Leaving Feds - one of us has to move right?

[Anonymous]

Unlike a lot of other posters who are in deep denial, I’d be prioritizing a move outside of DC. I don’t think this area will recover for quite some time and I think the worst is yet to come.

Securing a good job in another city is a win and I’d take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your other "don't split up the family" option would be to move to a 2-bedroom apartment downtown in your school zone and sell or rent your house. I'm the PP who makes a lot less than you, we did this for years with a *total* HHI lower than one GS-15 and a day care bill. If you'd rather move across the country from your family, that's absolutely your choice, but it is a choice and not something you have to do.

Throwing away money on an expensive rental is not going to help us.

But anyways, I already did look into that. The rentals in our school district cost as much as our mortgage -- we bought in 2019 so just missed the insane housing prices, but if you haven't paid attention, RENT IS INSANE. That is not a solution like it was in the past.

When we were staring out we rented for a long time with 2 kids, we know it's very doable. But it has big trade offs -- it's very isolating since very few families live in apartments in DC, it's mostly a suburban destination for families.

If your mortgage is too large to pay on one GS-15 income, I guarantee you can find an apartment that costs less. But it sounds like it might not meet your standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your other "don't split up the family" option would be to move to a 2-bedroom apartment downtown in your school zone and sell or rent your house. I'm the PP who makes a lot less than you, we did this for years with a *total* HHI lower than one GS-15 and a day care bill. If you'd rather move across the country from your family, that's absolutely your choice, but it is a choice and not something you have to do.

Throwing away money on an expensive rental is not going to help us.

But anyways, I already did look into that. The rentals in our school district cost as much as our mortgage -- we bought in 2019 so just missed the insane housing prices, but if you haven't paid attention, RENT IS INSANE. That is not a solution like it was in the past.

When we were staring out we rented for a long time with 2 kids, we know it's very doable. But it has big trade offs -- it's very isolating since very few families live in apartments in DC, it's mostly a suburban destination for families.

Ffs OP wake up. You’re talking about your family being in potentially dire financial straits. The fact that you dislike apartment life is about 100th on the list of concerns.

Did you even read my post? Renting is actually as expensive because rent has become unhinged post-pandemic. There is no savings there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your other "don't split up the family" option would be to move to a 2-bedroom apartment downtown in your school zone and sell or rent your house. I'm the PP who makes a lot less than you, we did this for years with a *total* HHI lower than one GS-15 and a day care bill. If you'd rather move across the country from your family, that's absolutely your choice, but it is a choice and not something you have to do.

Throwing away money on an expensive rental is not going to help us.

But anyways, I already did look into that. The rentals in our school district cost as much as our mortgage -- we bought in 2019 so just missed the insane housing prices, but if you haven't paid attention, RENT IS INSANE. That is not a solution like it was in the past.

When we were staring out we rented for a long time with 2 kids, we know it's very doable. But it has big trade offs -- it's very isolating since very few families live in apartments in DC, it's mostly a suburban destination for families.

If your mortgage is too large to pay on one GS-15 income, I guarantee you can find an apartment that costs less. But it sounds like it might not meet your standards.

Not zoned for our inner beltway suburban school. That’s the point. There are very few and only very expensive apartments catering to corporate rentals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unlike a lot of other posters who are in deep denial, I’d be prioritizing a move outside of DC. I don’t think this area will recover for quite some time and I think the worst is yet to come.

Securing a good job in another city is a win and I’d take it.

It’s not clear it is a good job and OP’s plan involves a considerable increase in expenses (maintaining two households and travel) and splitting up his family, and also depends on his wife quitting HER fed job in a few years. It is a nonsensical plan unless (as someone else suggested) OP really just wants to get away from his family and live apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your other "don't split up the family" option would be to move to a 2-bedroom apartment downtown in your school zone and sell or rent your house. I'm the PP who makes a lot less than you, we did this for years with a *total* HHI lower than one GS-15 and a day care bill. If you'd rather move across the country from your family, that's absolutely your choice, but it is a choice and not something you have to do.

Throwing away money on an expensive rental is not going to help us.

But anyways, I already did look into that. The rentals in our school district cost as much as our mortgage -- we bought in 2019 so just missed the insane housing prices, but if you haven't paid attention, RENT IS INSANE. That is not a solution like it was in the past.

When we were staring out we rented for a long time with 2 kids, we know it's very doable. But it has big trade offs -- it's very isolating since very few families live in apartments in DC, it's mostly a suburban destination for families.

Ffs OP wake up. You’re talking about your family being in potentially dire financial straits. The fact that you dislike apartment life is about 100th on the list of concerns.

Did you even read my post? Renting is actually as expensive because rent has become unhinged post-pandemic. There is no savings there.

The suggestion was to rent out your house and move somewhere that rent is cheap. BTW renting a 2 bedroom can be affordable if you know where to look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your other "don't split up the family" option would be to move to a 2-bedroom apartment downtown in your school zone and sell or rent your house. I'm the PP who makes a lot less than you, we did this for years with a *total* HHI lower than one GS-15 and a day care bill. If you'd rather move across the country from your family, that's absolutely your choice, but it is a choice and not something you have to do.

Throwing away money on an expensive rental is not going to help us.

But anyways, I already did look into that. The rentals in our school district cost as much as our mortgage -- we bought in 2019 so just missed the insane housing prices, but if you haven't paid attention, RENT IS INSANE. That is not a solution like it was in the past.

When we were staring out we rented for a long time with 2 kids, we know it's very doable. But it has big trade offs -- it's very isolating since very few families live in apartments in DC, it's mostly a suburban destination for families.

If your mortgage is too large to pay on one GS-15 income, I guarantee you can find an apartment that costs less. But it sounds like it might not meet your standards.

Not zoned for our inner beltway suburban school. That’s the point. There are very few and only very expensive apartments catering to corporate rentals.

OP nobody is suggesting that you sell your house to stay in the same place. I feel like you lack some kind of essential executive functioning skills and need to maybe just let your wife decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you’re considering leaving unstable job 1 in high COL city to take unstable job 2 - for the LESS pay - in another, high COL city where you’d be away from your wife and kid for 4 years? How is this even a question?

I mean current job has admin intent on eliminating.

The new job is “unstable” only that it’s in a tech company, which are inherently less stable than gov work. The company has been around 20 years and many people I’ve interviewed with have been working there for nearly a decade. I won’t feel stable in any private industry job in current “make it all AI” era…

But the job has significant growth potential — unlike Fed jobs which have been capped.

I don’t love it, but DW wants to quit her job and my job is likely ending — so you say I stay put until RIF, let her be breadwinner in job she hates, and then hope I can find some kind of work locally even for much less pay?

But you're focused on not moving your daughter. You didn't present the situation of you taking the job, your wife quitting and moving the whole family. If you can all move, then it's a calculated risk. If you're going to work across the country while your wife quits her local job to stay home with your high schooler (...?), that makes less sense. If she hates her job so much but you can't move, you should both be looking for new stuff locally.

Sorry. She would only keep her job while finishing high schoolers stint. The idea is with a private industry job that has comp that will eventually surpass the GS scale, it’s the right kind of opportunity to eventually have her quit. Otherwise if we both stay GS, she can’t quit for 12 years or so vs 3 if we move and I’m making more.

Or she could quit and get another job instead of staying home forever?

We have been BOTH actively looking for jobs. Our network is shallow as long time Feds — no one leaves our agencies and just retire from there. We are both IC working on technical work with narrow focus and not much collaboration with outside companies.

When she moves (in 3 years) she would likely get another job but we doubt it will be a GS15 pay range.

If you’re IC, stay put and gut it out. The market is saturated and if you haven’t already been RIFed, you probably won’t be. Sounds like your priority is your child ‘s stability, so that’s what you do. After she’s out of school you can reassess.

What do you mean? The administration was talking about huge RIFs just yesterday -- yes its cover for the shutdown, but realistically the are still planned they just saw the shutdown as an opportunity to up the timeline. I know at my agency they are planning to spin off our work to a company like Palantir on a contract.

Go look at your LinkedIn. How many colleagues who took the DRP after the very beginning or even at all have gotten jobs? The market for cleared specialists in the kinds of things IC people do is very down now, as even the contractors are cutting back. A lot of people took the DRP because they were fearful are starting to regret it and those who stuck it out are still employed. Some places did do cuts and now the leadership is wondering who is going to do the work and talk of future cuts is way cut back or gone. Don’t jump - make them fire you. They want people self select out because actually getting rid of you is still hard. So keep looking for something where your family stays together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you’re considering leaving unstable job 1 in high COL city to take unstable job 2 - for the LESS pay - in another, high COL city where you’d be away from your wife and kid for 4 years? How is this even a question?

I mean current job has admin intent on eliminating.

The new job is “unstable” only that it’s in a tech company, which are inherently less stable than gov work. The company has been around 20 years and many people I’ve interviewed with have been working there for nearly a decade. I won’t feel stable in any private industry job in current “make it all AI” era…

But the job has significant growth potential — unlike Fed jobs which have been capped.

I don’t love it, but DW wants to quit her job and my job is likely ending — so you say I stay put until RIF, let her be breadwinner in job she hates, and then hope I can find some kind of work locally even for much less pay?

But you're focused on not moving your daughter. You didn't present the situation of you taking the job, your wife quitting and moving the whole family. If you can all move, then it's a calculated risk. If you're going to work across the country while your wife quits her local job to stay home with your high schooler (...?), that makes less sense. If she hates her job so much but you can't move, you should both be looking for new stuff locally.

Sorry. She would only keep her job while finishing high schoolers stint. The idea is with a private industry job that has comp that will eventually surpass the GS scale, it’s the right kind of opportunity to eventually have her quit. Otherwise if we both stay GS, she can’t quit for 12 years or so vs 3 if we move and I’m making more.

Or she could quit and get another job instead of staying home forever?

We have been BOTH actively looking for jobs. Our network is shallow as long time Feds — no one leaves our agencies and just retire from there. We are both IC working on technical work with narrow focus and not much collaboration with outside companies.

When she moves (in 3 years) she would likely get another job but we doubt it will be a GS15 pay range.

If you’re IC, stay put and gut it out. The market is saturated and if you haven’t already been RIFed, you probably won’t be. Sounds like your priority is your child ‘s stability, so that’s what you do. After she’s out of school you can reassess.

What do you mean? The administration was talking about huge RIFs just yesterday -- yes its cover for the shutdown, but realistically the are still planned they just saw the shutdown as an opportunity to up the timeline. I know at my agency they are planning to spin off our work to a company like Palantir on a contract.

Go look at your LinkedIn. How many colleagues who took the DRP after the very beginning or even at all have gotten jobs? The market for cleared specialists in the kinds of things IC people do is very down now, as even the contractors are cutting back. A lot of people took the DRP because they were fearful are starting to regret it and those who stuck it out are still employed. Some places did do cuts and now the leadership is wondering who is going to do the work and talk of future cuts is way cut back or gone. Don’t jump - make them fire you. They want people self select out because actually getting rid of you is still hard. So keep looking for something where your family stays together.

+1. If you have made it this far it’s dumb to make a move that increases instability and family stress. I could probably easily find a job in NYC but am staying put because I will ride this out for longer. It is not ideal but makes more sense than anything else. If I was single with no kids I’d do it in a second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you’re considering leaving unstable job 1 in high COL city to take unstable job 2 - for the LESS pay - in another, high COL city where you’d be away from your wife and kid for 4 years? How is this even a question?

I mean current job has admin intent on eliminating.

The new job is “unstable” only that it’s in a tech company, which are inherently less stable than gov work. The company has been around 20 years and many people I’ve interviewed with have been working there for nearly a decade. I won’t feel stable in any private industry job in current “make it all AI” era…

But the job has significant growth potential — unlike Fed jobs which have been capped.

I don’t love it, but DW wants to quit her job and my job is likely ending — so you say I stay put until RIF, let her be breadwinner in job she hates, and then hope I can find some kind of work locally even for much less pay?

But you're focused on not moving your daughter. You didn't present the situation of you taking the job, your wife quitting and moving the whole family. If you can all move, then it's a calculated risk. If you're going to work across the country while your wife quits her local job to stay home with your high schooler (...?), that makes less sense. If she hates her job so much but you can't move, you should both be looking for new stuff locally.

Sorry. She would only keep her job while finishing high schoolers stint. The idea is with a private industry job that has comp that will eventually surpass the GS scale, it’s the right kind of opportunity to eventually have her quit. Otherwise if we both stay GS, she can’t quit for 12 years or so vs 3 if we move and I’m making more.

Or she could quit and get another job instead of staying home forever?

We have been BOTH actively looking for jobs. Our network is shallow as long time Feds — no one leaves our agencies and just retire from there. We are both IC working on technical work with narrow focus and not much collaboration with outside companies.

When she moves (in 3 years) she would likely get another job but we doubt it will be a GS15 pay range.

If you’re IC, stay put and gut it out. The market is saturated and if you haven’t already been RIFed, you probably won’t be. Sounds like your priority is your child ‘s stability, so that’s what you do. After she’s out of school you can reassess.

What do you mean? The administration was talking about huge RIFs just yesterday -- yes its cover for the shutdown, but realistically the are still planned they just saw the shutdown as an opportunity to up the timeline. I know at my agency they are planning to spin off our work to a company like Palantir on a contract.

Go look at your LinkedIn. How many colleagues who took the DRP after the very beginning or even at all have gotten jobs? The market for cleared specialists in the kinds of things IC people do is very down now, as even the contractors are cutting back. A lot of people took the DRP because they were fearful are starting to regret it and those who stuck it out are still employed. Some places did do cuts and now the leadership is wondering who is going to do the work and talk of future cuts is way cut back or gone. Don’t jump - make them fire you. They want people self select out because actually getting rid of you is still hard. So keep looking for something where your family stays together.

By IC I meant individual contributor — I don’t have clearance. Sorry for confusion

The job is with Amazon. I know their culture is tough, but they're a stable company with a big name. I think having Amazon on my resume will be great leverage for getting other jobs later on, even if I don't last there. My hope is that it will be a springboard to either advance at Amazon or use its name recognition to find other work once the market improves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you’re considering leaving unstable job 1 in high COL city to take unstable job 2 - for the LESS pay - in another, high COL city where you’d be away from your wife and kid for 4 years? How is this even a question?

I mean current job has admin intent on eliminating.

The new job is “unstable” only that it’s in a tech company, which are inherently less stable than gov work. The company has been around 20 years and many people I’ve interviewed with have been working there for nearly a decade. I won’t feel stable in any private industry job in current “make it all AI” era…

But the job has significant growth potential — unlike Fed jobs which have been capped.

I don’t love it, but DW wants to quit her job and my job is likely ending — so you say I stay put until RIF, let her be breadwinner in job she hates, and then hope I can find some kind of work locally even for much less pay?

But you're focused on not moving your daughter. You didn't present the situation of you taking the job, your wife quitting and moving the whole family. If you can all move, then it's a calculated risk. If you're going to work across the country while your wife quits her local job to stay home with your high schooler (...?), that makes less sense. If she hates her job so much but you can't move, you should both be looking for new stuff locally.

Sorry. She would only keep her job while finishing high schoolers stint. The idea is with a private industry job that has comp that will eventually surpass the GS scale, it’s the right kind of opportunity to eventually have her quit. Otherwise if we both stay GS, she can’t quit for 12 years or so vs 3 if we move and I’m making more.

Or she could quit and get another job instead of staying home forever?

We have been BOTH actively looking for jobs. Our network is shallow as long time Feds — no one leaves our agencies and just retire from there. We are both IC working on technical work with narrow focus and not much collaboration with outside companies.

When she moves (in 3 years) she would likely get another job but we doubt it will be a GS15 pay range.

If you’re IC, stay put and gut it out. The market is saturated and if you haven’t already been RIFed, you probably won’t be. Sounds like your priority is your child ‘s stability, so that’s what you do. After she’s out of school you can reassess.

What do you mean? The administration was talking about huge RIFs just yesterday -- yes its cover for the shutdown, but realistically the are still planned they just saw the shutdown as an opportunity to up the timeline. I know at my agency they are planning to spin off our work to a company like Palantir on a contract.

Go look at your LinkedIn. How many colleagues who took the DRP after the very beginning or even at all have gotten jobs? The market for cleared specialists in the kinds of things IC people do is very down now, as even the contractors are cutting back. A lot of people took the DRP because they were fearful are starting to regret it and those who stuck it out are still employed. Some places did do cuts and now the leadership is wondering who is going to do the work and talk of future cuts is way cut back or gone. Don’t jump - make them fire you. They want people self select out because actually getting rid of you is still hard. So keep looking for something where your family stays together.

By IC I meant individual contributor — I don’t have clearance. Sorry for confusion

The job is with Amazon. I know their culture is tough, but they're a stable company with a big name. I think having Amazon on my resume will be great leverage for getting other jobs later on, even if I don't last there. My hope is that it will be a springboard to either advance at Amazon or use its name recognition to find other work once the market improves.

I do not know a single person who lasted 4 years at Amazon. Most did not last 24 months. Some left. Some were pushed by managers misusing their mandatory rating scheme, but all were hard working smart people. I could not call AMZN stable employment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you’re considering leaving unstable job 1 in high COL city to take unstable job 2 - for the LESS pay - in another, high COL city where you’d be away from your wife and kid for 4 years? How is this even a question?

I mean current job has admin intent on eliminating.

The new job is “unstable” only that it’s in a tech company, which are inherently less stable than gov work. The company has been around 20 years and many people I’ve interviewed with have been working there for nearly a decade. I won’t feel stable in any private industry job in current “make it all AI” era…

But the job has significant growth potential — unlike Fed jobs which have been capped.

I don’t love it, but DW wants to quit her job and my job is likely ending — so you say I stay put until RIF, let her be breadwinner in job she hates, and then hope I can find some kind of work locally even for much less pay?

But you're focused on not moving your daughter. You didn't present the situation of you taking the job, your wife quitting and moving the whole family. If you can all move, then it's a calculated risk. If you're going to work across the country while your wife quits her local job to stay home with your high schooler (...?), that makes less sense. If she hates her job so much but you can't move, you should both be looking for new stuff locally.

Sorry. She would only keep her job while finishing high schoolers stint. The idea is with a private industry job that has comp that will eventually surpass the GS scale, it’s the right kind of opportunity to eventually have her quit. Otherwise if we both stay GS, she can’t quit for 12 years or so vs 3 if we move and I’m making more.

Or she could quit and get another job instead of staying home forever?

We have been BOTH actively looking for jobs. Our network is shallow as long time Feds — no one leaves our agencies and just retire from there. We are both IC working on technical work with narrow focus and not much collaboration with outside companies.

When she moves (in 3 years) she would likely get another job but we doubt it will be a GS15 pay range.

If you’re IC, stay put and gut it out. The market is saturated and if you haven’t already been RIFed, you probably won’t be. Sounds like your priority is your child ‘s stability, so that’s what you do. After she’s out of school you can reassess.

What do you mean? The administration was talking about huge RIFs just yesterday -- yes its cover for the shutdown, but realistically the are still planned they just saw the shutdown as an opportunity to up the timeline. I know at my agency they are planning to spin off our work to a company like Palantir on a contract.

Go look at your LinkedIn. How many colleagues who took the DRP after the very beginning or even at all have gotten jobs? The market for cleared specialists in the kinds of things IC people do is very down now, as even the contractors are cutting back. A lot of people took the DRP because they were fearful are starting to regret it and those who stuck it out are still employed. Some places did do cuts and now the leadership is wondering who is going to do the work and talk of future cuts is way cut back or gone. Don’t jump - make them fire you. They want people self select out because actually getting rid of you is still hard. So keep looking for something where your family stays together.

By IC I meant individual contributor — I don’t have clearance. Sorry for confusion

The job is with Amazon. I know their culture is tough, but they're a stable company with a big name. I think having Amazon on my resume will be great leverage for getting other jobs later on, even if I don't last there. My hope is that it will be a springboard to either advance at Amazon or use its name recognition to find other work once the market improves.

I do not know a single person who lasted 4 years at Amazon. Most did not last 24 months. Some left. Some were pushed by managers misusing their mandatory rating scheme, but all were hard working smart people. I could not call AMZN stable employment.

Ok, I have college acquaintances that have been there over a decade? It’s a big company with lots of different divisions.

But for sake of argument, what place offers stable employment now beside state govt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you’re considering leaving unstable job 1 in high COL city to take unstable job 2 - for the LESS pay - in another, high COL city where you’d be away from your wife and kid for 4 years? How is this even a question?

I mean current job has admin intent on eliminating.

The new job is “unstable” only that it’s in a tech company, which are inherently less stable than gov work. The company has been around 20 years and many people I’ve interviewed with have been working there for nearly a decade. I won’t feel stable in any private industry job in current “make it all AI” era…

But the job has significant growth potential — unlike Fed jobs which have been capped.

I don’t love it, but DW wants to quit her job and my job is likely ending — so you say I stay put until RIF, let her be breadwinner in job she hates, and then hope I can find some kind of work locally even for much less pay?

But you're focused on not moving your daughter. You didn't present the situation of you taking the job, your wife quitting and moving the whole family. If you can all move, then it's a calculated risk. If you're going to work across the country while your wife quits her local job to stay home with your high schooler (...?), that makes less sense. If she hates her job so much but you can't move, you should both be looking for new stuff locally.

Sorry. She would only keep her job while finishing high schoolers stint. The idea is with a private industry job that has comp that will eventually surpass the GS scale, it’s the right kind of opportunity to eventually have her quit. Otherwise if we both stay GS, she can’t quit for 12 years or so vs 3 if we move and I’m making more.

Or she could quit and get another job instead of staying home forever?

We have been BOTH actively looking for jobs. Our network is shallow as long time Feds — no one leaves our agencies and just retire from there. We are both IC working on technical work with narrow focus and not much collaboration with outside companies.

When she moves (in 3 years) she would likely get another job but we doubt it will be a GS15 pay range.

If you’re IC, stay put and gut it out. The market is saturated and if you haven’t already been RIFed, you probably won’t be. Sounds like your priority is your child ‘s stability, so that’s what you do. After she’s out of school you can reassess.

What do you mean? The administration was talking about huge RIFs just yesterday -- yes its cover for the shutdown, but realistically the are still planned they just saw the shutdown as an opportunity to up the timeline. I know at my agency they are planning to spin off our work to a company like Palantir on a contract.

Go look at your LinkedIn. How many colleagues who took the DRP after the very beginning or even at all have gotten jobs? The market for cleared specialists in the kinds of things IC people do is very down now, as even the contractors are cutting back. A lot of people took the DRP because they were fearful are starting to regret it and those who stuck it out are still employed. Some places did do cuts and now the leadership is wondering who is going to do the work and talk of future cuts is way cut back or gone. Don’t jump - make them fire you. They want people self select out because actually getting rid of you is still hard. So keep looking for something where your family stays together.

By IC I meant individual contributor — I don’t have clearance. Sorry for confusion

The job is with Amazon. I know their culture is tough, but they're a stable company with a big name. I think having Amazon on my resume will be great leverage for getting other jobs later on, even if I don't last there. My hope is that it will be a springboard to either advance at Amazon or use its name recognition to find other work once the market improves.

I do not know a single person who lasted 4 years at Amazon. Most did not last 24 months. Some left. Some were pushed by managers misusing their mandatory rating scheme, but all were hard working smart people. I could not call AMZN stable employment.

Especially if this is in house legal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you’re considering leaving unstable job 1 in high COL city to take unstable job 2 - for the LESS pay - in another, high COL city where you’d be away from your wife and kid for 4 years? How is this even a question?

I mean current job has admin intent on eliminating.

The new job is “unstable” only that it’s in a tech company, which are inherently less stable than gov work. The company has been around 20 years and many people I’ve interviewed with have been working there for nearly a decade. I won’t feel stable in any private industry job in current “make it all AI” era…

But the job has significant growth potential — unlike Fed jobs which have been capped.

I don’t love it, but DW wants to quit her job and my job is likely ending — so you say I stay put until RIF, let her be breadwinner in job she hates, and then hope I can find some kind of work locally even for much less pay?

But you're focused on not moving your daughter. You didn't present the situation of you taking the job, your wife quitting and moving the whole family. If you can all move, then it's a calculated risk. If you're going to work across the country while your wife quits her local job to stay home with your high schooler (...?), that makes less sense. If she hates her job so much but you can't move, you should both be looking for new stuff locally.

Sorry. She would only keep her job while finishing high schoolers stint. The idea is with a private industry job that has comp that will eventually surpass the GS scale, it’s the right kind of opportunity to eventually have her quit. Otherwise if we both stay GS, she can’t quit for 12 years or so vs 3 if we move and I’m making more.

Or she could quit and get another job instead of staying home forever?

We have been BOTH actively looking for jobs. Our network is shallow as long time Feds — no one leaves our agencies and just retire from there. We are both IC working on technical work with narrow focus and not much collaboration with outside companies.

When she moves (in 3 years) she would likely get another job but we doubt it will be a GS15 pay range.

If you’re IC, stay put and gut it out. The market is saturated and if you haven’t already been RIFed, you probably won’t be. Sounds like your priority is your child ‘s stability, so that’s what you do. After she’s out of school you can reassess.

What do you mean? The administration was talking about huge RIFs just yesterday -- yes its cover for the shutdown, but realistically the are still planned they just saw the shutdown as an opportunity to up the timeline. I know at my agency they are planning to spin off our work to a company like Palantir on a contract.

Go look at your LinkedIn. How many colleagues who took the DRP after the very beginning or even at all have gotten jobs? The market for cleared specialists in the kinds of things IC people do is very down now, as even the contractors are cutting back. A lot of people took the DRP because they were fearful are starting to regret it and those who stuck it out are still employed. Some places did do cuts and now the leadership is wondering who is going to do the work and talk of future cuts is way cut back or gone. Don’t jump - make them fire you. They want people self select out because actually getting rid of you is still hard. So keep looking for something where your family stays together.

By IC I meant individual contributor — I don’t have clearance. Sorry for confusion

The job is with Amazon. I know their culture is tough, but they're a stable company with a big name. I think having Amazon on my resume will be great leverage for getting other jobs later on, even if I don't last there. My hope is that it will be a springboard to either advance at Amazon or use its name recognition to find other work once the market improves.

I do not know a single person who lasted 4 years at Amazon. Most did not last 24 months. Some left. Some were pushed by managers misusing their mandatory rating scheme, but all were hard working smart people. I could not call AMZN stable employment.

Ok, I have college acquaintances that have been there over a decade? It’s a big company with lots of different divisions.

But for sake of argument, what place offers stable employment now beside state govt

You are currently in a stable job unless you are on a rif list. Are you?

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Anonymous wrote:So you’re considering leaving unstable job 1 in high COL city to take unstable job 2 - for the LESS pay - in another, high COL city where you’d be away from your wife and kid for 4 years? How is this even a question?

I mean current job has admin intent on eliminating.

The new job is “unstable” only that it’s in a tech company, which are inherently less stable than gov work. The company has been around 20 years and many people I’ve interviewed with have been working there for nearly a decade. I won’t feel stable in any private industry job in current “make it all AI” era…

But the job has significant growth potential — unlike Fed jobs which have been capped.

I don’t love it, but DW wants to quit her job and my job is likely ending — so you say I stay put until RIF, let her be breadwinner in job she hates, and then hope I can find some kind of work locally even for much less pay?

But you're focused on not moving your daughter. You didn't present the situation of you taking the job, your wife quitting and moving the whole family. If you can all move, then it's a calculated risk. If you're going to work across the country while your wife quits her local job to stay home with your high schooler (...?), that makes less sense. If she hates her job so much but you can't move, you should both be looking for new stuff locally.

Sorry. She would only keep her job while finishing high schoolers stint. The idea is with a private industry job that has comp that will eventually surpass the GS scale, it’s the right kind of opportunity to eventually have her quit. Otherwise if we both stay GS, she can’t quit for 12 years or so vs 3 if we move and I’m making more.

Or she could quit and get another job instead of staying home forever?

We have been BOTH actively looking for jobs. Our network is shallow as long time Feds — no one leaves our agencies and just retire from there. We are both IC working on technical work with narrow focus and not much collaboration with outside companies.

When she moves (in 3 years) she would likely get another job but we doubt it will be a GS15 pay range.

If you’re IC, stay put and gut it out. The market is saturated and if you haven’t already been RIFed, you probably won’t be. Sounds like your priority is your child ‘s stability, so that’s what you do. After she’s out of school you can reassess.

What do you mean? The administration was talking about huge RIFs just yesterday -- yes its cover for the shutdown, but realistically the are still planned they just saw the shutdown as an opportunity to up the timeline. I know at my agency they are planning to spin off our work to a company like Palantir on a contract.

Go look at your LinkedIn. How many colleagues who took the DRP after the very beginning or even at all have gotten jobs? The market for cleared specialists in the kinds of things IC people do is very down now, as even the contractors are cutting back. A lot of people took the DRP because they were fearful are starting to regret it and those who stuck it out are still employed. Some places did do cuts and now the leadership is wondering who is going to do the work and talk of future cuts is way cut back or gone. Don’t jump - make them fire you. They want people self select out because actually getting rid of you is still hard. So keep looking for something where your family stays together.

By IC I meant individual contributor — I don’t have clearance. Sorry for confusion

The job is with Amazon. I know their culture is tough, but they're a stable company with a big name. I think having Amazon on my resume will be great leverage for getting other jobs later on, even if I don't last there. My hope is that it will be a springboard to either advance at Amazon or use its name recognition to find other work once the market improves.

I do not know a single person who lasted 4 years at Amazon. Most did not last 24 months. Some left. Some were pushed by managers misusing their mandatory rating scheme, but all were hard working smart people. I could not call AMZN stable employment.

Ok, I have college acquaintances that have been there over a decade? It’s a big company with lots of different divisions.

But for sake of argument, what place offers stable employment now beside state govt

You are currently in a stable job unless you are on a rif list. Are you?

We are going through a re org and the word is our services will be commercialized (think like every park ranger was turned into a rent a cop from Blackwater).