend the rest of your career trying to get to that 14 if you take the 12. Annoying co-worker could be gone or there could be a re-org. Things are always changing.

[Anonymous]

I recommend accepting the GS-14 role and asking your doc for a Zoloft script. Seriously. I take it to deal with some bad actors at work and it truly makes you not GAF.

It’s a great stop-gap until you can find a better work situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...but one person I know who would be working with me...

It sounds like you are a Federal contractor, as you have first hand experience dealing with this problem person, but you are also eligible to apply for a GS-12 vs. GS-14. If you were already a Fed employee, your question would only apply to considering a demotion (as you would have to be a GS-13).

If so, 80% of the government facility I work in is "contract employees" and I have a 25 years experience with the Fed-contractor relationship, limitations, "employee gossip", etc. Please do not take offense, but you remind me of a contractor that has been treated poorly by a Fed employee, and that is a shame! I know the type, and you are correct, this person is threatened and uses intimidation to deter your interest in the position. Oh dear, in my experience, I advise you to rise above and consider the GS-14! Then again, I cannot help but question the supervisors acceptance towards this type of behavior, and is the most concerning part of your conundrum.

The good news is once you become a Fed, the way that person specifically interacts with you may change. If not, you will have more authority to appropriately handle this individual directly, or indirectly. Setting appropriate boundaries with the problem employee is appropriate, and justifiable.

Unless I am missing something, the GS-14 is the most beneficial Fed career choice, especially if non-supervisory and majority is teleworking! Almost the holy grail of Fed jobs! You will gain a whole new support system outside this bully, and who knows, you may be the one to put them in their place! Another idea is to play their game and change the tides... Keep your enemies close! LOL

We cannot control the behavior of others, but we can control how we react to that behavior! Best of Luck!

[Anonymous]

Is this even a question, unless you're independently wealthy and don't need the $ and career advancement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do 14s come up in your field often so that you could have reasonable assurance you could do a lateral move at some point if dealing with the coworker gets to be too much? Or are they rare. I think I'd take the 14 as long as you wouldn't be stuck for years waiting for someone to retire to be able to move on. But then again, even if 14s are rare, as a 14 then you could qualify for a 13 step 10 more easily somewhere else.

14s are decently available roles. I won't be waiting a decade--just a couple of years, a few at most. I know, on paper, it makes sense to take the 14. But this person truly is awful to work with (treats feds and contractors horribly, and nobody seems to care--which concerns me).

If you take the 12, you are no longer eligible to apply for 14 roles

This. You will have to apply at a 13 and be that for a year before you become eligible for a 14.

This isn’t universally true. I just jumped from a 12-10 to 14 based on work history before entering government. We don’t know what OP’s backstory is.

OP, take the 14.

[Anonymous]

OP - do you have a DH that makes significantly more than you? I'm guessing this is the case.

[Anonymous]

Take the 14...I understand that you think the 12 job has prestige, but...it doesn't. There is nothing prestigious about being a 12. Once you're in government, you'll understand why most everyone is saying take the 14.

[Anonymous]

Are you a fed now? I am still confused about applying 12/14 same time. What are you know? Sounds trolling.

[Anonymous]

14 is no brainer. People move, situations change, but with the locked in federal pay systems you're stuck. You're trading time for money, 80 hrs per pay period at a time. Get the higher paycheck and better step growth.