Former feds describe ways to lure recruits to public sector

Former federal executives who now work in the private sector spoke Tuesday about recruiting challenges facing the federal information technology community.

The discussion took place at the FOSE federal technology conference in Washington. Although the session was called "Senior Executives Talk 21st Century Competencies," the talk focused more on the pros and cons of working for the federal government.

By and large, the executives spoke fondly of their time in the federal government, but acknowledged that the attributes that attracted them to federal service are no longer as alluring in today's economy.

Gil Guarino, senior principal of American Management Systems, and a former technology executive for the Air Force Systems Command, said he gained unparalleled experience in the federal government and noted that the breadth of experience and amount of responsibility available at the outset are key selling points for the federal sector. Federal chief information officers should emphasize that government is a good place to learn how to be a leader, he said.

Anne Reed, vice president of EDS' government global industry group and former Agriculture Department CIO, spoke of a public service ethic that drew her to the federal government. But nowadays, Reed said, "it's a tough sell." Although the reasons she was called to public service still exist, the barriers to entry are much greater today, she said. "Commitment to public service is not enough" to draw today's debt-ridden young graduates in, she said.

Reed suggested that agencies need to forgive student loans and find ways to bring new recruits in at mid-level positions if they are to compete with lucrative private sector starting salaries.

Renny Di Pentima, former deputy secretary of the Social Security Administration and current president of SRA International, echoed Reed's reasons for joining the public service, saying he was inspired by then-President John F. Kennedy. He suggested that agencies focus on the quality of life and reasonable work hours afforded by the federal sector when attracting job candidates.

Finally, Cindy Samuelson, director of marketing, public relations and sales for Lucent Technologies and a veteran executive at several federal agencies, said working in the federal government builds character. "I didn't realize it at the time, but I gained confidence. It builds character to have a Senator pointing his finger at you," she said.

Samuelson said working for the federal government teaches skill sets such as leadership, networking, analytical thinking and the ability to influence people. She suggested agencies make better use of intern programs as a starting point, but repeated the other executives' contention that the allure isn't the same today as it was in her time. "The environment is different-there wasn't as negative an attitude as there is today-government workers weren't disrespected," she said.

All of the executives said it would take a lot to lure them back to the government in a new administration. Samuelson said she would return for a position that allowed her to influence or solve a major issue and did not penalize her financially. Di Pentima said it would be very difficult to return and left it at that. Guarino agreed, but said a really big job might draw him back in, while Reed said her public service ethic might sway her to return to the federal sector someday, but not anytime soon.

Ira Hobbs, deputy CIO at Agriculture and moderator of the group, painted a less bleak picture than his former colleagues. Technology recruiting in the federal sector is " an uphill battle, but we must continue to fight it," he said.