See hy do so many want Federal government jobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a senior manager at a NGO and covet a federal job because (1) the pay is a bit better, (2) I presume there will be less stress without the constant pressure to fundraise, (3) I still get to work in a mission-focused organization.

I'm a fed who makes a lot less than 150k, but am here for these exact reasons because I'm comparing to my experience in nonprofits.

[Anonymous]

Stability
No billable hours
No need to do development
Post retirement health insurance and some pension
Mission-driven
As a young attorney, got way more immediate hands-on litigation work than I ever would have at a big firm. I was first-chairing trials within two years.

[Anonymous]

I do international law and State/L is where it’s at. Most interesting work, easy to impose work/life boundaries (though I work way more than 40 hours), massive flexibility, awesome colleagues and just shy of a $200K paycheck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a fed and make almost 200k plus bonuses, have 26 days of vacation (over 15 years of service), work a 40 hr week on interesting topics and for a mission I believe in. Telework a lot too. I mean what’s not to like/want? My work life balance is pretty amazing - I work out regularly, am super present for my kids, etc. I’m not making as much as ppl I know who r in private companies but I’m definitely the least stressed and fulfilled.

That said, I’ve worked at 3 agencies and my current gig is the most functional and competent I’ve worked at so that def makes a difference. It can be a hit or miss.

OK, which agency are you at now?

[Anonymous]

Did not appreciate my Fed job until diagnosed with terminal health issue. Would seriously be up a creek in several ways had I not been a Fed. Sick leave alone an incredible benefit.

[Anonymous]

Decent pay, regular raises, pension, minimal effort, things move slowly so you can hide without getting much done without being penalized, tons of vacation time, telecommuting, metro subsidy, free expensive training, the ability to move from agency to agency easily, hard to be terminated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a fed and make almost 200k plus bonuses, have 26 days of vacation (over 15 years of service), work a 40 hr week on interesting topics and for a mission I believe in. Telework a lot too. I mean what’s not to like/want? My work life balance is pretty amazing - I work out regularly, am super present for my kids, etc. I’m not making as much as ppl I know who r in private companies but I’m definitely the least stressed and fulfilled.

That said, I’ve worked at 3 agencies and my current gig is the most functional and competent I’ve worked at so that def makes a difference. It can be a hit or miss.

Sounds like FinReg.

[Anonymous]

OP here. It’s interesting that there’s a pretty consistent narrative for seeking federal government work.

So, I have a follow up question. Most of you seem pretty happy with your federal government gig, yet you still complain A LOT. Square that for me. How can you be so aware of how good you have it and yet complain that you’re underpaid, for instance? When you say such things, do you temporarily forget the cost of your pension, days off, etc. The whining makes you seem ungrateful for what many of you have described as a pretty desirable situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s interesting that there’s a pretty consistent narrative for seeking federal government work.

So, I have a follow up question. Most of you seem pretty happy with your federal government gig, yet you still complain A LOT. Square that for me. How can you be so aware of how good you have it and yet complain that you’re underpaid, for instance? When you say such things, do you temporarily forget the cost of your pension, days off, etc. The whining makes you seem ungrateful for what many of you have described as a pretty desirable situation.

I think everyone complains about heir job even if it’s mostly okay.

For pay, if you look at comparisons, federal pay used to be equivalent to private sector *and* they got a pension. Now it is showing to lag behind private sector as much as 20% and Feds have to contribute a much higher percentage to the pension. We also get pushed around by the whims of the politicians (okay you can telework, just kidding, you can’t telework). I mean I know the same thing has happened in private sector, too.

Even with all of that it’s still better for me than any other job in my field - at least for now because I have a family and need the leave time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s interesting that there’s a pretty consistent narrative for seeking federal government work.

So, I have a follow up question. Most of you seem pretty happy with your federal government gig, yet you still complain A LOT. Square that for me. How can you be so aware of how good you have it and yet complain that you’re underpaid, for instance? When you say such things, do you temporarily forget the cost of your pension, days off, etc. The whining makes you seem ungrateful for what many of you have described as a pretty desirable situation.

Now we get to the reason why OP is posting in the first place.

OP, you assume that the same feds on here that know they have it good and appreciative of their benefits are the same ones who are also whining. Perhaps if you had asked your question more generally, instead of pointing the finger at the feds on this thread who answered you...

[Anonymous]

Some reasons:

- The pay is decent enough, especially in a dual-income household. Two federal employees at GS14-10 will make about $350k HHI, which is enough for most people.

- Guaranteed job security. You cannot be laid off for economic reasons, for being too old, etc. You can work past 65 if you really want.

- Related, you don’t need to worry things like keeping clients, business development, generating revenue, etc. You can focus solely on your work.

- After 15 years you’ll get about five weeks paid vacation, and you can use it on vacations of any length. In the private sector it can be hard to take even two weeks off, but in the government, if you’ve got five weeks or more saved up, it’s no problem to take a month off to travel or whatever (without checking email).

- The work is less stressful IMO. I know many federal employees who work long hours, but it’s not quite the same as in the private sector where you may be forced to work all weekend without advanced notice for something critical or to keep a major client.

I actually think the benefits kind of suck (other than vacation time). Assuming you’re not grandfathered in and pay nothing toward retirement, contributing 4.4% of your salary for the pension doesn’t seem like a great deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some reasons:

- The pay is decent enough, especially in a dual-income household. Two federal employees at GS14-10 will make about $350k HHI, which is enough for most people.

- Guaranteed job security. You cannot be laid off for economic reasons, for being too old, etc. You can work past 65 if you really want.

- Related, you don’t need to worry things like keeping clients, business development, generating revenue, etc. You can focus solely on your work.

- After 15 years you’ll get about five weeks paid vacation, and you can use it on vacations of any length. In the private sector it can be hard to take even two weeks off, but in the government, if you’ve got five weeks or more saved up, it’s no problem to take a month off to travel or whatever (without checking email).

- The work is less stressful IMO. I know many federal employees who work long hours, but it’s not quite the same as in the private sector where you may be forced to work all weekend without advanced notice for something critical or to keep a major client.

I actually think the benefits kind of suck (other than vacation time). Assuming you’re not grandfathered in and pay nothing toward retirement, contributing 4.4% of your salary for the pension doesn’t seem like a great deal.

Actually, by today's standards, for a pension 4.4% is a pretty good deal, as much as I don't like it. A family member of mine is a teacher in Arizona and she pays in 11% of her pay towards her state pension.

[Anonymous]

I want the socialized health insurance after retirement and am happy to work for it.

Too bad we can’t all have such health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s interesting that there’s a pretty consistent narrative for seeking federal government work.

So, I have a follow up question. Most of you seem pretty happy with your federal government gig, yet you still complain A LOT. Square that for me. How can you be so aware of how good you have it and yet complain that you’re underpaid, for instance? When you say such things, do you temporarily forget the cost of your pension, days off, etc. The whining makes you seem ungrateful for what many of you have described as a pretty desirable situation.

You could say that about anything ^^
People on here complain about family and kids, but they know they have it better than a lot of other people.

There are always aspects of a job, fed or not that trigger complaints (boss, commute, RTO, more pay).
It's human nature.

You act like you've never complained about something - job or otherwise- despite knowing you have a desirable situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a senior manager at a NGO and covet a federal job because (1) the pay is a bit better, (2) I presume there will be less stress without the constant pressure to fundraise, (3) I still get to work in a mission-focused organization.

Yeah we don’t do fundraising except for admin day (gift for secretaries)

LOL! If you even have Admins…..we don’t have them in my office.

And for a party where you have to pay like $15 pp for a Chipotle buffet. Happy holidays!