FEMA is hiring many Reservist employees across many programs
Adam Koons
Dear Disaster Anthro Colleagues and Friends,
I am writing with a practitioner employment opportunity.
I have worked now for FEMA for 6 years. It has been far different than other jobs I have held, and has been exciting, interesting, educational, and worthwhile. FEMA is far from perfect. There are many challenges and areas requiring significant improvement. Many disaster anthropologists I know have criticized the agency harshly. Sometimes well-deserved. Nonetheless, I have found working there to be an appropriate and interesting experience, and intend to continue doing so for a while. Working for FEMA is entirely operational, meaning it is not a place for research or theory (although some positions require substantial analysis). Personally, I think I have had the opportunity to make valuable contributions to what the agency does on the broader level, as well as at the individual disaster level.
FEMA is currently seriously understaffed and actively seeking to recruit staff for its Reservist ranks across every department and topical area. Reservists are intermittent employees who only work when needed, for varying amounts of time, but not year-long. However, importantly, due to the newly passed federal CREW Act, Reservists cannot lose their other full-time employment due to their deployment work with FEMA.
In my opinion, being a Reservist – which is how I started at FEMA, thanks to referral from one of our own TIG members years ago – is a good opportunity, particularly for young professionals, and also for late-career professionals, who want to work but not full-time. Many Reservists are in their 20s and 30s, trying to launch their careers, and many others are in their 60s and 70s, post retirement. It’s a good way to get an inside view of FEMA, and of working for the federal government, and to be in a good position for eventual full-time positions as they arise.
I am writing to our TIG for three reasons:
1) I would like to see many more anthropologists working in FEMA, and so want to let our compatriots know
2) I would like to see FEMA more fully staffed
3) There is a Reservist reference process whereby, as a FEMA employee I can refer others to FEMA. For this you would need to get a reference form from me.
You are welcome to bypass the referral process and simply log onto the US government jobs site (for which you need an account), search FEMA, and search Reservists. (From that site you can also find all of the full-time jobs posted as well).
USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site
However, I would welcome you contacting me to learn more about the very many nuances of the Reservist program, and how the program seeks to match skill sets and resumes with available positions (not well-explained on the employment site), and if interested, to get a referral form from me.
Full disclosure: There is a referral bonus for employees who refer someone who is then actually hired. There is also a signing bonus for those hired. Also note that I am NOT part of the official recruitment or human resources teams – I am participating in this process the same way every other employee is encouraged to participate.
Therefore, if you are interested in finding out more from me or getting a referral, please contact me at: adam...@hotmail.com
Warm regards
Adam
Melinda Gonzalez
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Walsh School of Foreign Service
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Marina Clough
On Nov 11, 2023, at 9:44 AM, Melinda Gonzalez <gonzale...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Adam,
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