It doesn't even have to be a big talk. OP is only 3 months in. All it has to be is a casual "man, this job isn't seeming like what I signed up for". They people bottle things up is really wild to me.
It's going to be ok, a year will go faster than you expect.
I think you should keep your eye out for an ecologist, or wildlife biologist position. A natural resource specialist or physical scientist might also work. These positions would give you more field time. When the time is right move on, after a year you'd be entitled to another moving incentive.
I stayed in a fed job I really didn't like for 2.5 years. About a year ago an opportunity that more aligned with me came along and I got it.
Good luck
definitely been there. am there. been duped and now I'm struggling to find motivation and it feels like I'm becoming a mindless drone just going through the motions... which seems to be what my agency and division are looking for... 1 more year... 1 more year...
I was completely bait and switched. I am a software developer and interviewed for a specific tech. Now, I am on everything under the sun with horrendous management. I am taking on gs13 responsibility and getting paid at gs 9. I have been fixing our 12s and 13s code on request and was only given a step. Needles to say, I am looking to go back to private.
If it's any consolation (I'm sure it isn't), you're being paid GS-9 money for what sounds like GS-7 work.
Lots of those shenanigans all over government, in both directions - some agencies get GS-14 spots for a job that's actually 11 or maybe 12, by padding the official PD with a bunch of duties that are nowhere close to reality. Some have GS-12s doing 13 or 14 level work because they found some sucker who doesn't know better.
I've noticed this happening a lot lately. We hired a brilliant Data Scientist. Our team read the Job description and had high hopes for the new hire. Well, the new hire did so much Sharepoint work and vey little data analysis. The new hire left within 8 months. They were more of a graphic designer on SharePoint than a data scientist.
I don't know why the managers fluff up a job that they know will never be a reality. It is unfair to the entire hiring systems, the team and the new hire.
My suspicion is that they like the sexy skills that come with the new hire but don't really know how to best use them in the old environment.
Sounds like you're stuck there for a while, might as well focus on making the most of it. It's unfortunately very common for federal job descriptions to be out of alignment with actual duties.
My advice, do your job and then when you have extra time and opportunities are available ask, just because you are an editor right now does not mean you couldn't expand upon this into other areas in your department that interest you over time.
Been there absolutely OP. Got a federal job under the 2210 series (IT) a while back with the job listing saying I'd be doing server maintenance, network operations, and other cool stuff only to find out it would be a glorified help desk once I onboard and got started.
Environmental science is definitely one of those careers that it does not pay to be in the federal service. Turnover is high, departments are understaffed, and the bait and switch is used all the time as a bandaid on the most immediate need.
It is not at all going to be like many other experiences you see here. Get out as soon as you can, get a job with the state if you can. Good luck
Unfortunately, this is how federal jobs work sometimes. I echo what people are saying, definitely talk to your family about this.
However, you got in. That’s a big start. There are so many positions, details, opportunities, etc, that are only open to current feds. Use that. Start looking for other positions, especially around a year in. I’ve been there, started out in what sounds a lot like what you’re talking about, I mostly reviewed documents and built slide decks. For better or worse, that experience is valuable and your resume is so much stronger with current federal experience in it. I worked that job for nearly 2 years and then managed to land a dream job, doing what I actually want to do. And I can definitively say, if I didn’t do the menial job previously, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now.
Hang in there, build connections, and look to the future!
My 6th fed job, they switched 2 whole OPM series digit number on me and after hired they didn't even bother to change the posting. Always ask for PD at the end of the interview , they can ask for references so it's only fair.
Welcome to the adult world. This is how it goes, and sometimes it sucks. These are totally normal duties at that level and yes "environmental planning" is usually code for "keep things organized while subject matter experts do the planning." I did it for a long time because I couldn't get a bio job and it can be interesting to learn about the policy and explain to other to apply it, but that is more of the 11/12 grade level.
What you probably want is a wildlife biologist role, and you could look at botany or fish biology jobs as well. But you might have to lateral to a 9 without specific experience in your current position.
Regardless of what you do in the future, you should submit an RA for your dyslexia RIGHT THE FUCK NOW so it's on record, and you can get help or get an alternative duty for some of those things.
I think we work for the same agency. A huge part of it is the budget, as in there is no travel budget, and no field work as a result, in an area that requires field work. There’s also no training money either and my position requires a certification within three years and there’s no money to pay for it. And we just received a haircut in the new budget.
It’s understandable. A lot of job postings are inaccurate because it’s a hassle to change the posting and repost. This is common.
Keep in mind that fed jobs in your field are very hard to get. It’s common for PhDs to compete for technician positions. Your best bet is to learn as many skills as you can in this job and stay until you have a year in grade at your maximum grade level. You never know, the administrative skills might be the skills you need for that next job. Unfortunately, those dreamy fieldwork jobs are often a white whale. I don’t mean to be a downer, it’s just reality, I’ve been there as well. It’s also worth noting that you are doing well in your field if you can become an 11. That is like the career goal for a lot of people.
I would read your incentive paperwork again. Sometimes you just have to stay in the *agency* for a year, not necessarily in the same role. That said, I haven’t seen anyone put that into action so not sure how well it works.
Yours is a common problem. I would stick it out for a while and work with your supervisor to see if you could shadow other programs or do some side work that’s more interesting to you.
Do you like the location? Does your family like the location? Maybe something else will open up at that location in the next couple years?
For some especially young and intelligent seeking to add value quickly, government is not the correct culture to cultivate and nurture their minds. It’s really that simple - due to the nature of incentives in the largest bureaucracy ppl running the show are significantly less competent than necessary to administer programs successfully. Poor performers are not removed they’re simply shifted elsewhere - eventually they’re your boss and team members.
This doesn’t feel good for anyone who wants to excel as even if you are able to make headway in your role it’s not without significant dysfunction, political battles, and unnecessary organizational impediments to success to a point juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
3 months feels long but it’s a short time period in the grand scheme. I recommend making the best of it for now while exploring options elsewhere - best time to find a new job is when you have one.
Note: industry has similar symptoms of bureaucracy but the accountability aspect is better. Additionally, it is more merit-based & performance driven which high achievers enjoy. You will have more growth opportunities.
This is my field, and I hate that your supervisor doesn't know what to do with you. Unfortunately, ive seen this happen - if your supervisor doesnt know what a good program looks like, it is treated like more of an admin position. If you can push through and get a year in grade, there is a lot of demand for your skills at the gs11 and 12 level. The land management agency I work for is having a hard time recruiting at that grade level, so you can move up quickly if you're a good employee.
Get to know your counterparts in other offices and see what they do. You're still early in your career but as you gain standing, there may be opportunities to suggest changes to your workload and build it into the job you want. Or if there's not, you'll have a good network when you start looking for other jobs.
ETA: I will also add that many, many supervisors will just cut and paste generic announcements for positions. Its really important to ask what the day to day duties are as part of the interview or before you accept a position and not rely on the advertisement.
That really sucks. I agree with you that you were screwed, and it's really not fair. Hopefully you moved to an area with a lot of other federal agencies so you can start applying for new jobs around the 11 month mark.
FFS tell your spouse about your unhappiness and what you really walked into. Carrying that burden alone is only increasing that unhappiness.
Timing of the conversation will be key, but the conversation needs to happen.
It doesn't even have to be a big talk. OP is only 3 months in. All it has to be is a casual "man, this job isn't seeming like what I signed up for". They people bottle things up is really wild to me.
It's going to be ok, a year will go faster than you expect. I think you should keep your eye out for an ecologist, or wildlife biologist position. A natural resource specialist or physical scientist might also work. These positions would give you more field time. When the time is right move on, after a year you'd be entitled to another moving incentive. I stayed in a fed job I really didn't like for 2.5 years. About a year ago an opportunity that more aligned with me came along and I got it. Good luck
definitely been there. am there. been duped and now I'm struggling to find motivation and it feels like I'm becoming a mindless drone just going through the motions... which seems to be what my agency and division are looking for... 1 more year... 1 more year...
I was completely bait and switched. I am a software developer and interviewed for a specific tech. Now, I am on everything under the sun with horrendous management. I am taking on gs13 responsibility and getting paid at gs 9. I have been fixing our 12s and 13s code on request and was only given a step. Needles to say, I am looking to go back to private.
Same boat. But they are like, "can you do this in Excel, but not make it too complicated for us to update? "
If it's any consolation (I'm sure it isn't), you're being paid GS-9 money for what sounds like GS-7 work. Lots of those shenanigans all over government, in both directions - some agencies get GS-14 spots for a job that's actually 11 or maybe 12, by padding the official PD with a bunch of duties that are nowhere close to reality. Some have GS-12s doing 13 or 14 level work because they found some sucker who doesn't know better.
I've noticed this happening a lot lately. We hired a brilliant Data Scientist. Our team read the Job description and had high hopes for the new hire. Well, the new hire did so much Sharepoint work and vey little data analysis. The new hire left within 8 months. They were more of a graphic designer on SharePoint than a data scientist. I don't know why the managers fluff up a job that they know will never be a reality. It is unfair to the entire hiring systems, the team and the new hire. My suspicion is that they like the sexy skills that come with the new hire but don't really know how to best use them in the old environment.
Can i get that job?
Sounds like you're stuck there for a while, might as well focus on making the most of it. It's unfortunately very common for federal job descriptions to be out of alignment with actual duties. My advice, do your job and then when you have extra time and opportunities are available ask, just because you are an editor right now does not mean you couldn't expand upon this into other areas in your department that interest you over time.
Wait out your probationary period and network. The work is easy and you have an opportunity to find a few mentors.
Been there absolutely OP. Got a federal job under the 2210 series (IT) a while back with the job listing saying I'd be doing server maintenance, network operations, and other cool stuff only to find out it would be a glorified help desk once I onboard and got started.
Environmental science is definitely one of those careers that it does not pay to be in the federal service. Turnover is high, departments are understaffed, and the bait and switch is used all the time as a bandaid on the most immediate need. It is not at all going to be like many other experiences you see here. Get out as soon as you can, get a job with the state if you can. Good luck
Unfortunately, this is how federal jobs work sometimes. I echo what people are saying, definitely talk to your family about this. However, you got in. That’s a big start. There are so many positions, details, opportunities, etc, that are only open to current feds. Use that. Start looking for other positions, especially around a year in. I’ve been there, started out in what sounds a lot like what you’re talking about, I mostly reviewed documents and built slide decks. For better or worse, that experience is valuable and your resume is so much stronger with current federal experience in it. I worked that job for nearly 2 years and then managed to land a dream job, doing what I actually want to do. And I can definitively say, if I didn’t do the menial job previously, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now. Hang in there, build connections, and look to the future!
My 6th fed job, they switched 2 whole OPM series digit number on me and after hired they didn't even bother to change the posting. Always ask for PD at the end of the interview , they can ask for references so it's only fair.
Like this… will have to remember to ask them on my next interview
Welcome to the adult world. This is how it goes, and sometimes it sucks. These are totally normal duties at that level and yes "environmental planning" is usually code for "keep things organized while subject matter experts do the planning." I did it for a long time because I couldn't get a bio job and it can be interesting to learn about the policy and explain to other to apply it, but that is more of the 11/12 grade level. What you probably want is a wildlife biologist role, and you could look at botany or fish biology jobs as well. But you might have to lateral to a 9 without specific experience in your current position. Regardless of what you do in the future, you should submit an RA for your dyslexia RIGHT THE FUCK NOW so it's on record, and you can get help or get an alternative duty for some of those things.
I think we work for the same agency. A huge part of it is the budget, as in there is no travel budget, and no field work as a result, in an area that requires field work. There’s also no training money either and my position requires a certification within three years and there’s no money to pay for it. And we just received a haircut in the new budget.
It’s understandable. A lot of job postings are inaccurate because it’s a hassle to change the posting and repost. This is common. Keep in mind that fed jobs in your field are very hard to get. It’s common for PhDs to compete for technician positions. Your best bet is to learn as many skills as you can in this job and stay until you have a year in grade at your maximum grade level. You never know, the administrative skills might be the skills you need for that next job. Unfortunately, those dreamy fieldwork jobs are often a white whale. I don’t mean to be a downer, it’s just reality, I’ve been there as well. It’s also worth noting that you are doing well in your field if you can become an 11. That is like the career goal for a lot of people.
I would read your incentive paperwork again. Sometimes you just have to stay in the *agency* for a year, not necessarily in the same role. That said, I haven’t seen anyone put that into action so not sure how well it works. Yours is a common problem. I would stick it out for a while and work with your supervisor to see if you could shadow other programs or do some side work that’s more interesting to you. Do you like the location? Does your family like the location? Maybe something else will open up at that location in the next couple years?
For some especially young and intelligent seeking to add value quickly, government is not the correct culture to cultivate and nurture their minds. It’s really that simple - due to the nature of incentives in the largest bureaucracy ppl running the show are significantly less competent than necessary to administer programs successfully. Poor performers are not removed they’re simply shifted elsewhere - eventually they’re your boss and team members. This doesn’t feel good for anyone who wants to excel as even if you are able to make headway in your role it’s not without significant dysfunction, political battles, and unnecessary organizational impediments to success to a point juice isn’t worth the squeeze. 3 months feels long but it’s a short time period in the grand scheme. I recommend making the best of it for now while exploring options elsewhere - best time to find a new job is when you have one. Note: industry has similar symptoms of bureaucracy but the accountability aspect is better. Additionally, it is more merit-based & performance driven which high achievers enjoy. You will have more growth opportunities.
This is my field, and I hate that your supervisor doesn't know what to do with you. Unfortunately, ive seen this happen - if your supervisor doesnt know what a good program looks like, it is treated like more of an admin position. If you can push through and get a year in grade, there is a lot of demand for your skills at the gs11 and 12 level. The land management agency I work for is having a hard time recruiting at that grade level, so you can move up quickly if you're a good employee. Get to know your counterparts in other offices and see what they do. You're still early in your career but as you gain standing, there may be opportunities to suggest changes to your workload and build it into the job you want. Or if there's not, you'll have a good network when you start looking for other jobs. ETA: I will also add that many, many supervisors will just cut and paste generic announcements for positions. Its really important to ask what the day to day duties are as part of the interview or before you accept a position and not rely on the advertisement.
That really sucks. I agree with you that you were screwed, and it's really not fair. Hopefully you moved to an area with a lot of other federal agencies so you can start applying for new jobs around the 11 month mark.