Anonymous
Post 07/10/2013 23:54     Subject: Re:Anyone worked both federal and private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I started my career as a federal attorney. I was there 6ish years and left to go to a firm. Although I don't regret making the move, given my work life balance needs, I'd take my federal job back in a heartbeat. I hated the inefficiencies and low moral, but I'd take that anyday in exchange the freedom of having an easier schedule gave me.


I just retired after 26 yrs. as a federal attorney/ manager. We now see 150-200+ resumes for every staff attorney position open, including BigLaw senior associates and even some partners who want to get out.



How was that different than previous eras? 90s, mid 2000s etc? Dd you used to get a lot less and if so how many?
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2013 23:40     Subject: Anyone worked both federal and private?
I left a fed job for private. Zero regrets. My company is a great place to work and the position seems pretty secure, if you are good at what you do and enjoy doing it. My fed agency had gone through a few rounds of downsizing so job security was certainly not guaranteed, morale was low, workload accelerating, and the pay sucked.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2013 22:15     Subject: Anyone worked both federal and private?
Anonymous wrote:I think people sterotype federal vs private too much. It totally depends on your field, level, work. I started in the govt (3 years) and then moved private (8+ years). My current company has better benefits than the federal govt and regular work hours. I know people who are both private and federal who work long hours and people who are private or federal who have regular hours. For some fields, there's a clear differnece between federal vs. private (law), but for others, it's not so black and white. Ignore what people are saying. Pick what you think is the best situation for you.


This is very true.

I would qualify the post following it and not overestimate either how great the federal benefits are (they are good, not great, and are being cut back every single year in significant ways) or the job security (see Furloughs, which are merely a prelude to/effort to avoid RIFs).
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2013 21:47     Subject: Re:Anyone worked both federal and private?
I think the previous post is true, but there are some general truths for example, generally speaking federal jobs carry tremendous job security and benefits, private sector jobs do not.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 15:00     Subject: Anyone worked both federal and private?
I think people sterotype federal vs private too much. It totally depends on your field, level, work. I started in the govt (3 years) and then moved private (8+ years). My current company has better benefits than the federal govt and regular work hours. I know people who are both private and federal who work long hours and people who are private or federal who have regular hours. For some fields, there's a clear differnece between federal vs. private (law), but for others, it's not so black and white. Ignore what people are saying. Pick what you think is the best situation for you.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 14:10     Subject: Re:Anyone worked both federal and private?
Anonymous wrote:I started my career as a federal attorney. I was there 6ish years and left to go to a firm. Although I don't regret making the move, given my work life balance needs, I'd take my federal job back in a heartbeat. I hated the inefficiencies and low moral, but I'd take that anyday in exchange the freedom of having an easier schedule gave me.


I just retired after 26 yrs. as a federal attorney/ manager. We now see 150-200+ resumes for every staff attorney position open, including BigLaw senior associates and even some partners who want to get out.

Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 14:01     Subject: Anyone worked both federal and private?
I definitely need to do more research, the fear of jumping somewhere worse has me scared. I know that in my current govt job everyone is miserable, looking for something else, or waiting to retire. It's not just the work, but being in such an environment is a total drain. Even my boss admits she hates it here.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 13:43     Subject: Re:Anyone worked both federal and private?

NP here. How much do you know about the office atmosphere/corporate culture of the company? I've worked three years with a large private company, getting ready to move to a gov't job. In my experience, what should have been a good job was ruined by bad management, demoralizing office culture, and unreasonable workload. The constant focus on the bottom line meant that the company was always prepared to reduce raises/bonuses/benefits and management was always distracted from fixing the problems that keep the company from being a good place to work.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 12:36     Subject: Anyone worked both federal and private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are you status?


Yes. I've been in the government for close to a decade. But I started in government right out of college so I still have a ways before retirement.


If you have ten years in, I would make the jump, because you have time to jump back to a Fed position (though it may take some time to find a good one) and you can probably jump back in at higher pay.


I don't know if this true.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 11:11     Subject: Anyone worked both federal and private?
Ok, no, meant to say think, not honk
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 11:10     Subject: Anyone worked both federal and private?
Meant to say give up, not honk
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 11:10     Subject: Anyone worked both federal and private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are you status?


Yes. I've been in the government for close to a decade. But I started in government right out of college so I still have a ways before retirement.


Definitely try private sector if you are only 10 years out of college.


I don't honk I'd give up a federal job that is status
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 11:06     Subject: Anyone worked both federal and private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are you status?


Yes. I've been in the government for close to a decade. But I started in government right out of college so I still have a ways before retirement.


If you have ten years in, I would make the jump, because you have time to jump back to a Fed position (though it may take some time to find a good one) and you can probably jump back in at higher pay.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2013 10:57     Subject: Re:Anyone worked both federal and private?
Anonymous wrote:I started my career as a federal attorney. I was there 6ish years and left to go to a firm. Although I don't regret making the move, given my work life balance needs, I'd take my federal job back in a heartbeat. I hated the inefficiencies and low moral, but I'd take that anyday in exchange the freedom of having an easier schedule gave me.


+1
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2013 21:49     Subject: Re:Anyone worked both federal and private?
I started my career as a federal attorney. I was there 6ish years and left to go to a firm. Although I don't regret making the move, given my work life balance needs, I'd take my federal job back in a heartbeat. I hated the inefficiencies and low moral, but I'd take that anyday in exchange the freedom of having an easier schedule gave me.