Do you think federal service will ever be a desirable or stable career path again?

[Anonymous]

Facing a fork in the road. I’m thinking of leaving federal service way before I ever wanted or imagined. I thought I’d be at it at least another 15 years, yet my agency is under attack and I can’t live with the constant and oppressive uncertainty. Is this a time to hunker down and grit my teeth till things get better (I love my job) or is this the end of the road?

[Anonymous]

If you work at dept of education then leave.

[Anonymous]

Exactly what’s bothering you personally? Think small - what specific things bother you enough to consider changing path?

[Anonymous]

I think “federal service” is too broad for the question. I think some parts will be fine, some parts won’t. I’m not savvy enough to guess where to go, though! I don’t think private sector will be more stable unless your skill set involves being a rainmaker, so jumping ship likely won’t help with that.

[Anonymous]

Current administration wants to eliminate the "my job is guaranteed safe" mentality that is common in the civil service. They want people in the civil service who are there despite the job not being safe or guaranteed.

[Anonymous]

Of course. Just not with this administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think “federal service” is too broad for the question. I think some parts will be fine, some parts won’t. I’m not savvy enough to guess where to go, though! I don’t think private sector will be more stable unless your skill set involves being a rainmaker, so jumping ship likely won’t help with that.

Thanks for your response. I have a solid offer in the private sector.

[Anonymous]

You can always come back. Leave your TSP and FERS in.

[Anonymous]

I’d leave. At the very least it will be misery for the next 3 years. If things turn around at some point you could probably go back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current administration wants to eliminate the "my job is guaranteed safe" mentality that is common in the civil service. They want people in the civil service who are there despite the job not being safe or guaranteed.

I took the fork. My new private sector job is actually very safe. It also offers 9x the salary I made in gov. The downside is that I’m now working evil, not good— but gov now is also evil, so I didn’t lose anything.

[Anonymous]

The only reason I stayed in gov is because I believed in the mission. I don’t anymore, so the “safety” of the job means nothing to me.

[Anonymous]

There are lots of people in the Heritage foundation who believe in the mission. They will welcome federal service jobs.

[Anonymous]

If you are non-brown, you could roll the dice…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current administration wants to eliminate the "my job is guaranteed safe" mentality that is common in the civil service. They want people in the civil service who are there despite the job not being safe or guaranteed.

I took the fork. My new private sector job is actually very safe. It also offers 9x the salary I made in gov. The downside is that I’m now working evil, not good— but gov now is also evil, so I didn’t lose anything.

9x??! That seems...unrealistic.

[Anonymous]

No