Anonymous wrote:You might find if you don't take an opportunity in the private sector now, the benefits at your boring government job will be chipped away, pay reduced, and then in a few years, you won't have the skills to make you competitive in the private sector.

This. I went from private sector to government, and I'm very happy. But at some point -- between pay freezes, increased retirement contributions, and less security -- what was an acceptable pay cut when I joined the government will no longer be worth the trade-offs. I have a great job and I'm not ready to jump ship yet, but I'm getting there. If you aren't happy at your job, then you might be there already.

Well, what is the pay? I think that more and more fed jobs aren't as secure/stable as we'd like to think.

You might find if you don't take an opportunity in the private sector now, the benefits at your boring government job will be chipped away, pay reduced, and then in a few years, you won't have the skills to make you competitive in the private sector.

If the pay is right and the hours work for your family and the job seems like something you'd like, don't avoid doing it just because you feel like it's foolish to leave a federal job.

Now might be the best time to jump ship.

I have one child and am married, so I do worry about the work life balance.

I had a cushy job with a pension and not enough to keep me busy and I will say that for me one the best things I ever did was to move to an office with challenging fast paced work. Life is too short to only work, but it's also too short to work at a soul-numbing job if you have a choice.

I should mention that for me the cushy slow paced job was in the private sector and my new job is with the govt.

I went from private to federal and am looking to get back into private. Federal is just too boring and slow for me. However, I think the answer depends a lot on your life circumstances. Do you have kids? I left private because I do and I was tired of the 60 hr weeks and conf calls at 9 pm. But I do believe (hope) there are some private cos out there that are less like sweat shops and I hope to get back into it. Good luck!

Would you leave the federal government for a job in the private sector?

I've been working for the government for almost 8 years and my job bores me to tears. The work is so mundane and I really feel a person with a high school diploma could do it.

I've been offered an opportunity but it's in the private sector. However it's a management opportunity and seems like it will be fast paced. I've never worked in the private sector ever.