Beat me, slap me, call me a teacher, but ...

I had an interesting enlightenment this week.  I am not qualified to do the job I teach people to do.  Seriously, the issue of qualifications based on 20+ years of experience in safety and way too much education does not qualify any one for a job, particularly in the government.  Just a kind of a highlight to what made me come to this realization.  I decided to try for a government position.  It was an aggressive position (GS-15), but based on the description and requirements, I thought, for the opportunity, I would try for it.  I went through the web based process and loaded in my information.  It seemed strange that it would only allow you to post your last 6 positions on the form and the supplemental block has a character limit so you can’t add everything that you have done.  But what I did list seemed to me to cover every thing that I have done.

So I receive immediate notice that I am not qualified for the position.  I make a phone call to find out what was missing.  Well, you do not have the experience or education for the job.  You have no military background.  Interesting and the block that I filled in for the VRA and the information regarding the military service is not a dead give away?  But what I failed to do is list my work in one of those 6 past positions.  Ok, I have had has many different positions during the last 10 years.  Oh..  It is called government contracts, teaching, consulting, etc.  Oh… Am I to list all of my work?  Oh yes you should do a chronological listing of your experience.  Ok, then why only 6 blocks?  Heck, how many active duty stay at one location long enough to make that work?  So 22 years of military service, combined with another 10 years of safety work, and teaching, of course. Uhmmm.  Lack the education?  Not sure what that exactly means.

So I am not going to let this rest so I send my resumes (2) and my transcripts (3) to the service center via email explaining what I think they failed see in the application as well as complain about the form ( the Army’s so much easier). 

I receive a call early this morning and again I am told that I am not qualified.  Why?  Because you are not experienced and that for this position education is not important.  Wait, is it a position in charge of all the training in safety?  Yes.  And my graduate course work in training and development is not a qualifier?  No.  So what is it now?  Experience…  Ok, 20+ years experience in safety and I am not qualified?  You need experience in documentation.  Ok, so being a course developer for the Air Force, writing curriculum for graduate and undergraduate courses, writing and executing strategic plans, project management products, and safety assessment reports that must be joyfully read by some pretty high folk enough documentation?  No.  Writing doctoral research papers is not deep enough? No.  You have no experience working at such a high level.  So a faculty chair or director of an OSH program at a college is not considered high?  Being a ground safety manager not high enough? (Reality check – I bet it is because I was enlisted.)
Humility check, but…I have taught safety courses and for over 9 years, aviation safety courses to military officers from the US, Mexico, Belgium, UK, Canada, and Australia; directors of safety at major airlines and companies; and others.  I have taught safety courses for the Air Force at Tinker and Kirtland that had GS11-15s in the classes to bring them up to speed in safety. I have students that make more than twice my 32K a year working for major international companies, yet….

“You might be qualified for a GS 9 and maybe an 11.”   Whoa…..  Maybe????  Surely a 9 but maybe an 11????  I was a ground safety manager at a military base. And ran the operation with success, yet I might could grovel for a 9?  It must be true because I did not qualify for a featherbedding13. 

 

I enjoy working in academia – pay sucks - but I was just thinking of the possibilities.  I will continue to teach those students. But with that I will make a note in my mind that there are those in disassociated positions that are making decisions without cause which not only affect me but will greatly impact unsuspecting students.