What preselection is: One of the more serious hiring and
personnel practices in the categories of government human resources policy and ethics violations is that of "preselection".
Preselection is when a government official or officials circumvent the established and legal policy of posting jobs for all
qualified potential citizen applicants to see and respond to for a government job opening. The fair and just practice
of not allowing this activity provides equal opportunity and parity to qualified applicants of all races, creeds and
social backgrounds. Preselection allows the hiring party or parties to pick just anyone they darn well please to fill
a govenment job position. Breaching this ethic, is how family members, brother-in-laws, unqualified persons, or those
of "special interest intentions" are funneled into government jobs. This, in fact, deprives those qualified individuals
of all races, creeds and social backgrounds of a fair chance of government employment.
How They Do It: The method in which preselection is perpetrated
is accomplished in several methods. The one I personally witnessed in use at The NRC offices of Region 4 in Arlington,
Texas is best illustrated in this example. A government job position became open with the promotion of my NRC supervisor.
His old job now required a "backfill" in order for his replacement to perform his past duties in the Information Technology
or, IT, Department. The preselection was accomplished by hiring criteria being formulated by the hiring official, for
the employment requisition that listed job required experience and skills that were written like a lock that
only one key, or in this case one person, could open.
Remember the childhood game of "Keep Away"?
This was the adult version as allegedly practiced by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Why They Do It: This was the case I observed. This is how,
in my opion and belief, my former NRC supervisor got his partner in crime transitioned from a contractor, like me, to
an NRC position. This shift in employment position allegedy enabled him to join his friend and boss in accomplishing
criminal activity. He was now in a position as an NRC employee to do things that a contractor employee wasn't permitted
to do.
How I know It's true: During my four years as a contractor
with the NRC's Region 4 Offices in Arlington, Texas I attempted to apply for an NRC position as many four times.
The first three attempts were not preselection, just plain stupidity. Here is my story.
Attempt no. 1 - An NRC employee member of the NRC IT (Information
Technology) departmental staff made it common knowledge that he was leaving the position. It is to be noted that I respect
this individuals right to privacy and have chosen not to name him or provide details of his planned departure. I went to our
supervisor and announced my plans to apply for the vacancy and poured my heart out and told him in great detail why my unique
qualifications and superior performance, as demonstrated, would make me the best candidate for the job. Would you like
to hear his response to my appeal?
He laughed at me and said that there was no job opening. I explained
that it was common knowledge around the NRC Region 4 office that this individual was adament about leaving his employment
at the NRC. My supervisor laughed again and told me that the employee in question had a *history of being temperamental
and threated to quit each time he felt unappreciated. I was profoundly embarrassed and quickly exited his office.
* Please note that I never believed the information stated about
my colleague having a "history of being temperamental and threating to quit each time he felt unappreciated" was
true. He was the best they had, in my opinion, he did not deserve the mean spirited comments, and was the closest thing
to a professional NRC IT supervisor that I had for my four years as contractor employee of the NRC, region 4.
Attempt no. 2 - The same NRC employee
member of the NRC IT departmental staff once again made it common knowledge that he was leaving his position. This
time I had a new supervisor to appeal to, the new NRC Branch Chief that later was arrested after firing me when my allegations
against him were disclosed through the negligence of senior management. Guess what? For the second time I announced
my plans to apply for the vacancy. His response to my appeal... He
also laughed at me and said that there was no job opening. Now two different NRC supervisors of this NRC
employee had told me the same thing, almost verbatim... I exited his office in dissapointment.
Attempt no. 3 - The same NRC employee member
of the NRC IT departmental staff , for the third time now, made it common knowledge that he was leaving his position.
For the third time I visited my NRC supervisor and announced my plans to apply for the vacancy. He
laughed at me, for his second time, my third time, and said that there was no job opening. I explained that it was, for
the third time again, common knowledge around the NRC Region 4 office that this individual was adament about leaving
his employment at the NRC. My supervisor laughed once again, and told me the same story, and that there was no
vacancy. After two different NRC supervisors of this NRC employee told me the same thing on a total of three different
occassions, and spanning a period of two years, I exited his office in utter disbelief.
Attempt no. 4: The same NRC employee member of the
NRC IT departmental staff once again, for the fourth time, announced to eveyone that he was leaving his position.
This time was different. I waited, and watched, and he finally actually left the position.
o I was asked to donate money for my exiting
colleague's "going away gift.
o I had a front row seat at his "going away, farewell
luncheon
o I ate a piece of his goodbye cake
o I wished him well and mentally hugged him goodbye
I still remembered the sting from my previous three visits
to my supervisors office, and them both laughing at me while professing my desire to become a regular NRC employee.
I waited to hear of his paperwork to clear and his retirement
papers to flush through the system in the Human Resources Department.
It had now been over 30 days now since "Elvis had left the building"!
The coast was clear now. I had my final chance. Guess
what I did? I marched into my NRC supervisors office, closed the door, plopped down in his executive guest chair and
said; He's gone! I announced my plans to apply for the vacancy and poured my heart out and told him in great detail
why my unique qualifications and superior performance, as demonstrated, would make me the best candidate for the job.
Would you like to hear his response to my appeal? He laughed at me and said that there was no job opening. He's...
coming... back!
I though to myself; Damn! I was furious that, for the forth
time, they had "screwed me around". This was an example of plain stupidity. I don't think that the
hinges on Dean Pappa's office door will ever be the same. I kinda slammed it hard, with 3 years and 4 job opportunities denighed
me worth of force behind it; with all due respect, of course.
I did't get the opportunity ever again to apply for the subject
position.
Why? Because
Elvis may have left the building.... but.... he came back... and he never left the building again.
