loan specialist

attorney

loan officer

paralegal

loan assistant

U.S. Small Business Administration

This job has been a good opportunity to broaden my knowledge of business and financial management. The most enjoyable part of this job has been working with military personnel at Fort Bliss, TX. I also serve as liaison with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and with the local Native American tribe, the Tiguas.

To enhance my understanding of business principles and practices, I have taken a course of work offered by the local Small Business Development Center. Through this Small Business Management Institute program, I am now able to analyze business plans, work ratios to determine the health of a company, and put together strategic marketing plans. This program was self-financed.

The hardest part of this job is doing file analysis for my 8(a) business clients. Since this process is new to me, and there is no formal training available, I am learning how to do this "piecemeal". I like to learn things utilizing proprietary training courses, which the SBA has no funds to finance.

A typical day at work for me will depend on the time of the month. During the last two weeks of the month, I focus on preparing for and then delivering the "Boots to Business" workshop. This is a program created by the SBA with Syracuse University to teach transitioning military personnel at Fort Bliss about how to start their own businesses. This is the most enjoyable aspect of my job.

During the remainder of the month, I maybe be doing outreach and educational activities with SCORE, the Tiguas or Veterans organization in the community. I serve as the veteran business liaison in our office, so these activities are priorities for me. Other days I am in the office, reviewing 8(a) program files and passing along pertinent information to my portfolio of companies that might help them grow their businesses.

I also serve as backup Public Information Officer and payroll technician. I have been tasked with organizing and implementing the annual Small Business Week activities which include a variety of different procedures over the course of months, culminating in a Small Business Week Awards Luncheon in May.

When I first started working at this agency, I was really excited. The Small Business Administration has a great mission. Small businesses are the key to America's economy and I had the opportunity to work on a lot of high-profile projects through the PMF program. Those who make it through the extremely competitive PMF vetting process are supposed to receive: (1) growth and development opportunities and career development mentorship, (2) eighty hours of education and training opportunities each year, and (3) external developmental rotations with other agencies to "try out" other cultures and see where your best fit is in the federal service.

However, after the first few months, the agency started falling short on its promises. I found myself rotating from work station to work station because they had no permanent place for me. And, even though I came to them with two graduate degrees, I ended up as a glorified copy room assistant/mailroom clerk for four or five months -- doing nothing but putting together packets of materials they needed to ship out to the district offices.

They did eventually outsource this work and they allowed me to go on a few field visits. However, I was repeatedly asked to put in extra hours and log "comp time" which they never allowed me to take. It was always a dramatic production to take any of the leave I earned. And, I was asked to put off all of the education and training and the external developmental rotations for the first year.

Finally, after they front loaded all of the work and it was time for them to start paying for the education and training and the external developmental rotations, they renegged on their promises and terminated me. And, the agency did nothing about it. I would strongly urge PMFs to avoid this agency at all costs. If you make it through the vetting process, you're a commodity to the federal service and other agencies will take care of you a lot better than this one does.

Excellent health benefits, opportunity to build a good retirement nest egg, opportunities for advancement —although may be slow, strong internal & external human interaction, excellent work/balance, good vacations and leave benefits; you can make a difference and make a significant contribution to entrepreneurial development and Texas economic development; the office premises are very well managed by GSA, excellent and friendly security guards, fancy building (the DC bureaucrats love it), surrounded by ok places to have lunch; offices have a ok equipped kitchen.

On the negative side, the senior staff tend to think their many years in service entitles them to act like they own the place, gossipy, and excessively political; the SBA’s Administrator, Regional Administrators and key Department Heads are all political appointees every new presidential election; the political appointees march to the whims and wishes of the White House; some of the political appointees act like they know it all ( but a few are Outstanding); there can be some pushback from state and local government bureaucrats and leaders who may have reservations about teaming with a Federal agency; the 55 country service area for the San Antonio District Office can be challenging, given the Office’s limited staff, limited government issued vehicles, limited budget to pay for personal car mileage and over night stays; the physical location of the District Office is poor from a public and employee accessibility perspective (no free parking for employees and visitors, commute to downtown traffic, and not a safe area); Fiesta parade forces office to close and staff to either work remotely or take leave.

I worked almost a year as a temporary employee at SBA, and came away intensely disappointed.  The work is fine-- not deeply legal, but engaging-- but the management lived fully up to its reputation.  I've never witnessed worse people management.  Surprisingly, the work atmosphere is pretty good.  I enjoyed my time at SBA, even while knowing it couldn't end well.  Most of the employees behave professionally while at work.  But the constant threat of layoffs give the business a gallows humor, and the opaque treatment of layoffs is 180 degrees wrong.  

SBA repeatedly lays off workers just months from retirement; it made work hours less flexible (for bad reasons); decision making occurs in an intensely sclerotic hierarchy where one manager passes the buck to a higher one, forgetting the person affected by the decision.  Managers don't (or won't) communicate to workers how workers compare with others, so firings appear arbitrary, at best-- or corrupt at worse.  There's a soap-opera-worthy backstory to who's in charge and why, but the participants maintain professionalism, and the losers in the drama do not poison the well.  

The work itself is a mixed bag-- the SBA disaster loan program is a broken program, and the lawyers and paralegals in charge of implementing it have almost impossible tasks.  Management gets shuffled in and out in hopes that somebody can fix it, but the program itself is so full of conflicts and stupid requirements that I suspect any attempt to make it more efficient without simultaneous amendment of the statutes that govern the program will be frustrating and fruitless.

A typical day at work involves about 45 minutes of actual work, and 9+ hours of browsing the internet on my phone. At no time was I or any of my coworkers trained in how to use the archaic, SBA computer system. Policies have never been made clear regarding time reporting, time off, or general job function. If you're a hard worker, you will never have a productive conversation with your manager - the SBA does not run a loans program, they run a jobs program.

The office is a depressing, soul-sucking environment. The HR team hired indiscriminately, meaning hundreds of temporary staff work here, while they would be unemployable elsewhere. Theft between employees is a rampant problem, and cleanliness and hygiene are issues which have created a series of plagues that have spread throughout the office. My team currently has four sick employees (guess it's a good thing we have no work to do). There was a death related to an OD incident in the parking lot, and drug searches have been conducted multiple times. 

Oh yeah, and the building has bed bugs. Management claims they have treated the cubicles, but there are daily reports of bedbugs being found. It has gotten to the point that management has requested that we just "let them know" if we find another one.

I took this job hoping to make a positive difference and make some cash while I continued my job hunt. I did not realize what I was getting into. This should be a job of last resort.

Seriously, do not take this job for any reason other than a desperate need for an hourly rate.

There was no such thing as a "typical day".  Each day was dynamic and offered the opportunity to make a difference.  As a government agency, the SBA has capability to impact communities and small businesses through its capital programs, contracting programs, and education services.  I learned so much about what it takes to run a business, to build a community, and establish long term economic development.  As the senior manager for the District, I had virtually complete autonomy in my local decisions - local covered the State of Oregon and SW Washington State.  My team was comprised of top-notch professionals from banking, private sector, and other government agencies.  The staff did ä lot with a little" and made each effort count.  We delivered hundreds of presentations, training, media advisories, and other forms of outreach.  
The hardest part of the job was not having enough resources to do a dynamic job.  The status quo was anything but static - and we often had to surge quickly and emerging items became highest priority with little or no explanation or time to perform.  Yet, we pushed forward and delivered exceptional results when called upon.
The most enjoyable part of the job was serving the small business owners - in any capacity.  The passion of the entrepreneur is invigorating and I loved working with them every day.

First, I want to start off that while working I was also a full-time graduate student and a newly wed. Life was already chaotic with a lot of changes. So, if you are in my position where you are doing other things, this job is NOT for you. 

Second, this job requires A LOT of patience. People will be upset, angry, frustrated and do not mean to be taking it out on you. It is often said do not take it personal, but let's be real, it is easier said than done most times. Therefore, it will get stressful at times!

Third, management and supervisors have high expectations which can be both a good and bad thing. Good, in the sense of keeping a professional environment. Bad, when the supervisors/management act condescending in their communication with specialists. This is a message to all management/supervisors: You want to be respected, please respect your team members and realize they are all learning; they will not be experts overnight!!! And when you are wrong, please admit it, don't take your pride out on everyone on the team! A good mananger/supervisor will admit to their mistakes!!

Fourth, job is temporary. That is self-explanatory.

In conclusion, I think this job will be perfect for people who are not in school, single, naturally are patient people, and who are flexible to work overtime/weekends.

A typical day at work would include, a lot of admin, analysis, and communication. Several times a day i communicate with lender's and do initial analysis of all lender's applying for the 7a guaranty loan programs. 

I've learned several new things when it comes to the financial lending field, including Capital Adiquacy, Proper Loan Reporting, necessary and required loan experience, and Risk based assements. 

Although, we have multiple tiers of management, i work very often with my direct superviosr to provide support to the entire team of Financial Technicians and Financial Anylysts. I communicate everyday and ver well with my direct supervisor on a daily basis. 

Co-workers range from support staff to team leaders/supervisors. I generally work more with the support staff and my direct team lead/supervisor.

The Hardest part of the job is the attention to detail you must have to determine initial requirements at SBA. Lender's must meet the minimum requirements in several areas to be considered for review and approval to gain a guaranteed loan authority.

The most enjoyable part of my job would be how well my direct team lead/supervisor treats us and supports us as a staff. She makes it easy to do the job and gives us everything we need and fights for us to make sure we can do our jobs properly.    

•	Performs a variety of duties associated with providing disaster loan assistance to customers from across the United States, and in U. S. Territories and Commonwealths.
•	Review and analyze all pertinent loan application facts, determining eligibility and recommendations for loan applications
•	Write reports supporting recommendations and other conditions relative to the loan application.
•	Maintains effective portfolio management and records status of all loan disbursements and status of required documentation
•	Communicates with insurance carriers, financial institutions and other third parties to obtain relevant information for loan recommendations.
•	Prepare files in Disaster Credit Management System including pertinent details, analysis, and justifications to substantiate recommendations are in compliance with loan application
•	Performs administrative assignments relevant to various forms, reports, correspondence and other loan documents
Provide responses to inquiries from applicants, their representative/ agents, and others concerning status of applications, reasons for Agency actions. 

The hardest part of the job sometimes was the work hours......we would work 10hrs a day 7 days a week.
The most enjoyable part of the job was the co workers.

Have worked over the past year.  This is full-time temporary employment not permanent employment.  Temporary employment asks that you are able to travel on short notice. You may work in hazard conditions or in unsafe / not normal conditions depending on what natural disaster had occurred.  Management is very helpful and knowledgeable. Plenty of experienced staff to assist. Some on the job training but once you understand the procedures and flow it is relatively easy. Benefits are generally after 90 days. You do earn vacation and sick leave. You are required to work 7 days a week, up to 12 hour days, overtime is norm for a period of time depending on needs of those affected by a natural disaster. Provide customer service and financial services assistance. Travel is a plus, membership points, hotel stays, rental car, fuel, per diem for food allowance and competitive salary is a great way for those who could travel and are able to be hired temporary if needed or as intermittent / seasonal where more employment may be available. Average work period is 90 days unless otherwise instructed or based upon hiring. Able to leave on notice when called, possibly allow 1-2 weeks notice to current employer possible.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Loan specialist 5 salaries reported	$65,800 per year
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Paralegal 4 salaries reported	$62,625 per year
Loan assistant 6 salaries reported	$47,080 per year

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