Help Wanted: Federal Engineers
posted by Larry J Smith on 10/20/07
Help Wanted: Federal Engineers
The October 07 Edition of PE Magazine reports sixty percent of the federal government's rank and file employees and 90 percent of senior executives will be eligible to retire. Given the generation behind the Boomers, Gen Y, is a much smaller group - just 16% of the population versus 25% "a perfect storm" for federal employment is on the horizon.
Predications are calling for a need of 10,712 new engineers in 2007-09. Added to those predictions is feedback that only 36% of Generation Y respondents currently employed as engineers indicated some interest in a federal career.
The perception is "Federal Service is a slow moving bureaucracy where you can't get anything done." On the reverse side many engineers see the government as an ideal place for their skills and the government being all about solving problems.
Continued debate lingers over federal salary and benefits compared to private industry. This article seems to indicate entry level salaries may be lower but within a few years’ federal employees seem to catch up in salary and in many ways exceed private industry in benefits such as health insurance and leave benefits.
As a Federal Engineer with over 33 year’s service I hear more issues about recruitment and retention of federal employees. I see managers and supervisors struggling with the "flavor of the month" in attempting retention and hiring bonuses. To me this seems like chasing two rabbits, both are sure to get away.
Upon his retirement one of my early mentors suggested working as an engineer for the Federal Government would make you rich beyond anyone’s comprehension. He added, “We would not become rich in a monetary sense but in experience and with lifetime friendships.”
Generation X and Y are more mobile and may not be looking for the “long time” career that many Federal Employees have enjoyed. Filling current and future jobs in Federal Service will continue to be a challenge. I believe the successful career is made up of challenging and rewarding work. As your experience and capabilities grow, salary and benefits will follow.
I believe the answer to the Help Wanted question in Federal Service is demonstrating engineers can practice and develop their skills on projects not found anywhere in the private sector. This opportunity is open to all ages and all disciplines. When we all choose to end our practice as Professional Engineers we take with us our experience and friendships. If you are looking to round out your career with the experience of a lifetime I suggested looking at Federal Service as one option in the “combo platter” of a successful career.
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