Started as a GS-14 This Week

[Chris Pascale]

Went back to federal government as a seasonal GS-05 in 2016. 7 years later to the month, I'm a permanent 14.

While this seems fast, I'm 41, so more like being on track after some setbacks.

[cincystache]

Congrats! Is it generally hard to get a job for the government? I've worked in private sector for 1 company my entire career and have considered trying something else.

[Chris Pascale]

Congrats! Is it generally hard to get a job for the government? I've worked in private sector for 1 company my entire career and have considered trying something else.

Right now the demographics are in our favor (public and private sector). For years the avg IRS employee (where I work) has been eligible for retirement, but have not been leaving. I think the 2008 crash kept a lot of people in - in fact, in 2011 they were offering $25,000 cash bonuses to people who'd retire. 2020 must have shaken some people up out of the system - like maybe people were approaching 70 with a house worth way more than it should be, healthy stock accounts, and a pension if they'd just take it. Add in mortality and a few more openings appeared.

In the private sector it's way better for young people than a generation ago. Both my older daughters were working full-time last summer. When I left college at 19 in 2001, I could only find PT work. When I left the military in 2008, every job I was offered was the same job I'd had before joining up 5 years before. But now there are sudden industry shortages (hence the nonsensical "nobody wants to work anymore" mantra being said by lousy employers). Around by me there were lots of ads for being a lifeguard. In the past, many of these positions were taken up by adults, but they were specifically advertising to teens that they'd pay for their certification and offer 40 hours a week.

[DeniseNJ]

Congrats! Is it generally hard to get a job for the government? I've worked in private sector for 1 company my entire career and have considered trying something else.

Go to USAJobs.gov That's where all gov't jobs are posted.  You can sort by type of job, agency, location, pay, etc.

[economista]

Congrats! Is it generally hard to get a job for the government? I've worked in private sector for 1 company my entire career and have considered trying something else.

Go to USAJobs.gov That's where all gov't jobs are posted.  You can sort by type of job, agency, location, pay, etc.

I would also recommend that you read over any and all information you can find about government resumes and/or use the USA Jobs resume builder. I’ve been with my agency for 11 years, since I graduated from college, and I’m a GS-13. The biggest mistake I’ve seen friends make is submitting a private sector resume and then not getting an interview. The average government resume is around 10 pages long! There is an entirely different process to making a government resume.

[economista]

Went back to federal government as a seasonal GS-05 in 2016. 7 years later to the month, I'm a permanent 14.

While this seems fast, I'm 41, so more like being on track after some setbacks.

Congrats! My husband used to work for the IRS and started on the phones as a GS-05. He made it up to a GS-09 before leaving. He still has a lot of friends who work there and we were just talking the other day about how the people on the phones think getting to a GS-13 or 14 is impossible!

[SpaceCow]

Went back to federal government as a seasonal GS-05 in 2016. 7 years later to the month, I'm a permanent 14.

While this seems fast, I'm 41, so more like being on track after some setbacks.

Sweet, congrats! I started as a GS-05 in 2019. The position I'm in now ladders to a GS-12. Hope to make it to 14 someday!

[Chris Pascale]

Went back to federal government as a seasonal GS-05 in 2016. 7 years later to the month, I'm a permanent 14.

While this seems fast, I'm 41, so more like being on track after some setbacks.

Sweet, congrats! I started as a GS-05 in 2019. The position I'm in now ladders to a GS-12. Hope to make it to 14 someday!

It can be done.

What made the difference for me was being aggressive. As an 11 I was only initially applying for jobs I wanted (TIGTA agent, CI analyst, CFO of a VA hospital), but I finally just hit a point where I didn't care what the job was - it was just a pay grade climb. A couple months after that, I was offered a 12 in Appeals. The minute I got the SF-50 saying I was a 12, step 2, I applied to everything that was a 13 (about 60-70 applications). I think getting my current position only took about 40 applications, and I was only a 13 for 16 months.

My current boss said to me, "When I told everyone I was selecting you, they said, 'he's not going to stick around'," and then added that no one should expect me to unless there's a 15 they can offer.

It's funny because as a 12, I was told that I was getting a certain reputation, and now that I have it, I guess I'm glad I do.

[Chris Pascale]

Went back to federal government as a seasonal GS-05 in 2016. 7 years later to the month, I'm a permanent 14.

While this seems fast, I'm 41, so more like being on track after some setbacks.

Congrats! My husband used to work for the IRS and started on the phones as a GS-05. He made it up to a GS-09 before leaving. He still has a lot of friends who work there and we were just talking the other day about how the people on the phones think getting to a GS-13 or 14 is impossible!

I find that the GS-07 to GS-09 window is a place many people get stuck, especially if they are Tax Examiners. The teams are flooded with 07's, and there are very few 08's and 09's, and those leads and managers tend not to move. The 09 managers can sometimes get 20 hours of overtime every week to fulfill admin duties, and if you add in a night-differential, they'd take a big pay cut to become a GS-11, but that creates a bottleneck for those who aren't willing to relocate.

To get over the hump, you need to make a bold move of some sort. For me, it was getting my MBA in accounting and then lucking into a recent grad position in the Office of Chief Counsel (IRS law office). For my wife, she was a TE in ASFR and made a move to NY City at the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. Some of her co-workers were shocked she'd be a 09 so soon, but also would never consider the commute.

Someone I know made his way up from the phones in the following way: Since phones automatically ladder to 08, but the seasonal examiners only get to 08 as leads, he used his time in grade to lat-move into a seasonal lead position, which uniquely qualified him to apply for 09 Phone Lead, which then uniquely qualified him for a seasonal exam 09 management position, which then led to a phone management position. Convoluted? I'd say so, but he really worked that system.

[tj]

I would be a 12 in Feb 2024 if I didn't keep moving around.

7 to 9 Sept 2019- Sept 2020
9 step 1 to 7 step 8 Feb 2021
7  to lateral 7 in a differnet series June 2021
7 to 9 again June 2022
9 to 11 June 2023

I get bored doing the same thing. I didn't want to get pigeonholed as a tax auditor. When I left my last audit position, they were like "apply again, we'll pick you up"

When I apply again because there was a vacancy in an interesting location, they grilled me on my switched from audit to something else. Wasn't fun.

I probably will be able to get a 12 in June 2024 if I stick with my current series until then, but I may have to move geographically.

[Turtle]

Went back to federal government as a seasonal GS-05 in 2016. 7 years later to the month, I'm a permanent 14.

While this seems fast, I'm 41, so more like being on track after some setbacks.

Congratulations!  My mom went to work for the Government at 41 as a GS-07 and retired at 62 as a GS-14.  Took her much longer than 7 years.

[Chris Pascale]

I would be a 12 in Feb 2024 if I didn't keep moving around.

Nothing wrong with that. Better to make a little less and not be so miserable and bored all the time.

A good friend of mine jumped around a lot as a 07 just to not have to keep doing the same thing every year. He's 75 now and very happy.

[Chris Pascale]

Went back to federal government as a seasonal GS-05 in 2016. 7 years later to the month, I'm a permanent 14.

While this seems fast, I'm 41, so more like being on track after some setbacks.

Congratulations!  My mom went to work for the Government at 41 as a GS-07 and retired at 62 as a GS-14.  Took her much longer than 7 years.

For me, it felt like moving up and around was a lot harder in the 2010's, and I'm sure the workforce was glutted before that, too.

[DeniseNJ]

Most health insurance specialist positions at CMS are a GS 9 to 12.  Apply to everything you can find at CMS.  You come in as a 9, a yr later you're an 11 (you skip 10) and a yr later you're a 12.  So it only takes 2 yrs to get to a GS12, and you're not a supervisor until you are a 14. 

In contrast, at SSA an 11 is running an office of 30 people! The are really low graded. CMS is a great agency to work for.  So is DEA. VA/VHA is the pits.

[tj]

Most health insurance specialist positions at CMS are a GS 9 to 12.  Apply to everything you can find at CMS.  You come in as a 9, a yr later you're an 11 (you skip 10) and a yr later you're a 12.  So it only takes 2 yrs to get to a GS12, and you're not a supervisor until you are a 14. 

In contrast, at SSA an 11 is running an office of 30 people! The are really low graded. CMS is a great agency to work for.  So is DEA. VA/VHA is the pits.

What does a health insurance specialist do? How does one become a health insurance specialist?

[economista]

Most health insurance specialist positions at CMS are a GS 9 to 12.  Apply to everything you can find at CMS.  You come in as a 9, a yr later you're an 11 (you skip 10) and a yr later you're a 12.  So it only takes 2 yrs to get to a GS12, and you're not a supervisor until you are a 14. 

In contrast, at SSA an 11 is running an office of 30 people! The are really low graded. CMS is a great agency to work for.  So is DEA. VA/VHA is the pits.

Yes, GSA has a lot of 7/9/11 and 9/11/12 positions. I highly recommend GSA if you have any real estate, finance, contracting, or construction experience. I've worked at GSA for 11 years and I absolutely, hands down love my job. I have never once had to deal with the "Sunday Scaries". It could be the region I'm in, or the specific jobs I have had, but overall I think GSA is a really great agency to work for. 

[tj]

Most health insurance specialist positions at CMS are a GS 9 to 12.  Apply to everything you can find at CMS.  You come in as a 9, a yr later you're an 11 (you skip 10) and a yr later you're a 12.  So it only takes 2 yrs to get to a GS12, and you're not a supervisor until you are a 14. 

In contrast, at SSA an 11 is running an office of 30 people! The are really low graded. CMS is a great agency to work for.  So is DEA. VA/VHA is the pits.

Yes, GSA has a lot of 7/9/11 and 9/11/12 positions. I highly recommend GSA if you have any real estate, finance, contracting, or construction experience. I've worked at GSA for 11 years and I absolutely, hands down love my job. I have never once had to deal with the "Sunday Scaries". It could be the region I'm in, or the specific jobs I have had, but overall I think GSA is a really great agency to work for.

I literally work with GSA but can't get an interview. They do seem overwhelmed though, I have 2 buildings, the local GSA guy has like 50-100+

[economista]

Most health insurance specialist positions at CMS are a GS 9 to 12.  Apply to everything you can find at CMS.  You come in as a 9, a yr later you're an 11 (you skip 10) and a yr later you're a 12.  So it only takes 2 yrs to get to a GS12, and you're not a supervisor until you are a 14. 

In contrast, at SSA an 11 is running an office of 30 people! The are really low graded. CMS is a great agency to work for.  So is DEA. VA/VHA is the pits.

Yes, GSA has a lot of 7/9/11 and 9/11/12 positions. I highly recommend GSA if you have any real estate, finance, contracting, or construction experience. I've worked at GSA for 11 years and I absolutely, hands down love my job. I have never once had to deal with the "Sunday Scaries". It could be the region I'm in, or the specific jobs I have had, but overall I think GSA is a really great agency to work for.

I literally work with GSA but can't get an interview. They do seem overwhelmed though, I have 2 buildings, the local GSA guy has like 50-100+

It depends. It definitely depends on what position you have. I am an asset manager for two states, but between those states I only have 13 assets. However, for those 13 assets I basically have to know the ins and outs of every agency in each space, every project going on, the vacant space, the buildings' systems, the financials, etc. It is a lot, and a lot of people get overwhelmed in this position and then move on relatively quickly (it's a non-supervisory 13) but for the right person it is wonderful. I LOVE my job.

[DeniseNJ]

Most health insurance specialist positions at CMS are a GS 9 to 12.  Apply to everything you can find at CMS.  You come in as a 9, a yr later you're an 11 (you skip 10) and a yr later you're a 12.  So it only takes 2 yrs to get to a GS12, and you're not a supervisor until you are a 14. 

In contrast, at SSA an 11 is running an office of 30 people! The are really low graded. CMS is a great agency to work for.  So is DEA. VA/VHA is the pits.

What does a health insurance specialist do? How does one become a health insurance specialist?

It's funny bc almost everyone is a "health insurance specialist."  That's like the general catch all term for most staff.  Some people answer questions from the public, some perform audits, some help with policy.  CMS is huge and complex and the work spans lots of areas.  You have to read the description but even those are really general sometimes.  Basically you want to emphasize research, writing, responsiveness, leadership, and program management.

[jinga nation]

Went back to federal government as a seasonal GS-05 in 2016. 7 years later to the month, I'm a permanent 14.

While this seems fast, I'm 41, so more like being on track after some setbacks.

Congrats! That's the fastest I've heard/seen anyone go thru the GS/GG ranks.
I've never had success applying for govy jobs thru usajobs and other sites, since 2004. Weird.
This is despite having been a federal gov/ DoD contractor and working at the various agencies. And having the clearance required for the job.
But I'm now at a stage where I work with 13-15s daily, and after seeing what they deal with from their leadership, I don't want to be in that seat.
And I don't have to deal with annual performance eval write-ups, etc. And get paid a heck ton more to keep building the little green army.
I was offered a low 13 position verbally by a 15 during COVID which I declined due to the pay being insultingly low and having to relocate to the DC area.