đ You Will Quit.
Hey friend,
Did you know that in a typical year, about 200,000 people walk away from the federal government?
Last year, that number shattered records, with nearly 400,000 people leaving.
Why the mass exodus? We donât have to guess, the data from OPM and the MSPB tells the story.
Here are the three biggest reasons people are turning in their badges:
The Paycheck Reality Check: You accept a GS-9 thinking youâre set, but after federal, state, and payroll taxes, plus that 4.4% FERS deduction and TSP contributions, your take-home pay is a fraction of what you expected. For many, the private sector isnât just âwhisperingâ, itâs shouting.
The Flexibility Factor: Remote work wasnât just a perk, for many, it was the job. With the recent in-office mandates, highly skilled professionals at agencies like the CDC and FDA are realizing they donât have to stay. If a private company offers 100% telework, many feds are taking that deal.
Job Insecurity: Between VERA/VSIP and changes to civil service protections, many workers feel unwanted. Instead of waiting to see what happens, theyâre choosing to leave on their own terms.
Who is leaving?
The highest attrition is hitting the GS-5 through GS-9 levels. When youâre at the lower end of the pay scale, you have a lot less tolerance for âgovernment nonsenseâ than a GS-14 whoâs locked in. Weâre also seeing huge hits in the 0303, 2210 (IT), and 0181 (Correctional Officer) series.
The Bottom Line: If the government keeps making these roles less desirable through lower pay and more uncertainty, the talent pool is going to shrink. With the mid-terms coming up this November, things could change fast, but for now, the âdreamâ is feeling pretty thin for a lot of people.
đ¤ AI the Cure?
The federal hiring process is broken. The governmentâs solution? USA Class, a new AI tool rolling out this month to all agencies. Itâs designed to slash the âtime-to-hireâ by fixing a massive bottleneck: Position Descriptions (PDs).
The Problem: The PD Loop
Currently, writing a PD can take months. Hiring managers draft them, HR kicks them back for not meeting OPM standards (some from the 1990s), and the cycle repeats. This leads to the âbait and switchâ, where you start a job that looks nothing like the announcement because the manager just copied and pasted a random template to save time.
The AI Solution
USA Class allegedly generates PDs in half the time. Itâs free for agencies and trained on thousands of existing descriptions. It prompts managers for specific duties, then builds the PD itself.
The Risks
Hallucinations: AI can be confidently wrong. If HR doesnât carefully vet the output, weâre looking at two years of nonsensical job postings.
Job Security: OPM and OMB are pushing for more AI integration. While high-level HR pros are safe, the 10,000+ HR Assistants (0200 series) should be watching their numbers closely this year.
The Bottom Line: Faster hiring is great, but efficiency shouldnât come at the cost of accuracy or peopleâs livelihoods.
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đ¨Pension Threat
The federal pension is the top reason many choose government service over the private sector. But right now, it is under a sustained attack that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in retirement.
Here are the four biggest threats currently on the table:
âHigh-3â to âHigh-5â: Lawmakers want to calculate your pension using your five highest-earning years instead of three. This move alone could strip $500 to $1,500 a year from your lifetime earnings.
Doubling FERS Contributions: Proposals exist to hike the FERS contribution from 4.4% to 9.4% for new hires. When you add taxes, youâd be losing nearly half your paycheck before it even hits your bank account.
Eliminating the Annuity Supplement: The âbridgeâ payment for those retiring before age 62 (worth $10kâ$15k a year) was nearly axed last year. This threat is a major reason so many feds are rushing toward the exit now.
The MSPB âTaxâ: A proposed $350 fee to file an appeal with the MSPB aims to make it harder for workers to fight wrongful removals or whistleblower retaliation.
The Bottom Line: These bills arenât dead, they are just waiting for the next legislative window. The pension is what makes the federal grind worth it. We have to stay informed and active to keep it that way.
đ¤Hiring Events
May 8th from 12pm - 1pm EDT
Join the GSA Data Scientist Virtual Information Session.
Dive deep into GSAâs mission, showcasing how we deliver digital government services that impact millions of people nationwide. Hear more about the upcoming Data Scientist opportunity within the Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM), Product HR Support Center Data Team directly from the team
Learn more here
May 12th from 3pm - 5pm EDT
Join the Department of Treasury in a virtual event âUnlocking Federal Careers: Exploring Student Opportunitiesâ.
Join them to discover the various paths you can take to kickstart your career in government. Learn from an experienced professional and get valuable insights on how to navigate the federal job market.
Learn more here
May 12th from 3pm - 5pm EDT
Join the IRS for a Contact Representative Virtual Information Session.
The IRS is hiring mission-critical, entry-level customer service representatives in 8 locations nationwide. As an IRS Contact Representative, you will research multiple computer-based programs and resources to provide tax-related assistance to Americans over the phone. This role offers a unique, non-repetitive workday that showcases your communication skills while offering rewarding public service opportunities.
Learn more here
May 13th from 6pm - 7pm EDT
Youâre invited to meet the Supreme Court Police. Learn more about a law enforcement career and meet the recruitment team.
Topics covered will include: Welcome, Overview of Job, Pay, Benefits, How to Apply and a live Q and A.
Featured Unit: Dignitary Protection
Learn more here
May 13th from 1pm - 3:30pm EDT
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is hosting its 5th Annual Virtual 2026 Meet and Greet Event.
This yearâs theme is Discovering NLRB: Your Career, Your Journey. At the event, youâll have opportunities to engage with experienced Attorneys, Labor Management Relations Examiners, and other dedicated staffers during interactive breakout sessions. We are also hosting presentations on student programs and showcasing employee benefits.
Learn more here
May 14th from 10am - 2pm MDT
Join the team at the forefront of space training and readiness. The U.S. Space Force's Headquarters Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) is seeking talented professionals to fill critical roles.
Theyâre hiring for the following positions:
Instructors
Budget Analysts
Operations Researchers
Cyber Security Specialists
Engineering Professionals
Contracting
Historians
Human Resources Specialists
Information Technology
Management & Program Analysts
Intelligence
Program Managers
Learn more here
đSuccess Story
Watch the last Q&A livestream: here
đ Download Federal Resume Examples & Interview Guide: https://payhip.com/ArmandCuret
đGet the Government Job Secrets Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D695NKCN
đ˛ Schedule a call with me: https://clarity.fm/armandcuret
đ§ E-mail me: federalresumemasterclass@gmail.com