Moving from government job to private sector--what's it like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't. You will work for a living. And you can get fired.

This. Lol

[Anonymous]

I was in the private sector before working for the feds and have been with the FG for 7 years. I'm not in a position that I want to stay in for another 20-25 years. There isn't any real growth where I am, and trying to get another FG job is like finding a needle in a haystack. I appreciate being employed but I'd rather not feel suicidal and work doing something I enjoy.

I have a co-worker that is working on her pre-reqs for nursing school. I am considering doing something health-care related as well. I need the stability and I also need to get away from desk work.

[Anonymous]

I don't know how old OP is but a lot of Feds go thru this phase early 30s when they finally realize (and understand) what they are in for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how old OP is but a lot of Feds go thru this phase early 30s when they finally realize (and understand) what they are in for.

Not the OP, but I am in my very early 30s. I really think it takes a certain personality to get a fed job and sit there for 35 years. A personality that I clearly don't have. My job is so soul sucking that I feel desperate to escape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in the private sector before working for the feds and have been with the FG for 7 years. I'm not in a position that I want to stay in for another 20-25 years. There isn't any real growth where I am, and trying to get another FG job is like finding a needle in a haystack. I appreciate being employed but I'd rather not feel suicidal and work doing something I enjoy.

I have a co-worker that is working on her pre-reqs for nursing school. I am considering doing something health-care related as well. I need the stability and I also need to get away from desk work.

You must be in the wrong field if finding another fed job is that difficult and you are already a fed.

[Anonymous]

Early 30's fed here. I go back and forth on this also and especially because I'm only a few years in and the money is tempting. But as a working mom at an awesome agency, there are benefits too good to walk away from. DH works in local government but now wants to pursue private and my job makes it easy to support that.

I agree that the work can be slow and boring. But I'm hoping to change series at some point to keep things interesting.

[Anonymous]

Most people stay and hate their jobs but love their flexibility as kids grow and you are there to take care of them. Some leave and never look back. Some leave and try to come back.

[Anonymous]

I've worked for both in my career. There are pros and cons of each. What I liked about the private sector is the metrics are very clear on your performance. Administrative things that take forever in the gov happen quickly and efficiently in the private sector. I found there to be less office politics in the private sector, but that is very dependent. Also, in the private sector projects have endings--it the gov it is hard to end a project or program. The pros of the gov are the mission related work e.g. policy work that doesn't happen in the private sector. The gov work isn't as tied to the bottom line as private sector work. In the gov you can take a broader view of your work (i.e, the focus isn't so much on the bottom line so you have more leaway to think beyond immediate payback). I like both types of work. I've worked for 3 gov agencies, a trade association and a consulting firm. As long as the work is interesting and I feel like I'm learning new things and accomplishing the "mission/job" I've been happy.

[Anonymous]

Another early 30s Fed here. Love my immediate work group and I have amazing benefits and flexibility. DO NOT love my job. My husband is also a Fed and I agree with the earlier poster that it is easier if one of you stays in (health insurance, benefits, access to childcare...).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in the private sector before working for the feds and have been with the FG for 7 years. I'm not in a position that I want to stay in for another 20-25 years. There isn't any real growth where I am, and trying to get another FG job is like finding a needle in a haystack. I appreciate being employed but I'd rather not feel suicidal and work doing something I enjoy.

I have a co-worker that is working on her pre-reqs for nursing school. I am considering doing something health-care related as well. I need the stability and I also need to get away from desk work.

You must be in the wrong field if finding another fed job is that difficult and you are already a fed.

Trust me, I know this. My position is very agency specific. I've applied for other jobs but I haven't been as agressive with my search as I should've been.

I'm torn on whether to stay or go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how old OP is but a lot of Feds go thru this phase early 30s when they finally realize (and understand) what they are in for.

+1. AKA "Golden handcuffs" issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crazy to leave the guaranteed retirement income.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how old OP is but a lot of Feds go thru this phase early 30s when they finally realize (and understand) what they are in for.

Not the OP, but I am in my very early 30s. I really think it takes a certain personality to get a fed job and sit there for 35 years. A personality that I clearly don't have. My job is so soul sucking that I feel desperate to escape.

My husband has that personality. I don't. So he stayed and I left. I think, personally, it's great to have one Fed in the family for the retirement, health insurance, flexibility and sick days! I have no pension, no sick days and much less flexibility in private.

[Anonymous]

I left after 17 years because I want to get back to bedside nursing and was sick of the substandard healthcare we delivered to our veterans. No guarantee of retirement, but I'm proud of what I do daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a fed also thinking of leaving. I worked in the private sector before taking my fed job 4 years ago. I work harder as a fed, with slightly better benefits but less salary. Working in the private sector had more flexibility, I think. It is true that as a fed you dont have the profitability thing hanging over your head all the time. In the private sector that occupies a large part of your consciousness.

Yeah, that gosh-darn profitability thing. I mean, in the government, everything is "free," because you have the taxpayers to subsidize you.