The massive downsizing of the U.S. federal workforce has worldwide implications. The impact is felt from sparsely populated national parks to workers based overseas in the developing world to the epicenter of federal employment: the Washington, D.C. area — home to about 20% of the 2.5-million-member federal workforce.
Whether you’ve already been directly impacted or are anxiously checking your email to see if you’re next, it’s deeply personal and life altering. Researchers link job and unemployment-related stress to mental and physical health problems from depression to increased risk of heart disease.
NBC News interviewed 20 federal workers across multiple agencies for a segment that reveals the depth of their anguish. Workers reported experiencing overwhelming stress, personal crises, suicidal ideation, rapid weight loss, prolonged lack of sleep, and panic attacks.
Looking out for yourself is imperative in these difficult times. There is no magic elixir that will take away the stress. It’s a situation that demands a proactive and strategic response, one that provides the dual benefit of a productive outlet for the anxiety while creating options for the uncertainty ahead. Assessing your value and refining how you communicate it can be therapeutic.
Employers Covet Your Talents
The current national unemployment rate is 4%, historically low, but up slightly from a year ago. At least for the moment, the overall employment landscape is solid.
Many skills used in government translate to the private sector. Targeting is key; begin with familiarity. Are you a specialist in health care, natural resources, housing, transportation, et cetera.?
Look up and down your target sector’s supply chain and its industry group members. Companies and organizations with personnel needs will likely emerge.
Employers need and value your skills, but you must tell your story in a way that translates. Resist the urge to demonstrate your mastery of acronyms and government jargon. Focus on what your work accomplished, rather than the environment in which it occurred. The skills you applied and the tools you used are of more interest to hiring managers.
Ask yourself, how could you help these employers? Is it regulatory compliance, project management, teamworking talent you offer? Do you specialize in budgeting, data analytics, cybersecurity? Create and articulate your value proposition.
Document your technical proficiencies. You’re probably good at working with MS Teams, SharePoint, Adobe Pro, MS Office Suite, and more. These keyword matches will score well on the applicant tracking systems favored by today’s HR departments.
Find and Leverage Allies
The plight of federal employees is not lost on jurisdictions that are home to great numbers of them. For example, Governors Wes Moore and Glenn Youngkin of Maryland and Virginia, respectively, have rolled out websites to assist their state’s federal workers. Included in the Maryland resources is a link to the Maryland Municipal League’s Career website, which offers information on state, county, and local jobs. The Virginia version features a regional map and strong emphasis on private-sector employment opportunities.
Similarly, education officials in both Maryland and Virginia have expressed interest in placing federal workers with appropriate skills in openings in their school systems.
Conclusion
While there is no official figure for the total number of enacted or planned federal firings, it clearly numbers in the tens of thousands. It’s a moving target, and the administration has not released a comprehensive list. The fact that many laid-off employees are caught in a purgatory of possible rehiring exacerbates the uncertainty. There’s also confusion relating to the voluntary early retirement authority (VERA) efforts.
In the short-term, there’s no time to waste; it’s best to start thinking about and preparing for the long-term. Now is the time to focus on the good work you have done and figure out how and where to communicate it. Make adaptability your superpower.
At the very least, this activity is productive and therapeutic and will help you navigate this storm. Each individual’s circumstance is unique, but a key factor to all is the importance of knowing your worth. It’s substantial and will carry you through.
Edward Armstrong is a consultant serving clients in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors with a range of public relations, marketing, and analytical services. He previously worked at VA’s Office of Information and Technology as a contractor, as a congressional press secretary and committee staffer, and has held senior-level positions at multiple trade associations and public affairs groups. Mr. Armstrong Serves on the Editorial Board of the Distributed Generation & Alternative Energy Journal and was elected to the Vestry of the Gaithersburg Ascension Church in 2021, where he is active on environmental and social justice issues.
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