Band directors teach middle school and high school students how to play musical instruments alone and in groups. Music brings a joy to many students that band directors themselves found in their own school days. Band directors help students discover and refine their musical talents.

This job can be incredibly rewarding as band directors help students develop their musical prowess. Like other teachers, they must deal with discipline problems, but these problems present themselves less in elective courses than they do in required courses. Students choose to take band classes, and band directors sometimes have the freedom to kick out chronic misbehavers.

Band directors work closely with parents who volunteer their time and labor toward the betterment of the school's band program. These parents are invaluable allies in advocating for more resources.

Read more: Government Job Profile: Band Director

Earlier this month, the employees of the newly formed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau selected the National Treasury Employees Union to represent its more than 800 staff members. NTEU represents employees at a host of federal financial agencies. The union has been in the news recently taking a strong stance against furloughs at the Internal Revenue Service.

CFPB was established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. Since then, people have been working to get the agency operational. Among those people is Rich Cordray who was appointed as the agency's first director in January 2012.

CFPB's charge is to protect consumers in financial markets. According to the CFPB website, the agency's mission is "to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans -- whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products."

If you or a colleague is demoted, the tendency around the office is to speculate and gossip about what happened. One of the key strategies for making a smooth demotion transition is for the demoted employee to head off gossip.

Rumors will be spread. There is no way to completely eliminate that. But much like politicians or celebrities mired in scandal, the best thing to do is get ahead of the story.

The demoted employee does not have to hold a mock press conference in front of co-workers, but the rumors must be addressed head-on. Demoted employees should set the record straight and be open about what details they're not willing to discuss.

Read more: How to Make a Smooth Demotion Transition

Last week President Barack Obama issued an executive order directing federal agencies to close the salary gap between men and women working in the federal government. Obama said he wants the federal government to be an example for other employers to follow.

He directed the US Office of Personnel Management to issue a report providing a "governmentwide strategy to address any gender pay gap in the federal workforce." The report is due 180 days after the executive order's May 10 issue date. He also directed federal agencies to analyze their pay and promotion policies and provide that analysis to OPM within 90 days.

You can read more about the executive order in a Government Executive story.