What to Do - Finally Got Federal Job But I HATE It

[Anonymous]

I need help! I recently started work at my first federal job (recent, meaning have been here about 4 months). I absolutely hate working here and feel trapped. I was interviewed virtually so could not really get a sense of/feel for the culture of the office until I started. I knew on day one that it was a huge mistake and after doing some digging realized this agency is ranked almost dead last in those annual work surveys and I can easily see why.

The main reasons I dislike the job are that it is extremely unprofessional - everyone is extremely loud, lots of cursing, constant gossiping and I feel like literally, barely anyone is working. They will sit in each others offices for hours talking at the top of their lungs about the most mundane things - recipes, working out, hot guys on instagram, etc. And I am not exaggerating when I say hours - sometimes for a full two hours upon arriving at work or right after lunch. This would be fine if there was a way to have my own space but the office suite itself is tiny, the walls are super thin and the hallways are very narrow, so you can't help but hear everything. Also, management is lazy and not invested, takes really long vacations, constant long weekends and has essentially delegated "training" to my co-workers, who will assist with telling me how to do a task or training when they feel like it but not necessarily when I ask or when I need it. For example (we are hybrid a few days), I will ask for help on a task that is due the next day and instead of responding, my co-worker will schedule a meeting a week or so in advance to discuss what needs to be done to complete a task that is due today in order to avoid doing any work on a day we are working from home. The supervisors don't address these issues because essentially, they have delegated their jobs to the staff. And the result is that my professional growth here is stunted because it is dependent upon someone feeling like helping me learn these new tasks. I don't get the sense that they dislike me - it just seems like this is just how they do things and the way to not have to work too hard is to slow down information sharing and training so only they know what to do so you can't do it faster.

What can I do to survive? Just FYI, I am about 15 years out of school (so not maybe mid-career or not quite there) and generally, I do compliance work. The office is mostly paralegals but I am not one. I am miserable and honestly, am not interested in going to a new federal agency because I fear it would be much of the same.

[Anonymous]

I’ve worked in multiple agencies and have never experienced or heard of anything like this.

[Anonymous]

Lateral to another division. There's always a need for another lawyer with subject matter expertise.

It's also easier to apply for new federal jobs once you're already in the federal government. Suck it up for the next few months and start applying.

[Anonymous]

First, buy yourself some noise canceling headphones. Put them on when you work and put some music or something in the background of your computer while you work. They will cancel out the loud gossiping and chatter that distracts you.

Second, look for ways that you can make your group or, at least, your work, more efficient. I know you are still ramping up, but once you learn how they do something, you can look for ways to make it more effective, especially if you can find a way to make something work with fewer people involved, so that you rely on fewer co-workers to complete tasks.

Last, as another PP cited, look for other divisions/departments within your agency to lateral move to. In an agency like that, you will probably find a number of openings where people have bailed and you might be able to find one that is more to your liking or, at least, less to your disliking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve worked in multiple agencies and have never experienced or heard of anything like this.

Really? This sounds like DH’s office.

Get headphones, OP. Figure stuff out yourself as much as possible, keep your head down, and look for other opportunities.

[Anonymous]

How long did it take you from application to interview to security review? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think you might be our latest hire. Sorry OP. The management is useless and yes, long time staff is doing their jobs for them while they simultaneously make more busy work for us. Schedule a coffee or two with your colleagues and find someone that you get along with to help you out. If you see me in person you should stop by and talk to me about what you might not understand. I’m in on my scheduled days like clockwork. And yeah, we chat a lot in the office because the rest of the week we are redlining with work at home. Maybe work at home more than you have been to get some quiet.

[Anonymous]

Np, and you just described my current fed office to a "T." If it makes you feel better, it was much worse before Covid when we were all full-time in person.

Now that we have hybrid work schedules, I intentionally select in-office days when the loud coworkers telework. And you are right, management is useless in rectifying the situation.

I received a job offer and will be leaving soon, and this is one office I won't miss.

[Anonymous]

Wow! I am so sorry. I am 4 months in to a federal job and hate it as well. I thought I could tough it out for a year. Nope.

Just start looking. And hang in there.

It could be worse. You could have my job - which is worse.

[Anonymous]

Are they hiring? I’m looking for a lazy girl (midlife menopause) job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you might be our latest hire. Sorry OP. The management is useless and yes, long time staff is doing their jobs for them while they simultaneously make more busy work for us. Schedule a coffee or two with your colleagues and find someone that you get along with to help you out. If you see me in person you should stop by and talk to me about what you might not understand. I’m in on my scheduled days like clockwork. And yeah, we chat a lot in the office because the rest of the week we are redlining with work at home. Maybe work at home more than you have been to get some quiet.

loving this reply.

[Anonymous]

Do you work at the IRS? this was my experience as a GS-15 there and I did not make it a year. It was AWFUL.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thanks for all of your responses. I've almost posted about this before but today was the breaking point. I actually cried because this is such a big mistake and I dread job hunting again. At least I'm not alone.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, OP. I had a terrible job similar to that but I was a government contractor working on site. There was very little work to do and everyone worked slowly. The government clients didn’t appear to do much, showed up very late to work, argued with each other, etc.

I taught myself new skills and eventually found a new job.

The clients were only moderately annoying (and not evil) but I was so very bored. My spouse just could not believe I had a job where I got paid to do very little.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been in this position, but it sometimes takes me years to find another lateral fed job…how do you all manage to keep plodding along? I honestly already had depression now I am totally dead inside.

decent paying jobs in my series are rare, and they write the qualifications so specifically for the 13 and 14 that you need to have had the exact job before to even get an interview.