Miserable at job, hoping for Fed job, get a different job in meantime?

[Anonymous]

I'm ready to leave my job. I've been looking and seen a few Federal jobs that are suitable and I am interested in position- and salary-wise. Thing is, I understand that Fed jobs can take a pretty long time to go through the process and finally get an offer and a start date - if you even get that far.

Should I stay in my crappy job another 6 months while applying to different Fed jobs and hoping for the process to shorten, or should I look for non-govt jobs in the meantime, and leave THAT in the event I do get offered a Fed job?

Have been at my current job only about 9 mos, let's say I can get an offer someplace else and start in 2 months, then 4 months later get a Fed offer. That's less than a year at job 1, and only 4 months at job 2.

[Anonymous]

don't quit a job before you have a start date signed and all that on paper.

Just don't do it.

it's much easier (supposedly!) to find a job while you are employed as well.

stick it out. and meanwhile, apply for whatever you want. I don't think this is the best time to start a fed position, FWIW, so don't put all your eggs in that basket.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, OP here. I meant more like applying to and accepting an offer at a non-Fed job (and not quitting current job until getting that offer), but if I later got a call saying hey Fed job offer here, that I would be likely to leave that new job.

Terrible? Frowned upon but done anyway?

[Anonymous]

I mean, I don't think it's the worst thing...but job hoping is never smart, though it can be forgiven earlier on. I wouldn't take the fed job, though, if the non-fed job were a good one. But that's just me...stuck in a fed job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, I don't think it's the worst thing...but job hoping is never smart, though it can be forgiven earlier on. I wouldn't take the fed job, though, if the non-fed job were a good one. But that's just me...stuck in a fed job.

OP here, thank you. I guess it would depend on the new job, if it was a really good one, but I think my heart is more in government. I've been in local govt so understand the downsides, and the feeling of being stuck.

What agency are you in? If you don't mind saying so.

[Anonymous]

I had a friend at work who started at her job, and then received a fed offer one year after she applied. She ended up putting her notice in at our company. It was not frowned on because it was actually a change in career for her. If it had been the same job, then it would have been frowned upon.

[Anonymous]

Stay in your current job and take a writing course.

[Anonymous]

Unless you can get points as being Military, it's very hard to get a Fed job right now. My field is small and highly specialized (and has nothing to do with any armed force), yet the only people making the certs are military folks.....

[Anonymous]

If I were you I would take whatever new job you can get (as long as it is something you like and compensation is good). Getting a fed job may take a while.

I actually switched jobs right before getting my fed job. I only stayed 6 months at that in between job. I don't suppose they were very happy with me - but I told them I had applied for lots of fed jobs and never gotten one. And I thought I should take this opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were you I would take whatever new job you can get (as long as it is something you like and compensation is good). Getting a fed job may take a while.

I actually switched jobs right before getting my fed job. I only stayed 6 months at that in between job. I don't suppose they were very happy with me - but I told them I had applied for lots of fed jobs and never gotten one. And I thought I should take this opportunity.

OP here. Thank you, this is exactly what I would foresee happening. To a PP, it would be the same industry so I guess it would be frowned upon.

12:17 - Thank you for that superb advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you can get points as being Military, it's very hard to get a Fed job right now. My field is small and highly specialized (and has nothing to do with any armed force), yet the only people making the certs are military folks.....

Ditto. It is extremely difficult to get fed jobs these days if you are not military. Please don't count on this now. Good luck in finding the right position.

[Anonymous]

Fed jobs are not all they are cracked up to be (IMO). I fully expect furloughs, salary increases and general fed-bashing to continue through at least the next fiscal year.

If you DO get in, make sure it's a position and grade (salary) you can live with because chances are you'll be stuck there for a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you can get points as being Military, it's very hard to get a Fed job right now. My field is small and highly specialized (and has nothing to do with any armed force), yet the only people making the certs are military folks.....

Ditto. It is extremely difficult to get fed jobs these days if you are not military. Please don't count on this now. Good luck in finding the right position.

Thank you, I am starting to feel like you (all) are right. I will be focusing on expanding my options and taking a job if when/it comes, and will continue to apply to Fed jobs that appeal to me and hope for the best.