What's it like to work at the Department of Commerce HQ?

[Anonymous]

Good? Bad? Functional? Dysfunctional?

[Anonymous]

Can't speak specifically for DOC but I have been through our agency HQs for three different tours of duty and each has been a nightmare. Primarily because you get to witness first-hand, up close and personal, the total dysfunction of gov't operations, primarily at the hands of political appointee's. The careerists generally want to do the right things (except for the up-and-comers, who will step over anyone to move up the chain).

[Anonymous]

Anyone else have any comments on Commerce, in general, either as an employee or as someone who deals with their employees?

[Anonymous]

I used to work at an agency under commerce, but have no idea what hq is like. Have you tried looking on the federal soup forums?

[Anonymous]

I interviewed at a division of DOC HQ several years ago, so this info is dated. It seemed like a group of nice, if serious, people. The office was very quiet and arrival/departure was relatively late for government (e.g., 9 a.m. or so until around 6 p.m.), both of which I find typical of agency HQs as compared to subagencies including DOC subagencies. Can't beat the location, and the office space was nice (windows) given the age of that building. The particular division I interviewed with had decided that they would all wear funny socks, without shoes, while in their division office space: this was intended to be friendly and fun, although it struck me as a meager "perk" as compared to, say, flexible schedules. FWIW, I did not get the job, either there or at the DOC subagency where I also interviewed.

[Anonymous]

Bump? Any more opinions about working at Commerce, in any capacity?