Yes OP it's a terrible job market out there for most white collar office type jobs. DH lost his job and new one pays $100k less. There are few jobs in most fields and tons of applicants with former feds and others that got squeezed out. Most applicants are not in much of a position to negotiate right now. I changed jobs a few years ago (similar field to DH) and it was night and day.

I don't feel so bad making $110k at 50. It's peanut for many of you here, but in this economy some of you will be lucky to make this salary if you are laid off from $200k+ job.

I will be killed for saying this, but I honestly think the era of $200k+ salaries being laughed at on this forum is OVER. I don't Americans realize that corporations have been leaner and leaner while producing more. The era when being an American meant knowing no matter what you will always have access to the best jobs with little competition is over.

Anonymous wrote:GenX is so f’d.

Yep 100%.

Honestly, MBA has no value in Federal Govt hiring. They don't care about that. Their jobs are made for other degree professionals such as economists, engineers, etc.

Also, getting an MBA is no big deal and every second person has it. Except top 15, MBAs are dime a dozen so you don't get top $s for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are getting hundreds of resumes for even entry level positions, we can afford to reduce salary and pick someone from the middle of the pack.

Ugh. Hope you don't like your programs actually managed with expertise.
Everything will grind to a standstill.

The government wants everything to grind to a standstill, so why pay a contractor lots of money? Why not take that expertise and work for a private company that isn't focused on federal contracts?

some of the contractors do overcharge. Deloitte has almost 300% overhead so whenever our situation is tight, we cut them first. That's the way numbers and targets are met.

I received notice in September that my $145k program manager role would be eliminated EOY. I received 2 months of severance plus $10k. I haven’t found anything in program management in my industry paying similar so I took a job with a former vendor paying $110k with a 35% commission. I’ll break even at EOY, but it feels strange receiving effectively $1600 less every month.

I’m grateful I bought my house, rebuilt my (9 month) emergency fund, and bought a new car while I had the higher paying job. I expect to stay at the current role for 3 years but continue to look for opportunities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve spent my career in nonprofits and salaries have always been low. We’re hiring for a program manager now and offering $70K for someone with 5-7 years of experience.

That's lower than a typical mid-level college graduate makes. I'm not sure how you expect to get anyone.

Are you familiar with nonprofits?

Anonymous wrote:GenX is so f’d.

PP here, we're being kicked around right now for sure. Don't count us out yet though, we're resourceful af and adaptable.

Anonymous wrote:An unemployed person or visa person will take it, I underpaid prior role as prior mgt wanted that. We would post 10-15 years experience MBA and CPA required for 85k and I get people who were bottom of barrel and I either have to fire them or they used it to get back in job market and after 9-12 months quit.

Bad business model

Yeah, You get this in government contracting when the contractor is going to get paid for anyone with a pulse who meets the requirements, not for whether they do a good job, and the rates aren't high enough to hire people who are good or they'd just rather pocket the difference.

Massive supply of ex-feds and ex-contractors right now driving down the market wage.

need an in to find a role in building those submarines

I feel sorry for the next generation. Salary are low and prices are high. Our government has f'd up our country.
Winning

Agree-- 20 to 40k lower than 2023 levels

An unemployed person or visa person will take it, I underpaid prior role as prior mgt wanted that. We would post 10-15 years experience MBA and CPA required for 85k and I get people who were bottom of barrel and I either have to fire them or they used it to get back in job market and after 9-12 months quit.

Bad business model