It's Official....I'm an Engineer Again!!!

[jeb6294]

Well, my new job started off with lots of fanfare and hoopla....my supervisor stuck his head in my cube and asked me when I was going to move to my new desk. It wasn't too bad since a lot of my stuff was still in boxes and I only had to move a whopping 15 feet, although I did have to give up my dual monitors but I think I'll get by one 24".

I also got my first project to work on. A 2-week inspection and rehab at one of the locks a little north of here. Since it's my first project I'm getting one that's fairly easy, some of the big projects will go on for months, of course you have no idea what needs fixed until you get the lock dewatered. On the plus side, you work the repair schedule while you're on site which means 6 - 10's which means plenty of overtime and 2-weeks worth of per diem. On top of that, I'll be about 50 minutes closer to home so I can be home a little more often.

I am getting screwed a bit on the $$$ side of things. Since I "stooped" to taking a GS-11 to get back into gov't work, I'm only judged on my time-in-grade so all my time I had as a PE in the outside world doesn't count which means I have just under a year before I'm eligible for a GS-12. On the plus side, hopefully I should be getting my step increase in a few weeks, a COLA at the first of the year, and I'll be getting my OT/per diem.

 

[EM_PS]

:multiplespotting: Congrats!

probably a dumb question, but are you in the Louisville District of USACE?

 

[jeb6294]

:multiplespotting: Congrats!
probably a dumb question, but are you in the Louisville District of USACE?

Yes I am....

 

[EM_PS]

good now i know someone in a diff district, since Detroit & Chicago districts have gotten sick of my submittals :chair:

 

[csb]

Congratulations!

 

[kevo_55]

I have no idea what GS-11 or 12 is, but it sounds like that you're enjoying your new job.

Congrats!! :bananalama:

 

[Kephart P.E.]

I have no idea what GS-11 or 12 is, but it sounds like that you're enjoying your new job.
Congrats!! :bananalama:

When you get to be a GS-12 is that when they issue you a belt buckle with a laser, the explosive pen, and license to kill?

 

[Dleg]

Congrats! It will all pay off as time goes by....

 

[maryannette]

Congrats, jeb. It will all work out. These days, I'm happy to have my job, even on bad days.

 

[Guest]

Congrats Jeb!!!! :multiplespotting: :multiplespotting:

Congrats! It will all pay off as time goes by....

Totally agree - I ended up taking less money in my job knowing that it would work out in the 2yr - 3yr period. Always keep your eye on the ball - long term professional and financial goals!

JR

 

[NCcarguy]

Congrats Jeb!! It's always good to read stories about others that are excited about work again!

 

[jeb6294]

I am defintely not complaining. The pay isn't what I'd hoped it would be but I am getting paid which is a lot more than I can say for some of the guys I used to work with. A bunch of us met for breakfast a couple weeks ago. One guy is still working but is expected to put in 50-60 hours a week to cover for the people that got laid off while only billing for 40 hours a week, another guy just got promoted to manager of electronics at Wal-Mart, and one of them is still looking. The $$$ will come around with time and there are always little perks to help make up for it, i.e. I'm currently trying to figure out what to buy with my $350 yearly clothing allowance (it's harder than you think cause we have to buy stuff from a very limited catalog). It does sound like this is going to be some very interesting work...see my post from several weeks ago...and the OT will definitely be a nice bonus until that 12-spot rolls around.