First Career Job Looks Like Its Going To Be...

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:57 pm

Those college-grad salaries usually aren't first-year, are they?

Always look at the fine print.

Also, these days, lots of folks are willing to work for a lot less than in the last few years. Give it some time, and if you're good and play well with others you'll get the raises.

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 10:40 pm

What grade are you coming in on? What pay system? (GS?, NSPS?)

And take a look at this:

http://www.opm.gov/oca/pay/StudentLoan/

I'm trying to get my paperwork through my agency now. Though they're extremely anal about bean counting. They should count beans, but they shouldn't have people spend so much time doing just that.

Maybe since you are starting out fresh, you should ask them about it. Unless you've already signed your agreement. Then you're stuck. And you'll have to pursue the program the way that I am.

The student loan thing is the one thing that I should have stayed with the AF for. At least for a little while. And good luck with the Corps of Engineers.... some co-workers and I were talking today about the number of projects coming their way: there aren't enough people to do a good job right now. I know locally they're screwed, but I don't know if that exists in other states too.

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 2:00 am

I know FAA has started to put this program into place, but haven't seen if it's been put in effect.. Hell, they just finally started to allow Ex-Military to draw from the GI Bill for their time in OKC, as it is accredited college coursework...

TimberWolf · Post by **TimberWolf** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:51 pm

Got back from Texas this past Monday. Working on the paper work for employment thats been waiting for my return as well as setting up utilities and insurances needed for the move. Just noticed that my Drivers license expires this year which means I have just over a week to get it transferred to WV and renewed. There are about 15 things I'm trying to do at the same time and I still need to find more boxes to pack up all my stuff. Kind of forgot that I had my old desktop laying around (meaning I have 3 computers to my name that all work). Also keep hearing of things being offered to me from family that I can have for free. Glad I have the apartment already chosen and a contract setup with them. Still need to get power and internet.

Now I can't wait for 2 months to go by. Reason being I should have all my finances stabilized by then and know how much I can spend in getting a new monitor, tv, furniture, cook ware, and all the other stuff that makes life better. I also need to figure out if I can afford a trip to the Indy 500 this year with my College friends. So much to do, and no one else to do them for me.

TimberWolf · Post by **TimberWolf** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:49 pm

I'm back online. You probably didn't notice me gone since Sunday. I moved into my apartment on Monday and have been getting settled in since and just got my internet turned on. Now the next big thing is first day of work this coming Monday.

I kind of seeing the internet as being my birthday gift to myself since its my day, but having to spend an hour on the phone with tech support to fix a problem on their end kind of ruins it.

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:25 pm

Welcome back! And if nobody says it before Monday, good luck with that first day!

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:59 pm

How're you holding up in your first job TW?

mini-rant: I'm not diggin all this waiting for the Aerospace medicine people to do their thing.. I got the clearance to go with having Asthma, and now the flight surgeon wants records on a tendon reattachment surgery I had 20 years ago... I faxed all the docs early this morning, so we should get a go-no go decision Monday or Tuesday... On a plus side, I may be getting a raise before I go down depending on what happens with the Mediation between NATCA and FAA.

TimberWolf · Post by **TimberWolf** » Fri May 08, 2009 6:21 pm

oh, the job is going fine. <twitch, twitch>

This has been the most stressful week of them all. Started the week off with nearly getting hit in my car by a red light runner as I was leaving church. Then my main computer started failing the next day. I then pulled over time Tuesday and came home to my computer with new errors preventing me from getting on the internet. The next day I worked another 2 hours over time including having woken up early to get into the office before everyone else and spent all evening trying to back up my system, staying up till midnight. The next day I went to a lock and dam for a gate test, then to a 3 hour training session and still stayed after for over time. Today wasn't bad though.

Been told that when they new hires come in I may be doubled up till the new cubicles are available. I have been trying to get into the social structure of the group I work with, such as pulling pranks on the prankster.

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:53 pm

TimberWolf wrote:oh, the job is going fine. <twitch, twitch>

Ah, so succinctly put.

Sorry, dude.

SH, why do they care about a tendon reattachment? I never thought ATC was a particularly physical job.

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Sat May 09, 2009 2:12 pm

It's not a physical job at all, especially at an ARTCC. (Air Route Traffic Control Center) The Dr. thinks that my pinki finger, which I never use when typing, could cause an issue using a trackball and keyboard... Stupid backwards 'safety' culture at FAA.. On the plus side, If I were to start today, I'd be hired at 17k (yes, 17k) plus Per Diem to go to the Academy.. But with NATCA and FAA getting back to the table, the old agreement should be going back into effect, where I'd be at 41k plus per diem. So, It's in my interest to wait till the mediation starts and the old green book is phased back in, but I'm ready to move on from where I currently work now.

TimberWolf · Post by **TimberWolf** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:08 pm

Visited the Winfield Dam and Locks last week. I never realized how much garbage floated down the rivers and this one was only a feeder to the Ohio River. Never knew an old tube TV could float. But there was the evidence floating into the Lock there. Mixed in with the wood debris was countless soda bottles, water bottles, and even more plastic bottles than you would see at a grocery store, with coolers, basket balls (enough to start a rec-center which a local staffer has started to take serious after seeing near mint condition balls float by), a tv, and more.

What happens when it comes to the Dam and Lock? If the staffers are lucky it will just follow the main flow through the Dam and continue its way down the river. If it drifts into the lock then it has to be passed through. If the Corps wanted to try and clean up just what this one site sees in a day it could fill 2 garbage trucks a day. There is no equipment or funding to so such work.

Everything that passes down this river will reach the Ohio River, which flows into the Mississippi and then into the Gulf of Mexico. From what I have seen, it wouldn't be too hard to collect the garbage that drifts into the Locks if there is no naval traffic coming through. Since the water isn't moving its easy to toss a net down and use a crane to lift the garbage. As for trying to collect the 7/8ths that passes through the Dam, you will have to have a boat patrolling up stream before the dam trying to catch it or down stream when the water is calm again.

Maybe this is something someone can take up with their representative. If they could get the EPA to put a group together that would go into major river intersections and see how to college the garbage passing through. It would clean the environment and create jobs.

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Tue May 12, 2009 6:45 pm

Ya, it's like people don't have mothers who told them to pick up after themselves.

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:52 am

Update:

Everything is finally done. med clearance, the whole 9 yards. ready for the next kick in the nuts? The Academy is full of students for the rest of Fiscal 09, and now I have to wait for fiscal 10 to start before I can think of going to OKC.. Can we say Merry Christmas from Oklahoma City? :/

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:38 am

Bah, humbug!

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:41 pm

Exactly! I'm hoping someone drops and misses a class so i can go. I told them I'd go short notice if need be... Here's to hoping!