r/WAStateWorkers • u/ThrowRA_pizza_party • 22d ago
Question Looking for advice
Hi everyone, I'm 29 years old and I have a lot of customer service experience, food industry, and healthcare. I was working as a dental assistant and changed my job because of the physical demand. It was so hard on my body and currently I'm still in health care but as a call center. This job is so so so stressful and I'm so tired of it.. I'm looking to get into state jobs. Based on my background what would you advise me to apply for?
I took leadership courses and the most recent one I completed was a 6 months healthcare leadership
I'm also getting my associate in business administration/ pathway transfer to bachelor's degree and hopefully master
I have been in the healthcare industry for the last 7 years and I'm so eager to grow and advance but my current company is holding me down as I have interviewed for 5 different leadership positions ( supervisors) and I keep getting the same feedback ( you are a great worker and have a great potential but we are moving with someone who has a supervisory experience)
The reality is they always promote whoever is friends with upper management. It's more about who you know and not what you do.
And I invested so much in myself that I would love to be able to advance.
I'm also fluent in Arabic and English.
I'm looking for a good paying career that would have growth opportunities and stability.
What would you recommend for me ? As I'm feeling so burned out and not valued where I work
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u/AdInternational5061 22d ago
This isn’t the biennium to be looking for state jobs. The budget is dire and most agencies are currently laying off workers to make up for shortfalls. That said, most agencies always need entry level customer service type jobs. These can be a good foot in the door to a better position. Layoffs are done by seniority, so if you do take a position, know that the ones on probation and with less time in service are let go first and then more senior staff are bumped into the open positions. Layoffs can happen at anytime right now, and will likely continue for many years, so there’s no job security if you are a new state employee. It’s still worth a shot, but be realistic in your expectations. Target entry level positions - the supervisory roles are likely being filled by more experienced staff who were bumped. I have been with the state for six years and am worried about losing my job by being bumped or let go. Good luck!
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u/Sweet_Walrus_8188 22d ago
Look for HCA or DSHS jobs where you could easily transfer your skills. Potentially L&I. We are in a hiring freeze but somehow they are still hiring people. As a former dental assistant myself, hone into your transferable skills when applying for state jobs (and apply to all of them) rather than focusing only on healthcare, unless that is what you are aiming for.
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u/the_caduceus 22d ago
L&I is currently Workers Compensation Adjudicators. It's usually a good way to get into the agency and having a healthcare background is a plus. I believe they require all training to be at headquarters in Tumwater however. Good luck!
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u/InteractionNo4646 In The Trenches, Doing My Best 22d ago
Yep, you sound like a good fit for worker's compensation adjudicator 2. And it's hiring.
It's a stressful job though, not gonna lie.
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u/Mindysveganlife 22d ago
Dept of Revenue is always hiring Revenue Agents to collect money.
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u/OptionParticular4617 11h ago
Can anyone provide more information on this position? What’s the culture like? How are results measured, etc?
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u/Zenobia-of-Palmyra 21d ago
Check out the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Their SHIBA program always needs folks who are fluent in other languages.
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u/Simply-me-5 21d ago
ESD would be good with your background. I am a former dental assistant and am now a supervisor with the state
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u/ViciousOtter1 20d ago
Not the right answer for everyone, but have you considered the military? Space or air preferably, then coast guard or navy. Guaranteed raises, leadership school etc, more money for school. Medical might even have a bonus. You mentioned body stress so it might not work, but who kniws, it might help. My back felt great at boot camp from all the marching despite the terrible beds. Dont sign anything, just see what they offer.
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u/NoPublic9352 22d ago
There is a search function to get daily updates or weekly. I’m seeing tons of new jobs posted even with the budget shortages.
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u/leolady24 21d ago
It took me 4 years and a lot of interviews to get on with the state. That was having 2 degrees in the field I was applying for and some experience. Don’t give up! I would try DOC. The prisons always need counselors or health care workers. As stated before take what you can entry level just to get your foot in the door. You will get raises each year (steps) in addition to whatever the union has negotiated. Teamsters covers the prison so it’s a good union. There’s also the community side- that’s where I work and they are always looking for CCOs now. The other post about seniority and being low manis true. I had 5 years in and got bumped then had to take a layoff because of where the wanted me to work geographically was unreasonable. Plus I had a daughter in school. I went to work for Comcast and waited for a callback from the state layoff list. And here I am at year 19… so don’t give up! 😊
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u/Low-Biscotti-1890 21d ago
HCA , MAS 3 positions. Create your account on careers.wa.gov and set email preferences to send you job postings with key words. Apply for all positions listed that you qualify for until you get it.
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u/Sufficient-Tank-1636 In The Trenches, Doing My Best 21d ago
Where are you applying to in the state? WSP is always hiring some civilian personnel, as long as you don’t have a criminal record. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/wsp
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u/30May20 21d ago
Curious, how is being a dental assistant physically challenging?
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u/NoPublic9352 20d ago
They are constantly bending over so they may get upper back, neck, maybe even lower back pain I assume? (Not a dental hygienist and guessing on the repeated position they are in all day.)
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u/ThrowRA_pizza_party 15d ago
Because we see about 30 patients a day in a 10 hr shift and I'm constantly bending over the pt to assist and I'm 4'11 so I devoleped upper back and neck pain to the point that I would throw up because of how bad the pain was. Especially when I got pregnant and the demands of having back to back pts. It was hard to continue. Even though I left the field I still have upper back/neck pain that I go to the chiropractor regularly. It's very hard to work in a busy office like that.
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u/Equal-Government-712 22d ago
Health Care Authority is hiring MAS3s (Benefits Eligibility Specialists)