Trying to get a Government Job

[saden1]

Originally Posted by mredskins

I have learned work experience trumps education every day in most employer's eyes.

One of the worst things you can do right after you graduate college is go for your masters, you will have no better job afterward (at least to start), you will have missed out on two years of potential work experience and $$$, plus you will be farther in debit with loans (assuming you have to finance our education like most).

Experience trumps education in most cases but three degrees from tier-4 schools aren't going to help you compete against someone with the same experience and a degree from UVA.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Right, because in the end this thread is about me and getting me back to the greatest area in the world. The Beltway (aka D.C./Virginia/Maryland). It's MY THREAD and you guys ARE RUINING IT!!!!!!!

You need to drive right past DC / Northern Va and head down to gods country in Suffolk Va. Its about 30min from Va. Beach shore line. Plenty of goverment jobs here with all the bases around here. I can drive 5 minutes one way and be driving through corm fields, drive 15 minutes the other way and be in downtown Norfolk, drive another 15min. and be at the beach.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Right, because in the end this thread is about me and getting me back to the greatest area in the world. The Beltway (aka D.C./Virginia/Maryland). It's MY THREAD and you guys ARE RUINING IT!!!!!!!

LOL. Sorry about that. I think someone else mentioned it but often working for a company that contracts work with the government can be a great foot in the door.

Or you could be like my buddy who started his own company, some IT security company of some sort, got some small government contracts, ultimately got a contract with the Department of Defense, sold his company for some $100+ million dollars and retired at 40

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

LOL. Sorry about that. I think someone else mentioned it but often working for a company that contracts work with the government can be a great foot in the door.

Or you could be like my buddy who started his own company, some IT security company of some sort, got some small government contracts, ultimately got a contract with the Department of Defense, sold his company for some $100+ million dollars and retired at 40

Thats all because he took the risk of opening up his own business. Does he still hang around with you. LOL I have a friend who struck it rich and you would never know he had a penny unless you saw his home, cars, boat, etc...

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by firstdown

You need to drive right past DC / Northern Va and head down to gods country in Suffolk Va. Its about 30min from Va. Beach shore line. Plenty of goverment jobs here with all the bases around here. I can drive 5 minutes one way and be driving through corm fields, drive 15 minutes the other way and be in downtown Norfolk, drive another 15min. and be at the beach.

That does sound appealing and I had heard good things about Va. Beach though being away from the area for so long I wasn't exactly sure about what the surrounding towns were and if they were any good. The thing is though that I want to live on that Virginia, Maryland, DC boarder as part of the reason I want to move back is that I have a lot of family in Silver Spring, Ashton, and Baltimore.

And with the way things are looking now my parents might be settling in Virginia themselves. My only regret is that I have to brothers in North Carolina but the good thing about Virginia is that it's close enough to drive.

Plus above all I want to be able to see Oriole, Ravens, Capital, and Wizard games. Based on what I've heard about Redskin games at FedEx I'm better off watching them at home.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Thats all because he took the risk of opening up his own business. Does he still hang around with you. LOL I have a friend who struck it rich and you would never know he had a penny unless you saw his home, cars, boat, etc...

Well he had started a few businesses before as well. And yeah he still hangs around with me whenever I see him but that's not that often since we don't live in the same town anymore. Season tickets to Caps, Wizards, Redskins, Nationals, owns a couple of restaurants, not a bad life

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

LOL. Sorry about that. I think someone else mentioned it but often working for a company that contracts work with the government can be a great foot in the door.

Oh it's not that. It's just that some people in this thread have kind of started throwing jabs at others and I want to go all Redskins vs Albert Haynesworth on them but the fact of the matter is that people that have been throwing jabs have also been helpful so I can't exactly single anyone out.

Anyway I just want to take a moment to thank everyone so far that has replied to the thread. Especially BD. A lot of this has been a great eye opener and exactly the kind of stuff I need to know to eventually secure a position with the federal government. So with that said keep it coming, even if it's only stories about people you know that have dealt with the federal government in some way shape or form.

[Schneed10]

Dirtbag, consider going for some entry level finance jobs. I work in Financial Planning & Analysis for a healthcare provider, and when I look for entry level candidates for our department, one of the first things I look for is an affinity for the quantitative and database experience.

If you can demonstrate that you're bright (high GPA in college, went to a good college), are decent with math, and have some experience with MS Access, then you fit the bill pretty well.

You've got accounting as an undergrad major and experience with MS Access. If I had a position open I'd take a look at you. My counterparts at healthcare providers all over the place would probably do the same. Or in other industries.

You'd basically come in, work with data for a couple of years (either maintaining databases, crunching numbers, compiling reports, etc.). Try to learn the business, and work your way up. Starting salary is typically in the $45K range for an entry level person, sometimes a little more depending on cost of living in the area.

But biggest piece of advice when interviewing in the finance/accounting world, talk up your math skills, your ability to think logically, and ability to manipulate data in excel and access.

Just one idea to consider.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Dirtbag, consider going for some entry level finance jobs. I work in Financial Planning & Analysis for a healthcare provider, and when I look for entry level candidates for our department, one of the first things I look for is an affinity for the quantitative and database experience.

If you can demonstrate that you're bright (high GPA in college, went to a good college), are decent with math, and have some experience with MS Access, then you fit the bill pretty well.

You've got accounting as an undergrad major and experience with MS Access. If I had a position open I'd take a look at you. My counterparts at healthcare providers all over the place would probably do the same. Or in other industries.

You'd basically come in, work with data for a couple of years (either maintaining databases, crunching numbers, compiling reports, etc.). Try to learn the business, and work your way up. Starting salary is typically in the $45K range for an entry level person, sometimes a little more depending on cost of living in the area.

But biggest piece of advice when interviewing in the finance/accounting world, talk up your math skills, your ability to think logically, and ability to manipulate data in excel and access.

Just one idea to consider.

I'm flattered that you presume I have a good GPA. Unfortunately thanks to me failing behind in my Accounting classes my GPA took a Mike Tyson like left hook to the face. I am decent with math (Got an A in Survey of Calculus, and a B in College Algebra, no idea how that happened to be honest with the Calculus grade being higher).

Thanks though for the suggestion with a title. Part of my problem in finding a job has been finding the actual titles of jobs I would qualify for. When I was looking at Sales jobs it was pretty easy but to be honest I don't really want to go into sales.

Anyway just to give everyone an idea of what I did in college heres a list of my most notable business courses with my grade. Keep in mind theres a lot of courses in between that I got D's and F's(income tax, accounting information systems, money & banking to name a few) especially back in 2007 when I got pretty sick. I've since been cured but it was hard to keep up in classes at that point in time. Plus at the start of college I was a huge party animal so that didn't help.

Survey of Accounting - A
Financial Accounting - A
Managerial Accounting I - B
Managerial Accounting II - B
Intermediate Accounting I - C
Intermediate Accounting II - C

Intro to Business- B
The Environment of Business - B
Building Construction Law - C

Business Statistics - C
Operations Management - C
Quantitative Analysis - C

Survey of Calculus - A
College Algebra - B

Economics in a Global Society - C
Business Economics - C

Principles of Corporate Finance - C

Advanced Business Applications - A
Introduction to Java Programming - C
Management Information Systems - B

Strategic Management - C
Management and Organizational Behavior - B

Marketing Research - C
International Marketing - B
Buyer Behavior - B
Marketing Management - C
Introduction to E-Commerce - B
Principles of Retailing - B

Business Logistics - B

Entrepreneurship - B

Public Speaking - B

Principles of Selling - B
Advanced Selling - C

In looking at this I'm very tempted to go back and at least get a bachlors degree in accounting but hopefully the fact that I have taken and passed 18 credits worth of Accounting courses will count for something. In looking at my schools requirements it would seem I actually need 18 more credits. If my school offered it online that would be great but the only thing they offer online is an MBA.

[Schneed10]

Where did you go to school?

Unfortunately the GPA won't stand out, so don't even bother putting it on your resume. Rule of thumb, if it's not 3.0 or higher there's no point in putting it. But where you went to school carries more weight than your GPA anyway. I had a 2.7 but had a finance major with a math minor from a strong (but not elite tier) school, that got me in the door.

You can still talk up your database and excel skills. Sell the fact that you understand how to create queries in access, and do things like pivot tables and charts in excel.

This kind of thing would catch the eye of accounting departments in healthcare providers and insurance companies, finance departments, data warehousing departments, etc.

Sounds like you're not too sure what you want to do. Tell me if any of the below things appeal to you, and I'll try to steer you towards the right title match:

- Maintaining journal entries and ledger balances for the purpose of reporting financial performance.

- Pricing out contract proposals to determine whether a contract offer represents an increase or decrease in revenue, and quantifying said amounts.

- Designing processes, such as routes for a delivery truck, to maximize the number of deliveries in a day while minimizing time and expenses for things like gasoline.

- Working behind the scenes to maintain a database's integrity, permitting end users to reliably report accurate information.

- Handle business transactions, keeping records of cash collections, monitoring outstanding accounts, working to improve your company's process for collecting cash faster and more often

- Negotiate contracts with customers, suppliers, insurers with the goal of boosting revenue or reducing costs

- Assess business opportunities, develop a financial projection for said opportunity, develop financial metrics with the goal of supporting an executive and informing him whether the business opportunity is wise

- Be a boots-on-the-ground type, working in the operations of a company, to implement policies and procedures and oversee the execution of the business

- Analyzing operational efficiency in a business with the goal of enhancing throughput, speed, efficiency.

- Develop budgets and financial projections for a company, and assist deparment heads in the development of their budgets

- Calculating probabilities of certain events taking place, factoring in the cost of said event, for the purpose of developing an expected cost

- Develop reports on market share to assess competition within certain regions, helping to inform business decisions and the development of a firm's strategic direction

- Get very technical, and design systems to house data

- Get very technical, and design websites

- Get very technical, and actually write computer code to program the system to do whatever

- Interfacing with customers to handle insurance claims

- Interfacing with customers to sell products

- Visit clients to advertise services and drum up business for your company

- Design marketing materials and advertising to the customer

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

- Maintaining journal entries and ledger balances for the purpose of reporting financial performance.

- Pricing out contract proposals to determine whether a contract offer represents an increase or decrease in revenue, and quantifying said amounts.

- Designing processes, such as routes for a delivery truck, to maximize the number of deliveries in a day while minimizing time and expenses for things like gasoline.

- Working behind the scenes to maintain a database's integrity, permitting end users to reliably report accurate information.

- Handle business transactions, keeping records of cash collections, monitoring outstanding accounts, working to improve your company's process for collecting cash faster and more often

- Assess business opportunities, develop a financial projection for said opportunity, develop financial metrics with the goal of supporting an executive and informing him whether the business opportunity is wise

- Analyzing operational efficiency in a business with the goal of enhancing throughput, speed, efficiency.

- Develop budgets and financial projections for a company, and assist deparment heads in the development of their budgets

- Calculating probabilities of certain events taking place, factoring in the cost of said event, for the purpose of developing an expected cost

- Develop reports on market share to assess competition within certain regions, helping to inform business decisions and the development of a firm's strategic direction

- Interfacing with customers to handle insurance claims

- Interfacing with customers to sell products (Trained to do this but I don't really want to go into sales anymore).

- Design marketing materials and advertising to the customer

I like these. Also to answer your question as to where I went to school I went to Georgia Southern. Not a great school, but not bad either. The original Adrian Peterson and Rob Biron's went here along with the founders of Chick-Fil-A and Zaxby's.

[Schneed10]

Staff Accountant or Accounts Receivable (look at hospitals, universities, schools, physician practices, as well as big businesses):

- Maintaining journal entries and ledger balances for the purpose of reporting financial performance.

- Handle business transactions, keeping records of cash collections, monitoring outstanding accounts, working to improve your company's process for collecting cash faster and more often

Contract Analyst, Reimbursement Analyst, Contract Manager/Management:

- Pricing out contract proposals to determine whether a contract offer represents an increase or decrease in revenue, and quantifying said amounts.

Business Analyst or Financial Analyst in a Financial Planning or Financial Planning & Analysis department:

- Assess business opportunities, develop a financial projection for said opportunity, develop financial metrics with the goal of supporting an executive and informing him whether the business opportunity is wise

- Develop reports on market share to assess competition within certain regions, helping to inform business decisions and the development of a firm's strategic direction

Operations Analyst in an Operations Management department:
- Designing processes, such as routes for a delivery truck, to maximize the number of deliveries in a day while minimizing time and expenses for things like gasoline.

- Analyzing operational efficiency in a business with the goal of enhancing throughput, speed, efficiency.

Business Analyst in a finance, accounting, or budget department:
- Working behind the scenes to maintain a database's integrity, permitting end users to reliably report accurate information.

Budget Analyst in a finance, accounting, or budget department:
- Develop budgets and financial projections for a company, and assist deparment heads in the development of their budgets

Actuary (requires passing a test and a mastery of probability and statistics):
- Calculating probabilities of certain events taking place, factoring in the cost of said event, for the purpose of developing an expected cost

Claims Adjuster (Matty does this stuff):
- Interfacing with customers to handle insurance claims

Sales
- Interfacing with customers to sell products (Trained to do this but I don't really want to go into sales anymore).

Marketing Coordinator, Marketing Analyst, Advertiser, Advertising Analyst, Advertising Coordinator:
- Design marketing materials and advertising to the customer

[tryfuhl]

Wow.. Schneed must not have had anybody try to pass him today

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

Wow.. Schneed must not have had anybody try to pass him today

I know, tell me about it. Great stuff Schneed.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Many MBA programs (at least when I went) don't even let you apply unless you've worked for a few years after college first

Interesting, I seem to keep running into a lot of folks who went 6 straight years with no work experience.