How does the government workVery Very Very slowly. That's how. I forgot that I even applied for this until I received a letter yesterday afternoon. I applied to the Federal Bankruptcy Court in my state back in late November or early December. I remember (now) that the ad on the Federal website said to send all inquiries to the lead bankruptcy judge. Anyway, I received a letter yesterday that stated that the Judge and his staff have started to read the resumes and they will be in touch to schedule interviews by the end of next month. They hope to conduct these interviews by the end of May and to have someone hired by the end of June. Dang, no wonder I haven't received my income tax return yet. Kelly this is a hot post made me laugh out loud. I have been in and out of the gevernment sector my whole career and have taken six months to hire people and hired people in as little as three weeks. Just like regular business things often change from the idea of hiring people until the actual hire. Budget freezes, layoff. budget cuts, management changes... What the government shares with many big companies are: 1. Bloated doltish HR departments. These are the systems problems that make government and big companies generally unable to be flexible or quick in the hiring process. But you nailed it well. The Government is a stable gig but it might not be right for you. Go in with eyes wide open. HR is symptomatic of how the gov and big companies operate in other areas too. Hedtec, you are funny. This is why I made this post. Because things were getting a little too serious and I needed to laugh at myself and to attempt to make others laugh. I had answered the ad basically on a dare from some friends who told me that after working defense for so long that there was no way I would be seriously considered as suitable for working with a Judge. I never took any of the tests or consented to the background check that applicants are subjected to. And then, out of the blue, to be told that I am being seriously considered for an interview. I just about fell out of my chair from laughing so hard. Of course, I am guessing that all of the tests, mandatory seminars and courses and the multiple checks that we have to go through every 12 months have already been requested and received and so the "requirements" in the ad may apply to those just starting out in the public sector. I worked for the government (state, city and county but not federal) for ten years. And I also served as EEOC for many interviews. My eyes are extremely wide open to the politics and internal government backstabbing, fingerpointing and general attitude of "I have job security and so I can't get into serious trouble". In an interview when anyone asks me why I switched from prosecution to defense, the answer is as simple as pie. "When the division dissolved due to budget cuts those of us who wanted to stay in government service were given a list of where we wanted to be placed. I opted to choose the criminal defense side of the government. The down side to that is if they want a reference from someone I worked directly with. Unfortunately, with more than half of the division leaving for private firms or unemployment and the rest of us thrown here and there, very few of us were able to keep in contact. Ever try to get a reference from a government agency? HAH!!! You would have an easier time fighting Goliath if David had trip over his rock. Anyway, thanks for your concern and I am glad that I could make you laugh, too. | |
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