Már Örlygsson :nerd:
Matt BowenWith so many places having done layoffs lately, I wanted to mention the US Digital Service is hiring. It's a wild place to work, but also you get to work on legitimately meaningful projects that affect a lot of people (in 2022, we made it easier for transgender ppl to get passports, helped low-income families buy food, and I got to help identify disadvantage communities for environmental funding). I'm happy to talk about USDS if you're on the fence. http://ow.ly/LpqJ50LVnPV #fedihire #fedijobs
cat anthropologist 🏳️⚧️@mattbowen does the drug test include cannabis? i know at least some federal agencies have changed policies about that in recent years..
@justizin oh man I do not know currently. I’ll see if anyone does though!
Jami 
@justizin @mattbowen Unfortunately this is likely true. Even if you live in a legal state.
Dogzilla@mattbowen @jamigibbs @justizin Thought they’d ended that. Does it automatically rule you out or is it not really enforced? If it does, what a dumb idea - they’ll rule out a lot of talent
@mattbowen @justizin @Dogzilla Honestly I’m not sure if it’s an automatic security clearance rejection but I know that just admitting usage was a problem for a colleague. And yes, they were an incredible talent with deep domain knowledge. It is truly a dumb rule. Very antiquated.
@jamigibbs at USDS? and does USDS do security clearance or just background check? these are *wildly* different, even for the most rigorous bg checks... I honestly wouldnt even want a security clearance...
@justizin I guess I mean a Public Trust Clearance. I only work USDS adjacent so I’m by no means an expert on their policy. I’m sharing anecdotal experience.
@jamigibbs i know the FBI cybercrime unit dropped this bc they couldn’t hire anyone, USDS feels close enough to be a possibility...
@justizin I got an official answer, and it's, well, official, so I've gotta break it into two posts: "As a Federal employer, we are required to follow governance on maintaining a drug-free workplace. As part of that, all Executive Office of the President, including USDS, employees are confidentially screened for cannabis and other substances. However, this is one factor that is part of a multi-point security determination..." (see next post for the rest)
@justizin (con't) "... The whole person and their background is considered and we encourage you to apply. Though, we cannot speak to what security will determine as it's case-by-case and unique to the holistic investigation"
@mattbowen fair enough, ty for checking!
David@mattbowen So many questions. My background is simple desktop support. What sort of experince are you not looking for :)
JC@mattbowen Do y’all get furloughed if folks engage in shenanigans when they’re meant to be passing a budget? I’ve been interested in the USDS but have seen too many friends out in a rough situation because of congressional brinksmanship.
@jcs the answer is “it depends” and “probably not.” Like there are digital services at many agencies and folks at those can. This would be an application to work at “HQ” which is not appropriated year to year and so like I’ve not had to worry about that in my tenure. But you should talk to talent if you do apply — they’ll explain better than I can.
@mattbowen Cool, thanks for the info and expressing the nuance. 😀👍
digital luciferase@mattbowen who would win in a fight, USDS or 18F? :)
@resonancewright All I know is however I answer, I lose lol
MyMiloCat+MydogNoodles@mattbowen Sent this to a young family member, wish I could if I were under 60 I'd apply.
Jeff Enderwick@LeslieVS1965 @mattbowen USDS doesn’t hire over 60?
@jeff7091
I'm not 60 (well beyond), lucky enough I don't need to work, so didn't inquire. I am very loosely holding on to my tech chops out here...
I'm not 60 (well beyond), lucky enough I don't need to work, so didn't inquire. I am very loosely holding on to my tech chops out here...
@LeslieVS1965 I’m 57 and coming off the bench after being home with kids for 6 years. I’m actually young/crazy enough that I am co-founding another start up. If I were a little older I would seriously consider USDS.
@jeff7091 Best wishes to you!
MWT@mattbowen any possibility that USDS would hire a US citizen living overseas?
@mwt oh man no idea. I can ask
Erik Sagen@mattbowen The salary cap has me interested. No complaints but seems like an arbitrary number or is there more to it? I’ll pass this along.
@kartooner it’s the GS series — generally the GS-15 range https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2023/general-schedule — it’s set by law
@mattbowen Oh! My wife works for NYS (SG-15) so I’m not entirely familiar with the sliding scale within those parameters. Thanks for explaining.
Jason Garber@mattbowen oh wow, blast from the past! I didn’t realize you were at USDS (or that you were here on Mastodon).
@jgarber Ahh it's fun to see you on here too! I'm coming on my second year in the engineering COP. You did a term a couple years ago, right? I remembered that when I was applying, thinking "well, I know cool people who worked there." I hope you're doing well now.
@mattbowen I did, yes. I had myself a bumpy ride through public service and some tangential attempts afterward.
Doing alright these days! Still talking shit on the Internet. Still in Northern Virginia, working from home for forever and trying to be a good husband and dad.
Same ol’ jgarber, just greyer.
@jgarber That is great to hear. I still listen to that first album you all put out. And i feel like public service just *is* bumpy, if you're doing it right. We left DC after 17 years and are in MD now, but still pretty close thankfully --- just in Ellicott City.
@mattbowen That’s very kind of you to say, thank you! The band’s still together, but also slower and greyer. 😂
Ellicott City is lovely! Haven’t been up that way in some time, but the main drag up there is really charming.
@jgarber if you ever come this way again lemme know — downtown is lovely and we’ve figured out some good spots now.
@mattbowen Will do!
ACAB for Cutie 
@mattbowen I had no idea this was a thing! I mean, it logically makes sense, but I just never realized that it was an arm of the government 🤓🤓
Kevin Karhan 
@mattbowen Pretty shure people who are neither residents nor citizens of the USA can't apply or won't be hired.
But I boosted it anyway...
Monica Ayhens-Madon@mattbowen Thanks so much for posting this! Do you know if there's any need for community professionals?
@communiteatime Mmm that I don't know for sure, but I can ask tomorrow once folks are online again!
@mattbowen Thanks in advance!
mkb@mattbowen @mwl This is badass. Thank you for all your work!
Javier Henderson 🇦🇷 🇺🇸@mattbowen would you mind talking about this, if you can?
"USDS operates on a tour-of-service model with a maximum term of four years. While most people serve for one or two years, we’ll consider some shorter tours as well. Time commitments are not binding."
What happens after four years? Your employment ends? Are you assigned to other agencies?
@javierk4jh short version: yup, at the end of the 4 years, you've gotta leave USDS. There are agency-specific digital services (the VA has one, as does CMS, a couple of others), and I *believe* you can go to one of those and serve additional years, but it'd still be applying to that service. There's no automatic placement service to an agency or anything. There is a pretty large alumni network, and an interest in keeping us in gov't, but nothing automatic.
@javierk4jh That was the thing that made me most nervous about signing up, but now that I'm at USDS, it feels like 4 years is a pretty long time, given the nature of the work. Having a term is a risk, but you also end up meeting so many brilliant and thoughtful people who themselves will be moving to other places, it feels like it basically works itself out.
@mattbowen is full-time telecommuting an option or do they require in-person at an office in Wash DC?
@javierk4jh That's being hashed out like, right now. I've been remote my whole time (other than a few weeks in person for a crisis where it just made more sense), but like the whole gov't is shifting its posture toward remote work and USDS is in the process of its policy too. I wish I knew more (for myself too), but I know we'll know pretty soon.
@javierk4jh Like if you're thinking about applying, by the time you get through interviews, I suspect there will be a firm answer to that question.
@mattbowen how long is the hiring process? understanding it's hard to say exactly given the requirement for background check, plus standard bureaucracy, etc., but just ballpark.
@javierk4jh so like to get a conditional offer it’s quick — I think a screen, two rounds of interviews, and a decision. Can be as fast as a week or two, depending on how many application we have and interviewers. Background check is a total black box. I think mine was like 4ish weeks but I am extremely boring :) can def take longer.
@mattbowen sorry, I keep thinking of questions...
how do salaries compare to private industry for a given candidate of a given skill/experience level?
@javierk4jh we are on the GS series, with folks on GS-14 and GS-15 — so like look at the GS-15 band and that’ll give you the range https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2023/general-schedule
@mattbowen I sincerely appreciate your time this evening.
@mattbowen circling back to this topic, if you don't mind, was full-time telecommuting as an option approved?
Aaron Brethorst
Mike-麥-Mai-v1.618 😎@mattbowen what kind of talents are they looking for? Do they need a designer who is an expert in html/css, web accessibility, and design systems?
@mikemai2awesome almost definitely. Generally looking for folks pretty experienced in their field who can lead teams but also pick up and contribute as an IC when necessary.
Michael@mattbowen what OS platform are you operating on?