A new job offer

pmckeealaska
pmckeealaska Posts: 808
edited June 2007 in The Clubhouse
Just got a new job offer to work as a biologist with the Army in Anchorage. I'm torn. I love it here in small town Alaska, but this is a great opportunity. Anyone on here every work as a civilian employee for the militray??
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  • pmckeealaska
    pmckeealaska Posts: 808
    edited June 2007
    please excuse my horrible spelling in the previous post. I'm a little excited!
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited June 2007
    That sounds like a bit of adventure to write home about. Is there a contract or a specific amount of time you have to stay there if you say yes?
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  • pmckeealaska
    pmckeealaska Posts: 808
    edited June 2007
    It's a full time permanent position.
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited June 2007
    What does your gut tell you?
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  • pmckeealaska
    pmckeealaska Posts: 808
    edited June 2007
    My gut tells me to take it. 60K is good money for a biologist and the job sounds amazing. But I'll miss Seward very much.
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited June 2007
    pmckeealaska wrote: »
    My gut tells me to take it. 60K is good money for a biologist and the job sounds amazing. But I'll miss Seward very much.

    I't's hard to go outside your comfort zone for sure but that's usually when greatness happens. it sounds like a great opportunity to me and a good career move. Hopefully someone can give you some more info on working for the Gov. as a civilian. Good luck!:)
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  • pmckeealaska
    pmckeealaska Posts: 808
    edited June 2007
    Thanks. By Alaska standards, Anchorage is the big city. 300,000 people. Seward only has 3500! Yikes!
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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited June 2007
    Is this a GS position? My father has been a DOA employee for a long time....Great bennies, and the retirement is looking nice for him as well...I have considered something like this as well, you can "buy back" your military time towards retirement...From what you have told us about the pay, it sounds like GS9....
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2007
    I'm a federal service civilian with the department of defense. Great job, very good benefits, and a rock solid future.

    Think about it......you can always return to Alaska, not a big deal.

    $60k sounds more like GS-11 or GS-13 to me. A GS-09 starts at about $42k.
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  • pmckeealaska
    pmckeealaska Posts: 808
    edited June 2007
    Thats what I thought. The Forest Service (my current employer) is going to be getting rid of 30% of all the employees in Alaska in the next year. I figured the DoD was a solid place to be!:D
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2007
    Go for it brother, you can always vacation/return to Alaska. (especially with the pay/benefits coming to you)...

    Dept of the Army, Dept of Defense, all the same thing. Dept of Justice (DOJ) is a little different, especially pay tables and rates.
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited June 2007
    What are your major concerns?

    Is it not being around your family? Healthcare availability? Or are you just worried about claustraphobia?

    You will still be in AK, have full time employment & making more money.

    I personally don't see a problem.
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited June 2007
    If you do not take the job and the for the Forestry Service ends, then what?
    Michael ;)
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  • Polk65
    Polk65 Posts: 1,405
    edited June 2007
    Good point. If you stay in Seward and lose your job, are there other opportunities nearby? Drive over to Anchorage and spend a few days there to see what it's like. July 4th is coming up...
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  • pmckeealaska
    pmckeealaska Posts: 808
    edited June 2007
    I accepted the job. It is indeed a GS-11. Only downside is that I'm really going to miss Seward and the friends I have here, but it is only 2 hours away from Anchorage. It will also be nice to live in a town with high-end audio. Wait...maybe that isnt such a good thing, at least for my wallet.:D
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    LSiFX Surrounds
    Rotel RB 1080 2-Channel Amp
    NAD T763 Reciever
    Denon DVD 2900 Universal Player
    Audiosource 10 Band Digital Equalizer
    Audioquest CV-8 speaker cables
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    Audioquest King Cobra Interconnects
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    Playstation 3 120GB Slim
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited June 2007
    Good move - Congrats. You need to take a few risks now and then. 2 hrs - that is not that far.
    Michael ;)
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  • MrNightly
    MrNightly Posts: 3,370
    edited June 2007
    Congrats man. How old are you? It sounds like you have a solid future career ahead of you!
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  • pmckeealaska
    pmckeealaska Posts: 808
    edited June 2007
    I'm 37 years old and kind of a late bloomer career-wise. I only got my first permanent job with the government 2 years ago, but things have been going well since then. I think this is going to be a great career move for me. Only time will tell.
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,842
    edited June 2007
    Personally, given what you have already said about your current employment, I'd take the Army job. It's much more stable and being in Anchorage, there will be an Army presence there for a long time. Especially since things with Russia are heating up a bit.

    With the way things are going, steady employment is a good thing, so are benefits. Yes, the forestry job is nice and you like your environment but it's not going anywhere especially since you said they are looking to do a 30% cut in the workforce. That's a big cut.

    So I don't think you are making a bad decision at all. The new job has much more potential for career advancement and the Army will likely be working on some real interesting and cutting edge stuff that you will not be allowed to discuss outside of work. The pay and benefits are nice too, especially in Alaska where it's not so expensive to live compared to say the Northeastern U.S. or California.

    Hope everything goes well for you!
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  • Polk65
    Polk65 Posts: 1,405
    edited June 2007
    That is a sweet deal. A pay raise, job security, living in the largest city in your state and only 2 hours away from your friends. Best of luck to you.
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  • Fireman32
    Fireman32 Posts: 4,845
    edited June 2007
    Best of luck man. I'm sure everything will work out well.
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited June 2007
    Congrats and best of luck.
    engtaz

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  • Strong Bad
    Strong Bad Posts: 4,278
    edited June 2007
    pmckeealaska wrote: »
    I'm 37 years old and kind of a late bloomer career-wise. I only got my first permanent job with the government 2 years ago, but things have been going well since then. I think this is going to be a great career move for me. Only time will tell.


    I'm a late bloomer myself, but things took off for me quickly and I moved up fast.

    Great career move for you. Sometimes these moves will be nerve racking at first, but afterwards when you're settled and doing well, you'll be glad ya did it. It happened to me a few times in the last few years, but they were the best moves I could have made.

    John
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