 "High-IQ, 80+ hours of work, no pay: What are the qualifications to apply for Elon Musk’s DOGE job?")
US President-elect Donald Trump has created a new Department of Government Efficiency to slash federal expenditures.
The unconventional department, known as DOGE , is led by billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and aims to trim the US budget.
With a deadline of July 4, 2026, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States, the department will collaborate with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget, according to Reuters.
Even though its role is not official, the department has already begun accepting resumes.
Let’s take a closer look.
What are the requirements?
The new DOGE X account, which already has 1.2 million followers, posted the job application offer on Thursday.
The post does not specify the level of education or work experience that the recruiter is looking for, however, it outlines their ideal candidate: “We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.”
It added that it doesn’t want “more part-time idea generators.”
Although the DOGE account was not accessible when the job posting was initially made, the job posting instructed interested candidates to DM the account with their resume.
“Your first job in making things more efficient is to actually open up your DMs,” one person pointed out.
Even after opening the access, not all X users were able to send their CVs.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsOnly verified accounts or accounts that DOGE follows can DM the account. The account does not follow any other X users, and platform verification costs $84 annually.
According to the DOGE account, Musk and Ramaswamy will only assess the “top one per cent of applicants.”
How the candidates will be ranked wasn’t clear either.
What about salary?
The salary range and incentives were not mentioned in the post.
However, Musk claimed in another post that the 80-per-week position pays “zero.”
“Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies and compensation is zero. What a great deal!” the Tesla CEO wrote.
We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s…
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) November 14, 2024
Musk clarified that the unpaid positions would “greatly help America,” according to NBC News.
What’s the reaction?
The hiring post has garnered a mixed response from people.
A netizen asked, “Anything over 40 hours will be paid overtime right?"
While another one commented his IQ was “104” (four points above highest score possible).
A third one chipped in, “I’d love to join here’s my resume: - B+ in Science. JV soccer team (2 years). Can eat >10 Oreos in one sitting. Owner of several Dogecoins. Can burp the alphabet. Can run fast (top 25 per cent of class).”
I’d love to join here’s my resume:
— greg (@greg16676935420) November 14, 2024
- B+ in Science
- JV soccer team (2 years)
- Can eat >10 Oreos in one sitting
- Owner of several Dogecoins
- Can burp the alphabet
- Can run fast (top 25% of class)
Republican Valentina Gomez responded, “But I’m ready to cut & make a dent on that outstanding budget. TSI, IRS, ATF are the first to go.”
What’s the role of DOGE?
In his statement on Tuesday announcing the effort, Trump said the panel would “provide advice and guidance from outside of government” on slimming down the government, cutting regulations, reducing spending, and restructuring federal agencies.
The panel is anticipated to operate without official Senate confirmation, enabling both leaders to continue their business responsibilities while providing advice to the administration, Trump said.
In an effort to be transparent, Musk said the panel will post its “actions” for public comment.
“Anytime the public thinks we are cutting something important or not cutting something wasteful, just let us know!” he said on X.
He also mentioned creating a list of “dumb” spending, which he noted would be “extremely entertaining.”
Musk said at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in October that the federal budget could be reduced by “at least” $2 trillion. He declared, “Your money is being wasted, and the Department of Government Efficiency is going to fix that.”
On Tuesday, Ramaswamy said the panel would “soon begin crowdsourcing” examples of government waste and alleged fraud.
Ramaswamy added the next day X that the panel will have a legal mandate given recent decisions by the Supreme Court the curtailed the power of regulators.
The sources of funding and the size of DOGE’s budget are unknown. It is also unclear whether Ramaswamy, who is thought to have a $1 billion net worth and the world’s richest person, Musk, will receive compensation for their work.
With inputs from agencies
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