Job growth at federal agencies: help me understand

[Anonymous]

Help me understand: interviewed for a fed job and people said that while there is a career path and responsibilities and title may increase, salary doesn’t increase much. What is the appeal of a career in which there is little to no salary advancement even when “promoted”?

[Anonymous]

After your probationary period (usually 1 year) it's almost impossible to be fired. So while there are few carrots there are also no sticks.

[Anonymous]

I like my job because I work with great people doing work that I generally think is important for the country, is intellectually challenging, and yet I mostly get to work 40-50 hours a week and take 4 weeks vacation.

I could get paid more elsewhere but I get paid enough and I no longer have to look for things to spend money on that make me feel better about working in a job I hate.

[Anonymous]

No one is in fedgov for the money. But in my field (law) there's plenty of incentive to go climb the ladder and then exit into something more remunerative.

[Anonymous]

No one has a federal career for the money. For many people, the sense of mission, the interesting work, and the job security are quite valuable. As you advance, maybe you get to do more interesting work or have input into more important decisions.

[Anonymous]

Also, it's easier to move around/up once you're in the federal system than from the outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After your probationary period (usually 1 year) it's almost impossible to be fired. So while there are few carrots there are also no sticks.

That’s not true for all federal positions. Indeed, some federal positions have a two year probationary period. Contrary to popular belief, federal employees can and do get fired for performance reasons. Federal positions that have quota based performance standards tend to fire employees readily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, it's easier to move around/up once you're in the federal system than from the outside.

Federal employees in the excepted service must compete for jobs and go through the same hiring process as non-feds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, it's easier to move around/up once you're in the federal system than from the outside.

Federal employees in the excepted service must compete for jobs and go through the same hiring process as non-feds.

Yes and no. Some are career ladder jobs where you don't compete when going gs11 to 12 to 13.

There are a number of jobs open only to internal candidates at my agency.

At this stage in my career, I've had the job descriptions targeted for me specifically for my last two moves. I still had to fill out the USAJobs application but I knew I was already hand selected for the positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, it's easier to move around/up once you're in the federal system than from the outside.

Federal employees in the excepted service must compete for jobs and go through the same hiring process as non-feds.

Yes and no. Some are career ladder jobs where you don't compete when going gs11 to 12 to 13.

There are a number of jobs open only to internal candidates at my agency.

At this stage in my career, I've had the job descriptions targeted for me specifically for my last two moves. I still had to fill out the USAJobs application but I knew I was already hand selected for the positions.

+1

And even if you have to go through the same process, the fact that you're already "in" makes it easier. And some kinds of experience are much easier to get in the government than outside.

[Anonymous]

Access to Federal employee health insurance after retirement is a big incentive.

Actually being able to take time off - which is nearly impossible in private practice.

Belief in the mission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After your probationary period (usually 1 year) it's almost impossible to be fired. So while there are few carrots there are also no sticks.

Is this true, even for those not in collective bargaining positions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After your probationary period (usually 1 year) it's almost impossible to be fired. So while there are few carrots there are also no sticks.

Is this true, even for those not in collective bargaining positions?

That's a myth.

[Anonymous]

Mission. Public service orientation.

I also disagree no one is in it for the money. Federal government jobs pay much better then a wide range of other jobs. Before I joined fed govt I made 30k a year. I now make 135k a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one has a federal career for the money. For many people, the sense of mission, the interesting work, and the job security are quite valuable. As you advance, maybe you get to do more interesting work or have input into more important decisions.

+1