Transition from school system to Fed?

[Anonymous]

I’m not in the classroom and have a very flexible job that is not super fulfilling. I’m comfortable with my salary due to the flexibility. I’ve been in the system for 15 years so I’m halfway to retirement.

A friend wants me to interview for a fed position on their team and while the salary is similar, it’s a more administrative role.

I may just interview to see what happens but I’m not sure about starting over at this stage of my life. I imagine I’m not going to have the flexibility I have now, which I need to get kids to practices and activities. The job is 3 days remote but much more structured than my current job. I pretty much can make my own hours now. I’m not fulfilled in my current role and I think I could hop around in gov quickly just not sure if it’s worth making that kind of switch now?

Feds, what would you do?

[Anonymous]

Interview and see. I switched from municipal gov to fed. The federal pension is not that good. Even the health benefits are not that impressive. But the fed salary is so much better than what I was making that my pension will be more with 15 years fed + 15 years municipal than with 30 years municipal, even though the municipal multiplier was bigger (2%/year vs 1.1%/year for the feds).

If the salary is comparable and you get salary increase every year, maybe stay where you are.

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids?

I'm unclear on the salary trade-offs and culture of your potential office. My particular fed job used to be super stressful when the kids were younger due school snow days and other days off and the need to plan summer camp. Certainly, my kids have not been able to participate in some sports activities due to their parents' lack of work flexibility. I know that that there is a lot of "woe is me" among those working for school systems but you just have no idea how stressful the juggle can be.