EDD transfer to county jobs? Anyone made the switch after federal layoff?

I made this exact switch last year! Was with USPS for 8 years before getting laid off, and now I work for Alameda County. The hiring process took about 5 weeks from application to start date. Your federal experience definitely gives you an advantage - they're desperate for people who understand government systems. Your retirement is different (CalPERS vs federal), but you can roll over your TSP into a 457b. The pay was actually better for me at county level, and the work-life balance improved dramatically. Don't wait on EDD - I had issues with my claim for months because they kept requesting additional verification about my federal position.

if ur in sj area santa clara county has TONS of jobs rn!! they were at a job fair i went to last week and the lady said they have over 2000 vacancies countywide. better benefits than fed jobs 2

I worked for both the federal government (DOJ) and later San Mateo County. Here's what you need to know about the transition: 1. County hiring can be much faster than federal (2-6 weeks vs. 3-6 months) 2. Your experience will translate well, especially if you're familiar with regulatory compliance 3. Your federal time doesn't count toward county pension vesting, but the pay is often better to compensate 4. The interview process is typically 2-3 rounds and much less formal than federal panels Meanwhile, for your EDD claim - you need to make sure you've submitted the Standard Form 8 (SF-8) from your federal employer. Federal employees have different claim processing requirements, and without this form, your claim will stay pending. Call EDD directly about your federal employee status if you haven't already.

My cousin got laid off from EPA last year and ended up at a county health department. She said it was the best move she ever made! Less bureaucracy and more impact.

I've been trying for 2 MONTHS to get through to EDD about my federal service verification!!! They keep saying they need to transfer me to a "federal claims specialist" but then I get disconnected EVERY TIME! So frustrating!!! Meanwhile bills are piling up and I'm about to lose my apartment. The county application process is taking forever too - applied to 6 positions and only heard back from 1 for an interview. This system is BROKEN beyond belief!!

I made the switch from federal (HHS) to San Francisco County about 8 months ago. The hardest part was honestly the weird limbo period where I was waiting for both EDD payments and the county hiring process to finish. If you have specific questions about the SF County hiring process, happy to share my experience. There are definitely advantages to county work - more flexibility in many roles, sometimes better pay depending on your classification, and honestly the county systems can be less dysfunctional than some federal systems.

One other thing to consider - many county jobs have a probationary period (usually 6-12 months) before you're fully protected by civil service rules. This is different from federal where it's typically a year regardless of position. During county probation, they can let you go more easily, so just be aware of that difference. That said, with their staffing shortages, it's unlikely to be an issue unless you really don't perform.

my friend works 4 santa clara county says they hiring like crazy in social services, public works, and IT especially...told me they need ppl with govt experience bad

Regarding your pending EDD claim - as a former federal employee, your claim requires additional processing steps. EDD needs to verify your wages through the federal system rather than state tax records. Make sure you've completed Form SF-8 properly. If your claim has been pending for 3+ weeks, I strongly recommend calling EDD directly and specifically mentioning you're a former federal employee. Ask to speak with a tier 2 specialist who handles federal claims. The regular representatives often don't know how to properly process these claims.

my brother works for alameda county after getting laid off from usda and he loves it. says the culture is way better and less political.

The county hiring process is FAR from perfect, but it's generally faster than federal. When I applied to San Francisco County, I had my first interview about 2 weeks after applying. Then a second interview a week later. Got the offer about 10 days after that. Started work about 3 weeks later (background check, etc). So all in, about 7-8 weeks from application to first day. My EDD claim took almost that long to process, which was nerve-wracking. I did get backpay for all the weeks I certified though.

UGHHH I finally got through to EDD yesterday after trying for WEEKS and they told me my federal claim needs ANOTHER review from some special department!!! This is absolute INSANITY. Meanwhile rent is due TOMORROW and I have no idea what to do. These county job applications are taking forever too - why do I need to upload my resume AND fill out all the same info in their system?? Makes no sense!!!

One thing that helped me with the transition was applying for county jobs while still going through the EDD process. If you're strategic about it, you can time things so you get a few weeks of unemployment benefits while going through interviews, then hopefully start your new job before benefits run out. Just make sure to stop certifying for EDD once you start working!