Kit Lancaster ⋅ Chicago , IL GCG Financial ⋅ 5 years experience

I'm going to echo what Travis just said. What are you looking for? What makes you happy? Where do you want to live? What type of lifestyle and opportunities do you want?

Have you spoken with individuals who work in the career path on the private sector that would be available to you? Have you been able to ask them qualifying questions about their line of work?

Are you interested in meeting with veterans are speaking with veterans were doing acquisitions at the corporate level?

I enjoyed my time in the military. However my passion is always been in finance. The motivating factor for me transitioning was to get into a career field helping people in the specialty I have a passion for, finance .

Another motivating factor was family. I wanted the best for my family and then included in full employment opportunities for my spouse.

Robert Jurasek ⋅ Hollywood , FL Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ⋅ 45 years experience

Dear Elias,

Contracting Specialists are in great demand on USAJOBS.gov. Depending on your education or experience, or combination thereof, you would be placed in one of the following pay grades: GS-5/7/9/11/12/13/14/15. Job locations even include Sheppard AFB.

You can view a job announcement at www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/399217200. Also, you can find the salary range for the different pay grades at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2015/general-schedule/. The OPM website will include the Locality Pay for various metropolitan areas, but should your area not be listed, there is a table for "Rest of United States."

Contracting in the Public or Private sector is not my area of expertise; however, I feel very comfortable guiding you through the "USAJOBS/Federal HR System." If for no other reason, it would be in your best interest to see what is available on the Federal level so you can compare it to job openings in the Private sector.

Please feel free to contact me for whatever guidance you need. Thank you for your service and good luck with your transition.

Sincerely,
Bob Jurasek

Neil Serafin ⋅ Sequim , WA Telecommunications ⋅ 40 years experience

Second largest number of Fed employees: Denver,CO....started in WW2 to keep safe from coastal attack.....try Fed. jobs there. Fed. even under today's benefit program has good income and a time and grade "Peter Principal" promotion system. Having done well in Private industry...including highly entrepreneur activity....looking back on the last 40+ years...I should have gone Fed. At the Fed. you can work into your 70's, get health benefits at great rates and spend the entire year spending your budget..you cannot do that in next quarter crazy private industry.

.

Tim Keefe ⋅ Washington , DC U.S. Army, Specialist ⋅ 6 years served

As someone who works on the Fed side, my two cents:

1. Though there are often reports that "the majority" of Fed jobs are NOT located in DC, this hasn't been my experience overall, especially with more professional jobs with nearly all of the agencies. With DoD, there's more flexibility because of its reach, but not by much.

So, in short, if you're not willing to consider working in DC, I wouldn't look into the Fed jobs at all.

2. Yes, the USAJobs application process is a nightmare and is unavoidable. You have to get really good at designing your resume and application to play well with the keyword ranking system. If you don't make the first cut through the system, that's it. But, even if you do make it past that, then you have to compete with everyone else that made it past that hurdle and wait for word on the next step. Bottom line: if you get a request for an interview, then you know that you're in the running. Otherwise, just submit the application and forget about it.

Also, keep in mind that, in addition to the bureaucracy, you're up against the chaos surrounding funding concerns. That is, unless the agency has the funds, not to mention the permission and the means to to direct-hire and circumvent the regulations, to hire from the outside, you won't get the job period. Sequestration and the ongoing budget crisis have made many agencies very risk-averse.

Lastly, it's unlikely that an agency will hire from the outside when they can hire from the inside. Some of the job postings on USAJobs are there because the law says they have to be, yet the agency already has someone in mind for the position at the time they post the job opening.

3. Despite (2), you could still work for the Fed, but in a contracting role. One benefit is that you're doing Fed-related work, getting paid a lot more than the typical GS, have flexibiltiy in where you work, and can use this later on a a means to get a Fed job when one opens up. Higher-paid contractors will come in at a higher GS level because the Fed has to pay contractors something comparable to make up for the pay cut that they take.

Two downsides are related to both (1) and (2): location and whether there's a contract award. With contract awards, doing business with the Fed means that you, the company, have to go through a contract vehicle and get all your ducks in a row to even bid on the contract. Along with the Fed fiscal year cycle, where they don't know about the money, the Fed will usually wait until the last minute to make the award. If you have nothing else lined up, you're screwed. And, with location, you might have to take a job in an area you don't want to live. But, then again, if you don't want to deal with the high cost of living in DC, this might not be so bad.

Just something to keep in mind. I can't tell you whether it's better to go the Fed route or go the private sector route. That's something you have to decide.

Travis Streeter Sr., PLS, DML ⋅ Richmond , TX U.S. Army, Sergeant First Class ⋅ 21 years served

Elias,

That is a very important question. I have not transitioned as of yet, but I have been at it for a while. For me, I am preparing for both public and private. I have worked extensively on both resumes and have been doing a bit of networking for the private sector. I currently have a mentor through ACP and it has been great.

My last couple of military assignments have been heavy working with public sector employees (Defense Logistics Agency, SDDC in Scott AFB, IL, Army Sustainment Command in Rock Island, IL) and I have learned a lot working with GS Civilians.

I think it depends on what is important to the individual that is transitioning. Is it location, salary, and/or job satisfaction? Do you need to work immediately? Do you have school age children to consider? There is a host of questions that needs to be answered in order for that very important question to be answered. Just my take.

Travis