<p>I need the sage advice of parents and experience professionals in this forum. My son, barely a few months in his new job with the feds, is being “asked to join” another agency, in a similar capacity. He likes to work for this agency but is at a loss on how to “cut clean” from his current job. He does not have any other reason to leave except for professional growth. How would you address this situation , keeping in mind that you don’t want to burn any bridge. I don’t have any idea on the “boss” situation with the current nor with the prospective job. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Well, first I would make sure that he thinks it’s really a good idea to go and that he’s sure he really wants to go to this other agency. Employers are going to look askance at someone who leaves a job after just a few months without some clear reason why, especially if the two jobs are about the same in terms of position description. He should be sure that this second job is going to have real, concrete growth opportunities that his first one lacks. </p>
<p>Then, he just has to be honest and up front about it. He should tell his current boss that he’s appreciated the opportunities he’s received, but he feels that this offer is something he can’t in good conscience pass up. He should be prepared to list for his boss the reasons why the second job is a better one (i.e. what professional growth it offers, other reasons why he’s moving) and assure his first boss that he’ll do everything possible to ensure the transition is smooth, including helping out to find a replacement if necessary. </p>
<p>You’re not going to be able to completely avoid hurt feelings. Leaving a job after only a few short months is just going to lead to those. So the best thing to do is just to act professionally, be honest, and try to limit the damage as much as possible. He should just be sure it’s what he wants to do, because even if he does this the best way, he’s going to incur some career damage. The question is, is a little damage worth seizing a major opportunity? Will the upfront pain be made up for in the long term?</p>
<p>As a longtime federal worker, we are used to turnover, so if he decides to leave, his office will survive. If he believe the other position will provide him with better opportunities for professional growth, that’s a good enough reason. I suggest he talk with his immediate supervisor, and let him/her know of the new opportunity. Perhaps the conversation will spur the current boss to offer him more opportunities where he is now. If he could go visit the new place and see how the atmosphere is there before his final commitment that might be nice so he could get a sense about fitting in there. Nice to have these good kind of problems when lots of folks don’t have jobs!!</p>
<p>Probably the “best” person for him to speak to about this is his current supervisor, actually. Most people in a supervisory capacity are not overly interested in “keeping” people, so much as in developing people, in my experience. So, if he just approaches his supervisor to talk about the opportunity and what would the supervisor do in your son’s shoes, and what is the best opportunity for him? etc… I wouldn’t be suprised if he ddin’t get a very candid answer, as well as the knowledge, keeping supervisor informed and being forthright and honest, that in the future the door is open.</p>
<p>My .02 cents.</p>
<p>This feels odd. Why are you so involved in your grown-up son’s job? I feel creepy about 50% of the time asking for advice/talking about my teenagers but I am ocd about them getting into school and our ability to afford it. I try to step back every day because I know I am not doing them any favors if I constantly intervene so they make the right decision. Sometimes people need the freedom to make the wrong decision. Seriously, I know you care but step back.</p>
<p>^^^ I disagree with the above. our son is facing a job offer and has talked to us about it - we are not ocd about it - but are advising him…and he is several years out of school. </p>
<p>the son is probably just using the parents as sounding board…rightly so.</p>
<p>I agree with a previous post that parents need to be very careful not to be involved in situations such as you’ve described. Rather than involving you best is for your son to a respected mentor to vet this particular situation. I’ll assume in this reply that your son is simply looking for advise, and that he’s not under any pressure to follow it.</p>
<p>Another post stated that supervisors are good sounding boards for situations such as this – that their main focus is developing people. In my experience this is the case only for employees who’ve they’ve known for several years, and then only in situation where the issues at hand do not affect the supervisor’s ability to get his or her job done.</p>
<p>In general leaving a position after a “few months” on the job is very bad form. It takes most new hires 2+ years to get to the point where they are contributing effectively, and for them to be on their way to mastering the position. That some other agency would encourage your son to move to a similar role is suspect, and (in my opinion) reflects badly on the ethics of the person who’s making this suggestion. There is a high risk that a move in the situation described would leave a black mark on your son’s future resume.</p>
<p>My S is new at his job in the federal government. They expect him to stay at least 3 years there–they will reimburse for his moving expenses after two years. He figures he will have to spend some time getting orientation and learning before he can meaningfully contribute. So far, he’s still finding his way and probably would NOT be interested in swapping positions, since he tried to carefully consider BEFORE accepting the position he did (turning down two other federal jobs).</p>
<p>I’d suggest that S carefully try to list thoughtfully the pros & cons of staying vs. switching jobs BEFORE he makes any decisions. It would seem odd (to me) to switch so soon after starting a new job, but I’ve never worked for the feds – I know my H (who does work there) is irked with someone who worked there just a few months, that he had spent time & energy training just to have them transfer out after a very few months & go to another agency. :(</p>
<p>Once upon a time, employers rewarded workers for their loyalty. They no longer seem to do so. Sometimes they reap what they sow …</p>
<p>If your S took the job to get his foot in the door & this new one is more appealing for his long-term goals, I think it would be wise for him to discuss it with his supervisor. I agree that a good supervisor is concerned with his/her employees’ growth. It might be easier to lose him now, before too much time/money is invested in his training, if the new job really seems to be a better fit.</p>
<p>Ms. Pearl on #5, my son does not even know I’m asking advise in this forum. I’m sorry if you misunderstood my intentions here but I don’t work in a corporate environment so understand my curiosity. My son’s situation is unique. While his experience in years (1 and a few months) is thin, he was able to impress a few right people with his work, so the current job and the ensuing offer all came about because of his connections from his previous work. What you sensed as creepy is just my way of giving my 2 cents “been there done that” situation. However I do intend to summarized and voice everything that all of you wrote back , in my own voice, as if the ideas were mine, sorry if this borders plagiarizing. He just started his career and I am making sure that he does not commit professional “harakiri” this early or at all. All in all the posts are very enlightening, and the variety of view points are well beyond valid. Thanks again. Keep it coming, anymore? Oh btw, he spoke to the “recruiting” boss for the second time, and was made aware that an answer is needed by summer’s end.</p>
<p>Also, I consider this as giving him career advising of sorts. He still has to call this one on his own but I would rather have him well equipped with all of “your” advice so he can make a very well informed decision.</p>
<p>1stgen, I see nothing wrong with your son asking your advice, and you seeking advice on his behalf. A smart person seeks advice from older, and/or more experienced people. Then they make their own decisions. I’ve lived more than half a century, and I still ask my very wise parents for advice on occasion. BTW, I’m also 1st generation. Maybe this has something to do with it? Do we respect the wisdom of previous generations more than others do? Anyway, great “problem” for your son to have! Sounds like he has a fine career ahead of him, whatever he chooses. He is wise to consider all angles before jumping.</p>
<p>Nothing wrong at all, particularly since we have people on the board who have family with experience working for the feds. When I saw the OP, my first thought was “HiMom will know what to do!” (OK I spend too much time here and I need to get a life) :)</p>
<p>This is not only a 1st generation thing; it’s was friends and family members do for those they love. A person grows by seeking out the advice of those more experienced that themselves; you son will be able to pay it forward in due time to those less experienced in a matter of time. </p>
<p>I personally have found a wealth of information here on CC as well as from family and friends, and I consider myself a smart person; I just don’t know everything 
When I was dealing with a financial issue, the first person I went to was my father, and he is 82! If I couldn’t trust his advice, I couldn’t trust anyones!</p>
<p>Retired Fed here. Many Federal jobs have built-in career growth. They may start at a GS-7 and have a journey level of a GS-12. Depending on the agency and the skill level of the employee they can get a promotion a year, and there is significant difference in salary. I went from a GS-9 to a GS-13 in three years, but it was really, really hard to get the GS-14 in my job category. Other Federal jobs may only be a GS 7-9, and anything after that requires a promotion even assuming that there is the possibility for promotion in that career area. Go for the job with the best opportunities. People move around the Federal government all the time looking for more money; more interesting jobs; and to get away from unhealthy work situations.</p>
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[quote]
I need the sage advice of parents and experience professionals in this forum. My son, barely a few months in his new job with the feds, is being “asked to join” another agency, in a similar capacity. He likes to work for this agency but is at a loss on how to “cut clean” from his current job. He does not have any other reason to leave except for professional growth. How would you address this situation , keeping in mind that you don’t want to burn any bridge. I don’t have any idea on the “boss” situation with the current nor with the prospective job. Thanks in advance.<a href=“1”>/quote</a> Let your kid take care of this.
(2) See (1)</p>
<p>tsdad on #15, great insight. If I may, I would like to pry into your long and distinguished civil service. Do fed employees, especially those that work in the DC area offices in whatever position they are, do they feel their current job is just another assignment in the long road of civil service or is there a certain degree of loyalty to the particular agency they are currently working with?</p>
<p>Since your S has already been with the job for over a year, I’m not sure that he would be considered “flighty” for moving to a different position, particularly if it offers more opportunities for him. There is considerable movement within the federal government, and sometimes if you don’t take the opportunity when it presents itself, it may not appear again for for quite a long time.</p>
<p>As TSDAD states, the ways of promotion within the federal government are different from those we outside it. When a person is hired, they can be told they will be promoted (with significant increases in salary) from a GS-9 to GS-13 in 3 or ___ years as TSDAD was (or some similar rapid promotion to the “target”). Thereafter, promotion is very difficult and may require you to wait for retirements, transfers and may take many decades, if it happens at all!</p>
<p>I don’t think there is a blanket way of looking at working for the federal government. H has worked with his co-workers now at the federal government for some decades. It has had shifts in names & there have been some mergers of functions. When there are openings, folks have to weigh the risks vs. benefits of staying/moving, including the work environments at both settings, options for advancement, potential salary increase/decrease, etc. Much depends on how this is calculated for each person. In some areas of the country, there are a lot more opportunities to move around and openings than in others. For example, DC & the east coast has many more options than other areas of the country since many things are centralized there. This is one of the reasons we encouraged S to accept a job there rather than in our home state, much as we’d love having him live here.</p>
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<p>Is this other agency also within the federal government? It is odd to me that an agency within the federal government would ask him to join theirs, knowing that he has only been with his current agency for a few months.</p>
<p>^^Pea… not so unusual. I had a job one branch of the fed govt, was about to start but had an unexpected hospital stay. When I got home from the hospital, I had a voicemail from another fed govt office telling me that if I still wanted a job I had applied for 4 months prior let them know and I can start.</p>
<p>The second job was closer to home and in the job series I preferred. I told my boss of job#1, thank you for the job but I will not be starting on xx day. Instead I will be going to x job on that day.</p>
<p>OP-
Most federal employees (bosses) understand about job opportunites and growth decisions. Just make sure your son has weighed all the pros and cons before making a decision. If he has a good relationship with his supervisor or team lead, tell him to discuss it with them.</p>