30 June 2010

Government job.. from part time to fulltime?

| starking
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Hey guys.. I have just landed a Government job which is a part time position. I wanted to get a fulltime job all along, but this part time position was, by far, the best I could get. I didn’t come to realize that, all the benefits which the fulltimers enjoy (things like flex leave…) doesn’t apply to my part time position until I signed the offer.

Any chance that they will offer me a fulltime position along the way? Or they tend to hire some new guys, if any fulltime positions become available and I will always stay as a part time?

So should I just leave this part time job and seek a proper fulltime job for now?

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vg said :

You have no idea who you work for or the terms of your employment?

My guess is that you aren’t splitting atoms at the CSIRO

Hilarious!

colourful sydney racing identity said :

ROFLCOPTER

Fact? where did this fact come from? Uranus?

Ha. Yes. After many years working with public servants, I have witnessed them all. Fat, lazy, late to work, regular flexers, pretend hard-workers, boss-suckeruperers, and slackers. Now let me blast off!

p1 – grumpy while browsing RA? Not at all possible!

failinator said :

@Jim Jones – thanks, that is much clearer. And I agree 100%. Sorry for misunderstanding you. I get a little hot under the collar when I think I’m hearing the same old crap about public servants being slack. I’d like to meet anyone in the private sector who works harder or longer hours than I do for the same $… anyway, sorry.

S’okay. I’m usually a complete d1ck anyway, so your anger is probably justifiable regardless.

ProudTenant said :

p1 – I merely expressed what has been known for 21 years (the not so healthy work ethics of the ACT Government since it was first formed in 1989). Not an attack. Just fact.

I’m pretty familiar with lots of people with poor work ethics. And it they often appear to be over represented in Governments departments of one sort or another. Maybe I was caught up on your singling out of the flex system, or maybe I was tired and grumpy cause I was at work browsing RA…

ProudTenant said :

Hell, I’m hungry. Want some toast or something? My tea-break starts in a minute. I only have 15 minutes.

I like toast. But I only have muesli bars.

colourful sydney racing identity3:57 pm 01 Jul 10

ProudTenant said :

p1 – I merely expressed what has been known for 21 years (the not so healthy work ethics of the ACT Government since it was first formed in 1989). Not an attack. Just fact.

Hell, I’m hungry. Want some toast or something? My tea-break starts in a minute. I only have 15 minutes.

ROFLCOPTER

Fact? where did this fact come from? Uranus?

@Jim Jones – thanks, that is much clearer. And I agree 100%. Sorry for misunderstanding you. I get a little hot under the collar when I think I’m hearing the same old crap about public servants being slack. I’d like to meet anyone in the private sector who works harder or longer hours than I do for the same $… anyway, sorry.

p1 – I merely expressed what has been known for 21 years (the not so healthy work ethics of the ACT Government since it was first formed in 1989). Not an attack. Just fact.

Hell, I’m hungry. Want some toast or something? My tea-break starts in a minute. I only have 15 minutes.

ProudTenant said :

FYI, “flex days”, and “flexible hours” are two different things. You could work flexible hours for years, without actually taking a full flex day off.

A “flex day” might be different to “flexible hours”, but in the context of the public service, they relate to the same thing. Flexability in when you arrive in the morning, how long you have lunch for, and when you leave may result in having worked extra hours during a given period. If you then take a whole day off, it is a “flex day” and the result of “flexible hours”. Non-government positions may not have such a structured system, however, in my experience (which you can make assumptions about at will), people with any flexibility in their hours at all, can negotiate to work a little “extra” time, then not be at work some other time in exchange. The intention of the flex system (at least as far as the public service defines it nowadays), is not to take a day of each and every week, but simply create a way to account for hours worked/not worked due to flexibility.

“Hell”? Did you really need to use that word?

No, I could have used another word for emphasis, or none at all. I didn’t think that particular word was one of great offence. I tend to write on RiotACT in a conversational style, and occasionally surprise or other emotive response results in me using more colourful lingo’.

One thing’s for sure, if I was your educator when you were a little one, I would have taught you some manners.

Ahhhh manners. I was responding to what I perceived to be a casual (if somewhat sarcastic) attack on the workers of the public service. Not a very polite thing I would say.

failinator said :

What was your point then?

Poor managers get shifted up (and sideways) rather than removed and the people who actually work have to deal with the problems.

What was your point then?

failinator said :

It amazes me that in this century there are still people like Jim Jones who believe all public servants sit around all day wasting tax payers’ money. There are useless workers and managers in the APS just like everywhere else, but it hasn’t been a hotbed of long-lunching, paper-pushing, social-club-joining, smoke-break-taking slackarses since the 70s. If you want a job where you can sit around all day smoking bongs and scratching your arse, forget about the public service and become a tradie instead.

Way to miss the point buddy.

It amazes me that in this century there are still people like Jim Jones who believe all public servants sit around all day wasting tax payers’ money. There are useless workers and managers in the APS just like everywhere else, but it hasn’t been a hotbed of long-lunching, paper-pushing, social-club-joining, smoke-break-taking slackarses since the 70s. If you want a job where you can sit around all day smoking bongs and scratching your arse, forget about the public service and become a tradie instead.

If you’re completely crap at doing anything meaningful and worthwhile, you’ll probably end up being promoted to management. If you continue to act appallingly, they’ll promote you to senior management. Keep being retarded and they’ll shift you sideways into a ‘special projects’ job that will mean you won’t have to do anything (apart from not sexually assaulting staff) and you’ll be able to operate your own private business from your office.

p1 said :

ProudTenant said :

Flex days? Who still gets those?

Aah, of course. Mostly the ACT Government pubes.

…and most Commonwealth public servants. And many private employees (in practice even if not in name).

The only people I know these days that don’t have flexible hours are those where the nature of the job doesn’t allow it (shop has to be open, bus has to be driven etc). Where the hell do you work?

“Hell”? Did you really need to use that word?

FYI, “flex days”, and “flexible hours” are two different things. You could work flexible hours for years, without actually taking a full flex day off. One thing’s for sure, if I was your educator when you were a little one, I would have taught you some manners.

Have an ‘ell of a pleasant day.

PT

ConanOfCooma8:49 am 01 Jul 10

trix said :

I’m afraid it’s a bit tricky to look into our crystal balls to see whether Division X in Department Y is going to require a full-time staffer at any time in the future. One thing is that if you perform well, if such a position does open up, you’d be first in line with the offer.

I suggest you spend this initial period demonstrating your capabilities and building up some appreciation of your work ethic and skills, then, if you get a positive review (or even not), in the next 3-6 months, have a chat to your manager and ask if there is any likelihood of a full-time role.

And there’s nothing to stop you from keeping your eye open now for jobs that are more suitable – i.e. full-time, unless of course you’re on a fixed-term contract. I would certainly recommend lining up your next job BEFORE jumping from your current one.

Absolute crap.

Your foot is now in the door, all you need to do is start applying for other internally advertised positions. Now that you are APS, it will look very good on any applications you submit for other APS positions. If you want to branch to another department, just hit APS jobs…

The Australian Government is the Commonwealth/Federal or the Canberra big Boys & Girls. The Julia Army.

The ACT Government is the local ACT public service. John’s gang.

For your sake I am hoping for Julia’s army….

ProudTenant said :

Flex days? Who still gets those?

Aah, of course. Mostly the ACT Government pubes.

Only because we haven’t sold our souls for cash in enterprise agreements! I believe DOFA even sold off the family china for a higher wage.

Starking – if they recruited the position as part time it would be because of funding, workload or other reasons that mean that at this time the position is genuinely part-time (and were probably hoping for a parent or older person who was happy with that). PT jobs are fairly rare. As others have said – give 110% in the job and after a few months let the boss know that you would be interested in full time if it became available. If you are valuable to them most places will see what they can do to keep you as by then they have invested time and possibly money in training and development.

Starking, not knowing whether you work for a Federal or Territory Govt department makes you the perfect candidate for a life long career as a public servant

starking said :

thanks everyone. I think I will stay in the current position and locate another part time role to increase my income in order to support my living…. until any fulltime roles become available. finger crossed!

OzChick said :

Is it permanent? Just go for it. I had to be a contractor for a least a year before I was able to get a permanent position in the public service. Is it ACT Govt? There is a freeze so any chances of promotion in the ACT Public Service are slim atm.

Is Ongoing = Permanent? It’s written as ongoing employment
and it said Australian Government, does it mean Federal Government or ACT government?
sorry this is my very first govt job and I am kinda confused with all these..

yes I heard about the freeze in recruitment and cutting down of some departments too…. some also said the Governemnt will start hiring again in Aug, hopefully.

You have no idea who you work for or the terms of your employment?

My guess is that you aren’t splitting atoms at the CSIRO

“All power to flexible workplaces, but flex time – and the notion that one should spend the same number of minutes in one’s chair every week – should be abolished. If managers want to measure productivity, how about they look at the actual quality, and quantity, of work produced.”

Yeah, screw ’em. Make them work 80hrs a week until you fit their definition of productive.

The problem with “flex time” is that it assumes that public servants’ productivity can be measured by the minutes they spend in their office. What rubbish.

All power to flexible workplaces, but flex time – and the notion that one should spend the same number of minutes in one’s chair every week – should be abolished. If managers want to measure productivity, how about they look at the actual quality, and quantity, of work produced.

You have the job and you don’t know whether it’s Fed or ACT govt???

If you decide to leave the part-time job please post here as I am getting flicked from most of the full-time processes I apply for because I am not wanting to work full-time.

sexynotsmart8:04 pm 30 Jun 10

Re: flexible hours, talk about it with your tech lead or line manager or whatever you call the person who has day-to-day control of your soul.

I had 2 part-timers in my team-before-last. We may or may not have sorted out arrangements that may not or may not have strictly complied with the HR documentation.

starking said :

Is Ongoing = Permanent? It’s written as ongoing employment
and it said Australian Government, does it mean Federal Government or ACT government?
sorry this is my very first govt job and I am kinda confused with all these..

Yes, ‘ongoing’ is APS-code for ‘permanent’. The Commonwealth/Federal Government is now normally called the Australian Government.

Congratulations on the job by the way – I hope that it works out well.

thanks everyone. I think I will stay in the current position and locate another part time role to increase my income in order to support my living…. until any fulltime roles become available. finger crossed!

OzChick said :

Is it permanent? Just go for it. I had to be a contractor for a least a year before I was able to get a permanent position in the public service. Is it ACT Govt? There is a freeze so any chances of promotion in the ACT Public Service are slim atm.

Is Ongoing = Permanent? It’s written as ongoing employment
and it said Australian Government, does it mean Federal Government or ACT government?
sorry this is my very first govt job and I am kinda confused with all these..

yes I heard about the freeze in recruitment and cutting down of some departments too…. some also said the Governemnt will start hiring again in Aug, hopefully.

Is it permanent? Just go for it. I had to be a contractor for a least a year before I was able to get a permanent position in the public service. Is it ACT Govt? There is a freeze so any chances of promotion in the ACT Public Service are slim atm.

ProudTenant said :

Flex days? Who still gets those?

Aah, of course. Mostly the ACT Government pubes.

…and most Commonwealth public servants. And many private employees (in practice even if not in name).

The only people I know these days that don’t have flexible hours are those where the nature of the job doesn’t allow it (shop has to be open, bus has to be driven etc). Where the hell do you work?

Flex days? Who still gets those?

Aah, of course. Mostly the ACT Government pubes.

Read all the comments above if you read nothing else…………….and stay there!!!

forgoodnessake3:52 pm 30 Jun 10

At the moment there are massive recruitment freezes across most govt departments. Stick with what you have. Now that you are in, it will be sooo much easier to move onto something else when it becomes available.

You probably should have sussed out that sort of thing before you jumped in but anyway. Good on you for getting your foot in, much harder these days!

Usually part time jobs are harder to get, and attract more applicants, as parents of young kids are desperate for part time work. Unless the hours are really strange? In fact, usually, part time work can still include flex time.

Anyway – I would stay in your job, and tell them you are keen for full time, and don’t complain about your current job to you bosses. I don’t see why they would hire new people at part time instead of you.

georgesgenitals2:06 pm 30 Jun 10

Why would you leave a job to look for another. Start with this one, and if it’s not what you want, keep looking. Hell, it’s only part time, not like you won’t have time!

I’m afraid it’s a bit tricky to look into our crystal balls to see whether Division X in Department Y is going to require a full-time staffer at any time in the future. One thing is that if you perform well, if such a position does open up, you’d be first in line with the offer.

I suggest you spend this initial period demonstrating your capabilities and building up some appreciation of your work ethic and skills, then, if you get a positive review (or even not), in the next 3-6 months, have a chat to your manager and ask if there is any likelihood of a full-time role.

And there’s nothing to stop you from keeping your eye open now for jobs that are more suitable – i.e. full-time, unless of course you’re on a fixed-term contract. I would certainly recommend lining up your next job BEFORE jumping from your current one.

DeadlySchnauzer1:56 pm 30 Jun 10

If this is your first government job then getting your foot in the door with part time and moving to full time later is the way to go. This is in fact probably the standard way people do things… its much more difficult to go straight into a full time position.

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