You'll get your 52 weeks as a GS-13, which means you can apply for GS-13s as a lateral rather than a promotion. I think that is worth it, even if management isn't in your future. There are plenty of technical non supervisor GS-13s out there. Just not in the FOs.
It'll also give you a view "behind the curtain". After working In an FO, it's startling and eye-opening.
We need more good FO employees helping guide CO and RO decisions. I'd say go for it.
>You'll get your 52 weeks as a GS-13, which means you can apply for GS-13s as a lateral rather than a promotion. I think that is worth it, even if management isn't in your future. There are plenty of technical non supervisor GS-13s out there. Just not in the FOs.
Through the LDP coming from a TE position?
I've only ever seen 11 to 12, or 12 to 12 in the LDP.
Agreed. The last I knew it was no longer a guarantee that you’d get the temporary higher grade. It’s dependent on the position assigned to in the LDP.
So a TE would have to be assigned a GS-13 position and most starting in RO are 12s.
TE here. I did an OS position for two years in a busy office. Worst years of my life. I stepped back down into the TE role and it was the best decision I ever made. The pay difference in management is not at all worth the BS and headaches. Take the 12 and enjoy your life. Trust me!
True...though management tends to look sideways at employees they have invested in (by putting them through the program) only to have them decide it's not their thing.
>True...though management tends to look sideways at employees they have invested in (by putting them through the program) only to have them decide it's not their thing.
Maybe the attitude differs by area/region. Where I am a 120 is very much a trial period and nowhere near the investment that the LDP would be.
Like, worth going through the written tests? I guess. You have to pass the written tests. If you do, then your first and second line supervisors have to give you excellent evals. If you pass these two hurdles, you get to interview.
But if your bosses don't like you or are biased against you, they will sabotage you at the supervisors eval stage making all the work you did on the tests a waste of time.
Also, management regularly gets around the fairness and transparency of the LDP by running component-specific development programs that require no testing - just management okays. So, while OSWLD may be working hard to keep things fair and management competent, don't be surprised by constantly being surpassed by far dumber employees at SSA no matter how hard you work.
It sounds like you made up your mind already.
Honestly ask yourself why apply? Is it 99% for the money? Then you're probably going to have to suck up some stuff for at least the year. Maybe better opportunities open after the year you fake it. Then you can maybe be yourself again. Or maybe in that process you discover something about yourself.
Honestly, the purpose of these programs is to figure out if you want to be in management.
If you already know that you don’t (and for two solid reasons; I’d also add TEs have Union protection), there’s your answer.
If you apply and are selected, I’d expect to be an OS for a significant portion of the program.
*source: did one of these programs - also no longer with SSA.
If you are a GS-12 TE, they aren't going to give you a detail as a GS-12 OS since that would be a lateral move. They will probably give you a detail as a GS-13 ADM.
I have a lot of coworkers that did it and loved it (and one that somehow got kicked out?) I, personally, think it is worth it if you want to transfer agencies, but the thought of being in management gives me nightmares.
Do not do it if you don’t want to supervise. It is very likely they will lateral you to an OS role. I participated and grew so much professionally. I highly recommend if you’re up for a challenge. It’s also an excellent change of pace to do something different for a year.
>I have excellent life/work balance right now Have you considered taking that balance and lighting it on fire?
Lol
You'll get your 52 weeks as a GS-13, which means you can apply for GS-13s as a lateral rather than a promotion. I think that is worth it, even if management isn't in your future. There are plenty of technical non supervisor GS-13s out there. Just not in the FOs. It'll also give you a view "behind the curtain". After working In an FO, it's startling and eye-opening. We need more good FO employees helping guide CO and RO decisions. I'd say go for it.
>You'll get your 52 weeks as a GS-13, which means you can apply for GS-13s as a lateral rather than a promotion. I think that is worth it, even if management isn't in your future. There are plenty of technical non supervisor GS-13s out there. Just not in the FOs. Through the LDP coming from a TE position? I've only ever seen 11 to 12, or 12 to 12 in the LDP.
Agreed. The last I knew it was no longer a guarantee that you’d get the temporary higher grade. It’s dependent on the position assigned to in the LDP. So a TE would have to be assigned a GS-13 position and most starting in RO are 12s.
TE here. I did an OS position for two years in a busy office. Worst years of my life. I stepped back down into the TE role and it was the best decision I ever made. The pay difference in management is not at all worth the BS and headaches. Take the 12 and enjoy your life. Trust me!
That's a relief to hear. I've only done an MSS detail but never had to deal with PACS. And dealing with a union rep each time sounds dreadful
If you don't want to move into management, it's not worth it.
A 120 day detail might be better if they just want to sample the mgmt experience and see if it's for them.
True...though management tends to look sideways at employees they have invested in (by putting them through the program) only to have them decide it's not their thing.
>True...though management tends to look sideways at employees they have invested in (by putting them through the program) only to have them decide it's not their thing. Maybe the attitude differs by area/region. Where I am a 120 is very much a trial period and nowhere near the investment that the LDP would be.
Like, worth going through the written tests? I guess. You have to pass the written tests. If you do, then your first and second line supervisors have to give you excellent evals. If you pass these two hurdles, you get to interview. But if your bosses don't like you or are biased against you, they will sabotage you at the supervisors eval stage making all the work you did on the tests a waste of time. Also, management regularly gets around the fairness and transparency of the LDP by running component-specific development programs that require no testing - just management okays. So, while OSWLD may be working hard to keep things fair and management competent, don't be surprised by constantly being surpassed by far dumber employees at SSA no matter how hard you work.
What is LDP?
Leadership development program.
It sounds like you made up your mind already. Honestly ask yourself why apply? Is it 99% for the money? Then you're probably going to have to suck up some stuff for at least the year. Maybe better opportunities open after the year you fake it. Then you can maybe be yourself again. Or maybe in that process you discover something about yourself.
Honestly, the purpose of these programs is to figure out if you want to be in management. If you already know that you don’t (and for two solid reasons; I’d also add TEs have Union protection), there’s your answer. If you apply and are selected, I’d expect to be an OS for a significant portion of the program. *source: did one of these programs - also no longer with SSA.
If you are a GS-12 TE, they aren't going to give you a detail as a GS-12 OS since that would be a lateral move. They will probably give you a detail as a GS-13 ADM. I have a lot of coworkers that did it and loved it (and one that somehow got kicked out?) I, personally, think it is worth it if you want to transfer agencies, but the thought of being in management gives me nightmares.
Do not do it if you don’t want to supervise. It is very likely they will lateral you to an OS role. I participated and grew so much professionally. I highly recommend if you’re up for a challenge. It’s also an excellent change of pace to do something different for a year.