Letter to the Editor

This is in response to the letter from Ronald Bradshaw, who is retired from the Air Force and now holds several computer certificates and a college degree and is trying to get a job.

I have also experienced similar frustration in obtaining an information technology classification in the field. Although I am a civil service employee, my job has never been classified as a computer job. It seems that there is an abundance of jobs at the GS-11 level and very few developmental jobs for those with less experience seeking a GS-07/09 level.

The need to keep IT people in government service is evident. But if you do not take care of those that are already in the system, how do you expect to keep them?

At one time, I thought it would be beneficial being a Hispanic female, working at an IT job and working on my master's in information systems. However, I have since discovered that I will probably have to search for a new job in the private sector if I want to increase my earnings beyond a GS-07 nontechnical job classification.

The sad reality of our system is that technological advancements are quickly being made, causing many positions to have a more technical nature than when they were previously classified. Although the system allows for desk audits, I have found only one of my peers to be successful in having management push for a reclassification of his position. The rest of us have simply been told to wait.

After two years of waiting, many others like myself are tired and frustrated, and they will simply seek new jobs in the private sector.

Rosa Baron-Gomes
Defense Finance and Accounting Service-Indianapolis