Corporate Life vs Fed Employment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Making 170k with the feds, I could ride this out for 20 years and retire early.

I need a truly big jump in compensation to consider switching. My number is 400k, excluding 401k match, health insurance etc. Otherwise, it makes no sense to go corporate

I'm making $250k with the feds, my number is more like $600k to go corporate to make up for the likelihood that i'd be laid off in a few years. I got to a third round interview for a position in that range, but didn't quite pull it off.

Hmm, yeah if people won't be satisified with the risk and work life imbalance of corporate world unless making $400k+, I can see why people are boomeranging.

[Anonymous]

There are people in my office that will talk for hours about how much work they do and how they are not lazy at all. For hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are people in my office that will talk for hours about how much work they do and how they are not lazy at all. For hours.

Cool story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well in your scenario I assume you are making $800k or so, like 4x the salary. These were fairly lateral moves making $250k, so maybe $75k over their GS14/15 salaries.

It’s not linear, and thinking it is shows you have no clue what you’re talking about. Going from gs15 at 150k with no bonus to 250k total comp is still something that would allow someone ti retire way earlier assuming no lifestyle creep.

My salary as a GS14 is $180k and the pension is worth about $30k (early FERS). $46k after tax is something, but once you factor in the risk of layoffs it’s an actuarial wash. You best be planning to retire early because you will be laid off well before 62 in corporate unless you have leapfrogged into the executive suite. And then you are making serious money, so it’s really just : how likely are you to rise up the ladder?

Not to mention health insurance benefits into retirement. 250K is way too low to make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Making 170k with the feds, I could ride this out for 20 years and retire early.

I need a truly big jump in compensation to consider switching. My number is 400k, excluding 401k match, health insurance etc. Otherwise, it makes no sense to go corporate

As of anyone wants a lazy bone for 400k

Sure this PP is lazy, but as OP I am far from it — but I do have young children and somewhat surprised by how many of my colleagues left to private and boomeranged within 2-3 years, and if it’s just not compatible to our lifestyle?

Plenty, and I mean PLENTY of corporate men and women have young children.

It’s a matter of what you’re willing to trade off. Time or money? Sometimes no trade off is even needed, and you may find both. Some corporate jobs are cush.

I do feel like your work has the potential to be more interesting in corporate, depending on the company, role and level you land in. Low level corporate jobs can suck and be a boring grind. The work definitely gets more interesting as you climb the ladder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Making 170k with the feds, I could ride this out for 20 years and retire early.

I need a truly big jump in compensation to consider switching. My number is 400k, excluding 401k match, health insurance etc. Otherwise, it makes no sense to go corporate

As of anyone wants a lazy bone for 400k

Sure this PP is lazy, but as OP I am far from it — but I do have young children and somewhat surprised by how many of my colleagues left to private and boomeranged within 2-3 years, and if it’s just not compatible to our lifestyle?

Plenty, and I mean PLENTY of corporate men and women have young children.

It’s a matter of what you’re willing to trade off. Time or money? Sometimes no trade off is even needed, and you may find both. Some corporate jobs are cush.

I do feel like your work has the potential to be more interesting in corporate, depending on the company, role and level you land in. Low level corporate jobs can suck and be a boring grind. The work definitely gets more interesting as you climb the ladder.

But how exactly does it work with kids and working till 6-7pm and weekend on calls or travel?

Sure there are corporate parents but usually they have a part-time/SAH or maybe teacher co-parent. Or just hire a ton of nannies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ive done both. hypocrisy was worse with the feds. pay is better in corporate. stability better in feds. benefits better in corporate.

None of which I was really talking about — I’m talking about huge demands of time, excessive criticism, and long hours and extreme expectations.

Sociopaths usually get put in charge in corporations. I have dealt with a few while working as a fed, but a lower proportion than leaders in the corporate world

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ive done both. hypocrisy was worse with the feds. pay is better in corporate. stability better in feds. benefits better in corporate.

None of which I was really talking about — I’m talking about huge demands of time, excessive criticism, and long hours and extreme expectations.

Sociopaths usually get put in charge in corporations. I have dealt with a few while working as a fed, but a lower proportion than leaders in the corporate world

I can recall some very sociopathic politicians

[Anonymous]

In my opinion the sociopaths are in government.

At least in the private sector, the profit motive is front and center for all to see. In government, there is only the bureaucratic will to power, where petty tyrants can exercise influence that vastly outstrips their personal ability to impress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Making 170k with the feds, I could ride this out for 20 years and retire early.

I need a truly big jump in compensation to consider switching. My number is 400k, excluding 401k match, health insurance etc. Otherwise, it makes no sense to go corporate

As of anyone wants a lazy bone for 400k

Sure this PP is lazy, but as OP I am far from it — but I do have young children and somewhat surprised by how many of my colleagues left to private and boomeranged within 2-3 years, and if it’s just not compatible to our lifestyle?

Plenty, and I mean PLENTY of corporate men and women have young children.

It’s a matter of what you’re willing to trade off. Time or money? Sometimes no trade off is even needed, and you may find both. Some corporate jobs are cush.

I do feel like your work has the potential to be more interesting in corporate, depending on the company, role and level you land in. Low level corporate jobs can suck and be a boring grind. The work definitely gets more interesting as you climb the ladder.

But how exactly does it work with kids and working till 6-7pm and weekend on calls or travel?

Sure there are corporate parents but usually they have a part-time/SAH or maybe teacher co-parent. Or just hire a ton of nannies.

So are there corporate jobs where people leave by 4pm? Or do they all just have driving nannies ?