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[quote=Anonymous]
Longtime Fed here -- about 20 years in (I started right out of college).  The advice others have given you is good.

Culture can vary widely from agency to department, from division to branch, from location to location, so it's very hard to generalize about that.  I've worked for 3 different agencies and they were all very different.  The prior poster's advice about feeling disconnected at first is accurate as well.  It may take some time to get a feeling for the culture of your new office.

One thing that's been similar in the agencies I've worked is that there's been a bit of a disconnect between the staff that directly support the mission (think scientists, lawyers) and those on the administrative side (human resources, finance, technology).  It's something that can be frustrating but it helps to be aware of it.

You will hear Joe Q Public rant and rage about how Federal workers sit in their offices all day and read the newspaper.  It's demoralizing to hear this again and again.  But try not to let it get to you.  I have definitely seen it all during my time as a Fed -- yes, there are people who abuse their positions and slack off -- but I will say that the vast majority of the Feds I've worked with are motivated, highly competent, hardworking people.  If you find a group like that to work with, you'll never want to leave.

Some other thoughts:

If you're ever in a position where you are switching jobs, take a look at the results of the Partnership for Public Service Best Places to Work in the Federal Government survey.  It's not a perfect indicator of what you might see in a particular agency (because your direct supervisor and coworkers will impact your day-to-day happiness most), but it does provide a good idea of what the overall morale and issues in a particular agency/department will be.

Find out what kinds of flexibilities your agency's workgroup offers.  Some offer core or situational telework, alternate work schedules (e.g., working 8 9-hour days and having one day off every other week), etc.

I'm not sure if all agencies offer transportation subsidies, but mine offers both a public transportation subsidy and a pre-tax parking subsidy.

Good luck![/quote]

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