How I Became a State Employee
Title
How I Became a State Employee
Creator
Jacob Schlitt
Description
"In 1986, my job with the US Civil Rights Commission came to an end."
Date
2009-09-12/2013-04-27
Format
application/pdf
Type
text
Language
en
Coverage
1986/1987
Identifier
How_I_Became_a_State_Empl
Text
How I Became a State Employee
In 1986, my job with the US Civil Rights Commission came to an end. I had been with the Commission for 21 years. It was a good example of doing well by doing good. I had come to the agency as a GS-13 Field Representative. I was leaving as a GS-15 Regional Director.
For 17 of the 21 years, I couldn’t have asked for a better job. However, the last four years were a nightmare. Under Reagan, Linda Chavez, the new Staff Director, tried to undo everything the agency had accomplished since its creation in 1957.
The staff, including myself, was fortunate to have Civil Service protection. Otherwise, Chavez, and the Chairman appointed by Reagan. Clarence Pendleton, would have cleaned house when they took office in 1982. By 1986, Congress, unhappy with the Commission, cut its budget in half, and the Commission eliminated seven of its ten regional offices. I was out of a job, though I was entitled to a Federal pension. I was 59 years old, remarried with a five year old son. I needed a job.
My job hunting skills were a little rusty, but I knew my way around the job market. The first thing I did was to figure out where I wanted to look, and to revise my resume. I concluded that I would not look in the Federal sector. Not with Reagan in the White House. And besides, I will be getting a nice pension which I would not be able to get if I took a Federal job. My two areas of “expertise” were civil rights and labor. There were several State agencies which dealt with both areas. And Michael Dukakis was the Governor, and I had met him a few times in my capacity as the Commission’s New England Regional Director.
Now, which state agency needed someone with my qualifications? In the area of civil rights, there was the State Commission Against Discrimination. I knew the Chairman, Alex Rodriguez. Unfortunately, there were no openings. Most every other State agency had a position responsible for affirmative action and non-discrimination. Again, no vacancies. How about labor? There was the State Department of Labor, and the State Department of Arbitration and Conciliation, and the State Department of Workers Compensation and the State Department of Employment and Training. I checked them al out, and I discovered a resource—a State publication which listed job vacancies.
While I was researching all this, I let all my friends and former colleagues know that I was looking. One of these was Lenny Zakim of the Anti-Defamation League. He suggested that I see Nick Metropolis who was an assistant to Governor Dukakis in charge of patronage. I called him and had a delightful meeting. I gave him my resume and told him my areas of interest. He explained that he couldn’t help me unless I could identify a specific job in which I was interested. I retrieved the publication listing vacancies and found that the Department of Employment and Training need a mid level analyst. I told Metropolis that was the job I wanted. He called the assistant to the Director and set up an appointment for me. I was on my way.
(The above was written four years ago, and left unfinished. Time to finish it.)
The assistant to the director was remarkably supportive. I remember coming in toward the end of the day, and presenting her with my resume, and describing the circumstances which led to my unemployment. She looked at the description of the position for which I was applying, and said, this job isn’t for you. You are way overqualified. I replied, when you need a job you go for whatever you can get.
She thought a few minutes and said you could fit in as a member of the Board of Review. There is a vacancy. Let me call Vivian and set up an appointment. She calls Vivian Male, the Chair of the Board, and asked her if she had time to see someone she felt would make a good addition to the Board. I don’t remember if I met with Vivian that evening, or if we spoke and set up a meeting for the following day. But I had an interview with the Chair. She asked me about the work I did in the past. Was I familiar with the Unemployment Insurance legislation. In a general way, but I am a quick learner. I gave her several references which she followed up on.
4-27-13
In 1986, my job with the US Civil Rights Commission came to an end. I had been with the Commission for 21 years. It was a good example of doing well by doing good. I had come to the agency as a GS-13 Field Representative. I was leaving as a GS-15 Regional Director.
For 17 of the 21 years, I couldn’t have asked for a better job. However, the last four years were a nightmare. Under Reagan, Linda Chavez, the new Staff Director, tried to undo everything the agency had accomplished since its creation in 1957.
The staff, including myself, was fortunate to have Civil Service protection. Otherwise, Chavez, and the Chairman appointed by Reagan. Clarence Pendleton, would have cleaned house when they took office in 1982. By 1986, Congress, unhappy with the Commission, cut its budget in half, and the Commission eliminated seven of its ten regional offices. I was out of a job, though I was entitled to a Federal pension. I was 59 years old, remarried with a five year old son. I needed a job.
My job hunting skills were a little rusty, but I knew my way around the job market. The first thing I did was to figure out where I wanted to look, and to revise my resume. I concluded that I would not look in the Federal sector. Not with Reagan in the White House. And besides, I will be getting a nice pension which I would not be able to get if I took a Federal job. My two areas of “expertise” were civil rights and labor. There were several State agencies which dealt with both areas. And Michael Dukakis was the Governor, and I had met him a few times in my capacity as the Commission’s New England Regional Director.
Now, which state agency needed someone with my qualifications? In the area of civil rights, there was the State Commission Against Discrimination. I knew the Chairman, Alex Rodriguez. Unfortunately, there were no openings. Most every other State agency had a position responsible for affirmative action and non-discrimination. Again, no vacancies. How about labor? There was the State Department of Labor, and the State Department of Arbitration and Conciliation, and the State Department of Workers Compensation and the State Department of Employment and Training. I checked them al out, and I discovered a resource—a State publication which listed job vacancies.
While I was researching all this, I let all my friends and former colleagues know that I was looking. One of these was Lenny Zakim of the Anti-Defamation League. He suggested that I see Nick Metropolis who was an assistant to Governor Dukakis in charge of patronage. I called him and had a delightful meeting. I gave him my resume and told him my areas of interest. He explained that he couldn’t help me unless I could identify a specific job in which I was interested. I retrieved the publication listing vacancies and found that the Department of Employment and Training need a mid level analyst. I told Metropolis that was the job I wanted. He called the assistant to the Director and set up an appointment for me. I was on my way.
(The above was written four years ago, and left unfinished. Time to finish it.)
The assistant to the director was remarkably supportive. I remember coming in toward the end of the day, and presenting her with my resume, and describing the circumstances which led to my unemployment. She looked at the description of the position for which I was applying, and said, this job isn’t for you. You are way overqualified. I replied, when you need a job you go for whatever you can get.
She thought a few minutes and said you could fit in as a member of the Board of Review. There is a vacancy. Let me call Vivian and set up an appointment. She calls Vivian Male, the Chair of the Board, and asked her if she had time to see someone she felt would make a good addition to the Board. I don’t remember if I met with Vivian that evening, or if we spoke and set up a meeting for the following day. But I had an interview with the Chair. She asked me about the work I did in the past. Was I familiar with the Unemployment Insurance legislation. In a general way, but I am a quick learner. I gave her several references which she followed up on.
4-27-13
Original Format
application/msword
Collection
Citation
Jacob Schlitt, “How I Became a State Employee,” Autobiographical stories & other writing by Jacob Schlitt, accessed April 20, 2024, https://tsirlson.omeka.net/items/show/209.