Tell me what I need to know about working in the Federal Government

[Anonymous]

I am about to start a new job in the Federal Government. I am very excited about this new opportunity and a career in public service, and I have always gotten great advice from this board, so...

What is your advice for someone starting a career in the Federal Government? What do you wish that you had known?

[Anonymous]

As a GS employee? What grade? Lawyer? Budget analyst? It's hard to generalize as agencies can be very different.

[Anonymous]

1) If you want Life Insurance above the standard, get it now because Life Insurance open seasons almost never happen and you otherwise can't get one unless you submit to a physical (which can backfire in your coverage) or have a qualified life event (like a baby or a marriage). If you don't do it now, do it within 30 days of your qualified life event or your window will pass.

2) You will start and think at first that things don't work and that people are moving slow. You won't feel a commitment to your work immediately. As time passes you will start to see the value of your organization (assuming you work for a 1/2 decent organization.....which most people actually do). You will feel very committed to your "mission", but it takes time. You may work with world-class experts in particular fields. Yes, things move slowly and it's difficult to get rid of the weight of bad employees, but the good ones more than make up for it.

3) Government Employees LOVE to complain. Like most people. But you should pay attention to what they're complaining about and wait until you know what they're saying. It's sort of like "I can say that about my sister but you just met her and you can't say that".

4) Take charge of your own career. If you're interested in a rotational assignment, do it. If you have a boss that doesn't take care of you, find a new group. You are not stuck at your organization. Take training if it's offered.

5) Take pride in being resourceful. You will not get whatever you want whenever you want it. Make do with what you have and people will notice. It feels good to do it, actually.

6) Try to keep your mouth shut about political things unless you know your audience very well.

7) Don't invest in the G fund on your TSP. It's like putting your money in a sock under your bed.

8) Get ready for the barrage of people telling you you're lazy and stupid and everyone you know at work is lazy and stupid. And then wait for their job to suck and them ask you for tips on getting past USAJobs.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

^^ PP this is great advice!!!!

[Anonymous]

I would add two things to the list above:

1. You will need to purchase your own STD and LTD insurance (if you so choose).

2. Leave and sick time accrue slowly. You are allowed to borrow sick time from the rest of the fiscal year and use it before you've earned it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would add two things to the list above:

1. You will need to purchase your own STD and LTD insurance (if you so choose).

2. Leave and sick time accrue slowly. You are allowed to borrow sick time from the rest of the fiscal year and use it before you've earned it.

I'm the poster that made the previous list.

They don't always let you advance leave. That's supervisor-dependent (and sometimes agency-dependent, even).

The Government does offer Long Term Disability. Ask HR about it. I guess that might be agency-dependent also, but I don't think it is.

You will find that nearly everything is up to the discretion of your Supervisor. OPM allows all sorts of awesome things, but that doesn't mean you'll get to do them. Again, if you have a bad boss.....look for another one.

BUT, stay at least 3 years (not with your boss, but with the Federal Government). If you leave at 2 years, 10 months, you will lose everything vested into your accounts and your "permanent" status that will later allow you to re-apply as a Government Employee.

And, remember, they normally don't fire people in their first year, but they can do it. You'll still be on probationary status.

One more thing.....if the Government offers you a switch, don't take it. Take whatever is grandfathered. The Government will not offer you something new that is good for you and not for them. People learned this the hard way with CSRS to FERS switch (you'll learn about that, too, as well as the fact that you'll be paying way more into your pension than people who were hired a few years ago). My Father-in-Law warned me about this when I was pretty new and I've found it to be true.

[Anonymous]

The "switch" I'm referring to is in terms of benefits. Not jobs.

[Anonymous]

AND ANOTHER THING!

EEO is there to protect the government from YOU, not the other way around. If your work has a Union, go to them if you have a problem, not your EEO office. However, always go to your Supervisor first.

[Anonymous]

19:08,
On the STD and LTD. I got a pamphlet for it during my orientation but the govt doesn't pay any portion of the cost whereas when I was in the private sector this was paid for by the company. So yeah, maybe they offer it but you're footing the entire bill.

[Anonymous]

Put in the amount you need for the TSP to get the full government match. Anything else is leaving free money on the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:19:08,
On the STD and LTD. I got a pamphlet for it during my orientation but the govt doesn't pay any portion of the cost whereas when I was in the private sector this was paid for by the company. So yeah, maybe they offer it but you're footing the entire bill.

I wasn't offered any STD. I would love to have one but in the private market they are pricey if not offered through employer.

OP my best advice is to hoard information. Information is power in the government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) If you want Life Insurance above the standard, get it now because Life Insurance open seasons almost never happen and you otherwise can't get one unless you submit to a physical (which can backfire in your coverage) or have a qualified life event (like a baby or a marriage). If you don't do it now, do it within 30 days of your qualified life event or your window will pass.

2) You will start and think at first that things don't work and that people are moving slow. You won't feel a commitment to your work immediately. As time passes you will start to see the value of your organization (assuming you work for a 1/2 decent organization.....which most people actually do). You will feel very committed to your "mission", but it takes time. You may work with world-class experts in particular fields. Yes, things move slowly and it's difficult to get rid of the weight of bad employees, but the good ones more than make up for it.

3) Government Employees LOVE to complain. Like most people. But you should pay attention to what they're complaining about and wait until you know what they're saying. It's sort of like "I can say that about my sister but you just met her and you can't say that".

4) Take charge of your own career. If you're interested in a rotational assignment, do it. If you have a boss that doesn't take care of you, find a new group. You are not stuck at your organization. Take training if it's offered.

5) Take pride in being resourceful. You will not get whatever you want whenever you want it. Make do with what you have and people will notice. It feels good to do it, actually.

6) Try to keep your mouth shut about political things unless you know your audience very well.

7) Don't invest in the G fund on your TSP. It's like putting your money in a sock under your bed.

8) Get ready for the barrage of people telling you you're lazy and stupid and everyone you know at work is lazy and stupid. And then wait for their job to suck and them ask you for tips on getting past USAJobs.

Good luck!

Not OP, but why not the G fund? What would you suggest investing in?

[Anonymous]

The G fund is actually a pretty sweet deal if you understand what is. You should probably just put your money in a L fund.

Also don't bother buying life insurance from the Feds unless you have some health condition that would make life insurance unaffordable. Most people are much better off buying their own life insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The G fund is actually a pretty sweet deal if you understand what is. You should probably just put your money in a L fund.

Also don't bother buying life insurance from the Feds unless you have some health condition that would make life insurance unaffordable. Most people are much better off buying their own life insurance.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:19:08,
On the STD and LTD. I got a pamphlet for it during my orientation but the govt doesn't pay any portion of the cost whereas when I was in the private sector this was paid for by the company. So yeah, maybe they offer it but you're footing the entire bill.

I wasn't offered any STD. I would love to have one but in the private market they are pricey if not offered through employer.

OP my best advice is to hoard information. Information is power in the government.

And pens