Anonymous wrote:I generally avoid this debate, but I will add my two cents. When I was in college I interned for a government agency. I was blown away by what I saw and decided I would not work for the government. Those folks were what a lot of people consider stereotypical feds. This was a legal office. The receptionist refused to answer the phone b/c it wasn't in her job description (I don't know the full story). Folks gathered to do the crossword puzzle, etc. Quirky bunch.

While in law school I wound up doing an externship for a different Federal agency and was shocked by how hard working and professional everyone was. It totally changed my mind about the federal govt. I wound up working for a different agency and remain impressed with the work ethic of my fellow feds. I run across lazy or incompetent folks sometimes, but on the whole the individuals I work with and for work HARD.

I'm a fed here and I'd agree with this. It's SO hard to know the work ethic of the place you're interviewing too.

I just got a new job with USA jobs and I was shocked it happened. I tried for 2 years on USA Jobs and finally something fell through. It's a terrible system, even when you're highly qualified like I was.

I generally avoid this debate, but I will add my two cents. When I was in college I interned for a government agency. I was blown away by what I saw and decided I would not work for the government. Those folks were what a lot of people consider stereotypical feds. This was a legal office. The receptionist refused to answer the phone b/c it wasn't in her job description (I don't know the full story). Folks gathered to do the crossword puzzle, etc. Quirky bunch.

While in law school I wound up doing an externship for a different Federal agency and was shocked by how hard working and professional everyone was. It totally changed my mind about the federal govt. I wound up working for a different agency and remain impressed with the work ethic of my fellow feds. I run across lazy or incompetent folks sometimes, but on the whole the individuals I work with and for work HARD.

I moved from private sector to Fed not too long ago. Most people I work with are smart people who are hard workers and who have young kids, needed a break from nonstop work or wanted the government experience. The Fed is a great place for flexibility, life balance, and the experience. However, there are definitely trade offs. Pay obviously, having to deal with bureaucracy, the pace is pretty slow, and professionals often have to share offices (even senior people with a lot of experience have to share, and junior people who happen to have been there for longer get their own office). Morale is up and down. Talk to people at your agency prior to making the jump so you know exactly what you are getting and what you are leaving behind. Many people I know who transferred from private to Fed were somewhat shocked initially, although have adjusted after a period of time and have come to really like the lifestyle.

I think that this also depends on what agency. I have a couple of close friends that work for the government. One is as the PP describes, spread thin, overworked ---people leaving and others not being hired. My other friend "works" two days a week from home ( self admitting does no work--one day takes her kid to play dates, doctors apts, etc..the other day she cleans, does laundry and runs appointments of her own ( kid goes to daycare that day). When she is in the office she takes hour lunches every day, if not longer. She is a GS/14 , and making great money with a basic part time schedule. I understand why people who have the experience one feel the way they, do--but think it is the other experiences that make the government appeal to people in the private sector.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fed here. It sucks so much these days that I'm not sure why you'd want to be a fed. I'm doing 2 jobs these days because they can't replace people and I'm not the only one in my section doing so. I'm likely leaving in the coming months. Maybe it will get better with the new budget if it passes, but I'm not waiting around to find out.

Another Fed here. Really wouldn't recommend it. Morale is low and "do more with less" has gotten very old. I know the popular assumption is that everyone sits around doing nothing and still gets paid a "lavish" salary with all kinds of perks. I'll leave others to quibble over the perennial "feds get paid better then the private sector" - which given the bonus thread is a bit rich. But, putting all of that aside, many people actually do go into public service to accomplish something for the U.S. public. Not only does the ongoing budget mess make it difficult to do much more than lurch from cr to cr, but starving the beast really means that one has little ability to accomplish much of anything. When you add the constant vitriol from Congress and the general public, there's not a lot of job satisfaction. Good luck though.

This last poster confirms my belief that the world is full of ingrates. The feds have it so good they are blinded by how good they have it. I bet none of them would survive a year in private practice. If they complain about Club Fed, then there is nothing we can do here.

Oh please, why are you reading this? Want to join the Fed, but can't?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fed here. It sucks so much these days that I'm not sure why you'd want to be a fed. I'm doing 2 jobs these days because they can't replace people and I'm not the only one in my section doing so. I'm likely leaving in the coming months. Maybe it will get better with the new budget if it passes, but I'm not waiting around to find out.

Another Fed here. Really wouldn't recommend it. Morale is low and "do more with less" has gotten very old. I know the popular assumption is that everyone sits around doing nothing and still gets paid a "lavish" salary with all kinds of perks. I'll leave others to quibble over the perennial "feds get paid better then the private sector" - which given the bonus thread is a bit rich. But, putting all of that aside, many people actually do go into public service to accomplish something for the U.S. public. Not only does the ongoing budget mess make it difficult to do much more than lurch from cr to cr, but starving the beast really means that one has little ability to accomplish much of anything. When you add the constant vitriol from Congress and the general public, there's not a lot of job satisfaction. Good luck though.

Agree. I have earned exactly the same salary for 4 years. No cola increases, no steps, because my agency doesn't do steps. I do more work, but I'm effectively getting a pay cut. I stay because it's a good place to be when you have kids under 3, but otherwise, I wouldn't be here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fed here. It sucks so much these days that I'm not sure why you'd want to be a fed. I'm doing 2 jobs these days because they can't replace people and I'm not the only one in my section doing so. I'm likely leaving in the coming months. Maybe it will get better with the new budget if it passes, but I'm not waiting around to find out.

Another Fed here. Really wouldn't recommend it. Morale is low and "do more with less" has gotten very old. I know the popular assumption is that everyone sits around doing nothing and still gets paid a "lavish" salary with all kinds of perks. I'll leave others to quibble over the perennial "feds get paid better then the private sector" - which given the bonus thread is a bit rich. But, putting all of that aside, many people actually do go into public service to accomplish something for the U.S. public. Not only does the ongoing budget mess make it difficult to do much more than lurch from cr to cr, but starving the beast really means that one has little ability to accomplish much of anything. When you add the constant vitriol from Congress and the general public, there's not a lot of job satisfaction. Good luck though.

This last poster confirms my belief that the world is full of ingrates. The feds have it so good they are blinded by how good they have it. I bet none of them would survive a year in private practice. If they complain about Club Fed, then there is nothing we can do here.

When the Federal have new budget?