About Laszlo Bockh Expertise I will answer general questions related to employment in the Federal Civil Service, such as procedures followed and likely reasons why management takes certain actions. I will also answer questions related to how to develop a career and how to prepare for promotions, especially those related to budget and program analysis careers. I will not answer questions related to specific job actions or grievances.
Experience I worked for 35 years for the Federal government. I managed a human resources function for over 20 years. I started as a GS-7 and left as a GS-15, with acting stints in SES positions.
Organizations American Society of Public Administration, American Association for Budget and Program Analysis, Association for Budget and Financial Management.
Education/Credentials Master of Public Administration.
Question I am a letter carrier with over 30 years of service.
I can take my CSR at this time.
Ive grown tired of working for the Postal Service,and I need a change.
Is there a hope of switching Govt. jobs so late in life.
I am 55 years old,and trying to decide what to do in the private sector.
do you have any ideas what a letter carrier can do on the outside or do in other govt. service
Thankyou
Bob Caiazzo
(bob-rt8@excite.com)
Answer Thanks for asking me this question. You pose important but difficult questions - they involve the rest of your life. (I face a similar situation, but I have already taken my retirement.) I don't think that 55 (or any other age) are "late in life." I will give you some pointers based on my experience and some ideas as to what you should consider doing.
Before you decide to retire and get your pension, make sure that you can make it on what you are going to get. (If you can't, stick with the job until you find something better. This may be hard to do, but we have to do what we have to do.) This involves, at a minimum, getting your human resources office to give you a computation of what your pension will be. (You can also get a fairly accurate picture by doing your own calculations – under CSRS you get 1.50% of your high three average for the first five years of service, 1.75% for your next five years, and 2% for years of service above ten years. You have to make adjustments for various things, so if you are not comfortable with making your own calculations you should ask your HR office to do them.) After you know what the pension may be, you need to assess your needs for money, and make decisions with this knowledge in hand.
You should know what you might get in a pension before you make other decisions. With over 30 years and over 55 you should have a firm financial basis for your future, and you should know what this basis is. It will allow you to make sound decisions about what makes sense for you, and will help you in assessing what risks you are willing to take. You should also assess your health status. You should make sure that you are in good health before you make a career change - a new job should not be approached with pending medical problems.
You ask if there is hope in switching government jobs at your age. This depends on many variables. You should consider your location and whether or not there are many Federal agencies within what you consider reasonable commuting distance. If you are in a location that is isolated from other Federal job opportunities the answer may be obvious – if there are no jobs at all, your age is irrelevant. (This factor applies to private jobs as well.) There is a fair amount of age-based job discrimination, and it starts in the mid-30s – so you should count on it. This simply presents a challenge, and makes it very important that you market yourself on the basis of your skills and abilities. You should also consider the fact that switching to another government job may not resolve anything. If the work is similar to what you are doing it may not be different than continuing where you are. Pay is likely to be the same, while in a private job the pay would be in addition to your pension.
In looking for other work, you should consider all your skills and abilities, regardless of how acquired. I don't think that there are many jobs in other Federal agencies that are based on a simple transfer of letter carrier skills, but there may be some that require similar skills. These skills, however, are not in short supply in the current economy, and most of these types of jobs have been contracted out in other agencies. But the skills and abilities that you have applied on and off the job may qualify you for other types of jobs, or jobs in private companies. Therefore, your next step should be to make an inventory of your skills and abilities. (I have no idea what your full complement of skills and abilities is, so I cannot give you a good assessment as to your prospects for other employment. You obviously have initiative, as demonstrated by your question to me.)
For assistance in assessing your skills and abilities, ask your human resources office as to what help may be available, or go searching in the web or the library. To get started, I suggest the following: There is much useful information on Federal jobs at Government Executive magazine's web site, http://www.govexec.com/. You should read the columns that appear on Tuesdays, the Federal Career Corner (go to the lower left-hand side of the page). This column has practical information from Kathryn Kraemer Troutman, who has a business called The Resume Place, with web site at http://www.resume-place.com/. You can find out a few basic things of interest at this site. (I have no relationship to her or her business.) You should also look at http://www.asktheheadhunter.com, Ask The Headhunter, a web site dedicated to job hunting, and http://www.quintcareers.com/career_resources.html, Quintessential Careers, a site dedicated to careers, job search, and other things which you should find useful. (If you would like other sources, please let me know.)
In searching for other work, you should also make sure that (1) you have clearly identified your interests, desires, and what you are willing to do to achieve them, and (2) engage in "networking." Networking is basically engaging those you know in your job search, in way that is useful for you as well as those you contact. There are many sources on what networking is and how to do it. One that I found useful is a book, Power Networking, by Donna Fisher and Sandy Vilas.
After you have inventoried your skills and abilities, and what you would like to do, you can look for work in other agencies by using USAJOBS and its search engine, or start to see what is advertised in your area for private jobs. Your best opportunities will probably come from private employment. In this you have an advantage since you are not looking for benefits (because you will already have retirement and health insurance) and you can afford to take work that is interesting even if it carries few benefits and the pay may not be superior. You may in fact be making more money (pay plus pension) from what may be a lower paying but interesting job. Opportunities related to private employment may be available with firms that contract for government work. As agencies downsize and contract out, firms with contracts need people with experience to work for them.
Looking for other work is likely to be time consuming, so I suggest you do take a preliminary look at the sources I suggest and then prepare a plan for yourself, for career or job change.
Hope this helps with your difficult question. Please feel free to ask other questions if you would like more suggestions.
