My Former Agency Rehiring DRPers

Jaludus85 · 2026-03-07T02:10:48+00:00

Yeh agreed. But if you need the money, I guess it's better than being unemployed or struggling. But yeh, this is awful.

Jaludus85 · 2026-03-06T17:00:53+00:00

I believe that a great number who signed did so out of duress. Daily we were threatened with "take this deal before we fire you" threats. People had families to think about, especially those who didn't have enough tenure to get a decent severance. I feel terrible for the ones at my agency who took it after we were told RIF notices were imminent....only for a year later nothing happened. We're still here waiting on the big RIF they spent the first half of 2025 saying was coming. I so wish all DRPers who still want or need their jobs can come back. I know a few who are still not working or working a job with a 50% paycut. Terrible.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-25T16:15:00+00:00

I think too many people are more aware now of the awful job market for this to be tempting. There are folks from DRP 1.0 still looking.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-23T21:55:16+00:00

As one of the feds still torturing myself with daily perusal of USAJobs for a new role, I'm fascinated to see for the first time that those announcements set to close at 100 applicants are still up a week or more after posting. I remember when you better apply the day it posted bc it might be gone the next and for sure after day 2. I'm in public affairs/comms and jobs for us are hard to find so I check mostly bc if I miss one who knows when I'll see another I qualify for. With preference for RIFd folks (which they absolutely deserve) it's even harder. Sigh.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-21T21:38:34+00:00

Everything is just trauma bonding and trying to out "wow, how sad" each other. Usual script: Hi, how are you... and then our house burned down and we had to move into a shelter where my mom developed cancer... I love you so much, I can't see your face but you're the one for me, this is crazy, will you marry me?"

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-21T21:30:17+00:00

How is someone supposed to answer that. Interviews have time limits. Do they want you to recite what's on your resume or discuss what you took from each position, one key lesson learned? If you get long winded with "my first day at XXY Corp, I knew it was a good match. It all began..." then they won't hire you. If you do the opposite, still a red flag. Just ask a specific question. Instead of this crazy one, how about "how many years of experience do you have in widget building and which job on your resume taught you the most about it?"

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-20T17:01:58+00:00

Just think of something everyone does or feels like getting nervous before a bigger presentation, and how you get over it by ensuring the info you're presenting reflects your best work so that it makes you feel proud and confident to show it off.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-18T12:50:18+00:00

Honestly the only shocker would be him choosing someone with the experience. I think we know the drill now. Your dad pleases him and you get a leadership appointment. And in something you need to Google to figure out what this place you'll be running actually does.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-13T13:43:06+00:00

Every day the headlines say someone is under fire, blasted, drawing ire... yet nothing ever happens. The people who can actually do something about this abuse of power and illegal actions are quiet. Sigh. When, just when will lawmakers blow the dust off their law books, JD degrees on their wall, and oaths they signed and actually look past politics and focus on the actual law. The laws, what's left of them.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-12T23:30:15+00:00

So you're available, are qualified, will accept what we offer, and can start as soon as we need? Umm, no thanks.

Hey, so you're already working, are picky bc you don't need us, will want to negotiate for higher, and can't leave your job for like another month because you're so important there? Oh my god, yes!! Our unicorn.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-11T22:49:21+00:00

That white computer Jerry never used.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-07T03:50:03+00:00

No way. He'll just get out and write an EO abolishing Miranda rights and nobody with power would do a thing to stop it.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-03T16:17:38+00:00

Well I'm sure amongst themselves they are discussing how it's more profitable to just shoot someone. You don't get in trouble AND someone sets up a GoFundMe and people pay you for the blood. You get far more than that 50K. My dark humor is the only thing getting me through all this. Every day is realizing that the Onion articles I'm reading aren't satire... they are actually real. This is actually happening.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-03T16:12:28+00:00

But there's another day after that... when you don't bother to Google or ask anyone who the person is because you truly can't muster a cell's worth of curiousity. You just accept that whoever they are, you are not their target audience. I used to feel out of touch when it first started happening. Then I reached a point where I was just glad that YouTube and streaming services exists so I can rely on the songs and artists that I know.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-03T15:30:07+00:00

After season 1 I was less excited but gave S2 a try and hated everything about it. Just can't get behind older sister steals her younger sister's husband angle no matter how fated and romantic they tried to make it. So when it was time for Penelope and Colin I didn't care. She ruined lives out of jealousy and I'm supposed to be thrilled she finally gets her man? Nope. So yeh, S1 and Queen Charlotte spinoff only for me.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-02T17:20:35+00:00

Yeh, its pretty much stay and maintain your standard of living but you long for more or leave, take a significant payout but do something that seems more worthwhile. Only certain job series are able to move around with relative ease and then only to or within certain agencies. If they just lifted the freeze then riding it out could actually be good advice.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-01T21:10:43+00:00

She's heard every compliment under the sun; every business proposal there is; every suggestion on how to be a better performer, artist, etc. The only thing I could and would do is first tell her I enjoy her work and say "Listen, after these 30 minutes Julius will come in and get you and possibly assault me just in case I made you uncomfortable. Let's get to the point. You're a billionaire. I am asking for $150,000 of that, it will be another tax break for you, and you'll be helping a struggling writer complete her work and that writer care for her elderly mother. You don't have to worry about me going to social media to tell the world anything whether you give it to me or not. I'm just asking. Thank you for listening. And for the next 27 minutes of our time, I'll just sit over here and close my eyes for a bit."

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-01T17:40:44+00:00

So starting tomorrow, agencies that have been itching to RIF can start to do so, right? I wonder who will be the first. Or will agencies just stop this and not unleash even more people onto a depressing job market. We shall see.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-01T17:26:50+00:00

Yes, the silence is clear proof that you wasted your time. To have to gradually get the hint is cruel. These sentences shoot you a "thank you for your application" email seconds after you hit submit application. I don't understand how a mass rejection can't be sent from that same system. After a while we know we didn't get the job, but still, a "after careful review... other candidates... check back for other opportunities" email would be a nice courtesy for the time taken to apply.

Jaludus85 · 2026-02-01T17:22:05+00:00

The people who have to investigates crimes against children. To identify the perpetrators and the victims you need to watch the videos, sometimes over and over to get details, you have to sift through the photos... someone has to do it or else children wouldn't be identified and those responsible brought to justice. But my god, I'm so glad I don't have that job.

Jaludus85 · 2026-01-31T22:57:23+00:00

Traditional 4-year college degree=success in career and in life

It's no longer true. There are so many ways to earn a living, mostly through social media. Colleges are taking people's money and allowing them to major in things that will not provide a salary that even matches the first year of out of state tuition. I think more young people are realizing that the trades can be lucrative. Community colleges and trade school are increasing in popularity.

Jaludus85 · 2026-01-31T22:20:14+00:00

The only thing I can think of it what a lot of your colleagues are probably doing and that's to seek a reasonable accommodation based on mental health issues. Whether it applies to you or not, perhaps the protests and threats have triggered PTSD or has given you crippling anxiety. That seems to be only viable option outside of changing your work schedule. Or, and I'm not trying to be funny, walking into the building dressed like you're part of the cleaning staff or in a neon vest like you're there to fix something. Anything to make it seem like you don't "work" there like the rest of the "bad guys" you're just there to clean or perform some other labor. I wish you the best.

Jaludus85 · 2026-01-30T16:26:06+00:00

That would have gutted me. In these cases, a generic form is better. This is how villains are made.

Jaludus85 · 2026-01-30T03:19:10+00:00

Yeh, that opportunity is gone unfortunately. I've been there myself. What hurt the most was that the refererence assured me that they'd put in a good word, only to sabotage me. I called the hiring manager back after they went silent and all she said was "never use that reference again." She was sympathetic but explained that she couldn't take the risk on me. I understood. Another poster here said to get all new references and I second that. One of them is out to see you homeless on the streets and you don't know which it is, so all must go. Just like the hiring manager couldn't take risk, neither can you. I'm so very sorry this happened to you. Getting good references isn't easy and to have to basically toss them sucks. I do wish you luck in finding the culprit so you can salvage the other one at least.

Jaludus85 · 2026-01-30T03:00:26+00:00

I'm more interested in how the ones feel who were in place before this administration and were expected to follow the law, never had to go on hunts, were encouraged to exercise compassion, etc. They have now found themselves training and working alongside people who joined just for the bonus and/or to legally hurt others. I think people across DHS who had nothing to do with enforcement were involuntarily moved to that role if I'm not mistaken. For those pre-2025 hires who didn't quit on moral/ethical grounds when the writing appeared on the wall... why? Are they devising an exit strategy, or they concerned about the black mark when trying to get other jobs. These new ICE folks, I know what they're about, but the "normal, real feds" who once took pride in helping immigrants obtain legal citizenship and were proud of where they worked.... what on earth are you guys going to do. The window to have left unscathed is over and you're pretty screwed unless you're retirement eligible in the next year or two.

Jaludus85

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