<p>I'm thinking about a career working for a state/federal government, particularly in some kind of IT division. I know that those jobs are notorious for being overly stable. However, I'm still looking for pros and cons. Some of you might be working for the government right now, while others chose to put off that kind of career for something more financially lucrative. I want to know what you think (positive or negative) about those kinds of jobs.</p>
<p>Why limit yourself to a government position rather than considering both government and private? I wouldn't choose an IT job in the government for the purpose of 'job stability' - especially for someone just entering the job market. Choose the job that sounds the most interesting, pays decently, is in a location where you want to live, etc. If something happens to the position (which can happen in the government as well), then you just go find a job elsewhere which generally, if you keep your skills up, and especially if you're fairly early in your career, won't be that difficult.</p>
<p>As a retired federal statistician/executive, I'd urge anyone to consider federal government employment. Not only are the jobs stable, but they carry excellent health, leave, training, and other benefits. As much as 40 percent of the current workforce is expected to retire in the next 10 years, so opportunities for promotion and job mobility should be even better than usual. Unless and until you are pretty "high up," you won't be affected much by politics and the whims of changes in administration. You can learn and contribute much as a professional while providing important public service.</p>
<p>That said, especially as an IT person, you might also want to consider looking at major government contractors, too. Good luck!</p>
<p>My brother has worked for the federal government in an IT position for 22 years and the amount of vacation time is unbelievable. He gets, I think, 26 days per year, plus his office is on some kind of energy-saving policy where they get every other Monday off and work longer days on the other days. I think he makes decent money but he has never been married and has no kids, so that cuts way down on expenses. His hobbies are travel and wildlife photography, so the vacation days get put to good use. He travels to cool places like Hawaii and Tahiti for work so to him, that's a huge benefit, maybe not so much if you have a wife and kids at home. He has been all over the world and I'm not sure he loves his job but he loves his vacation time.</p>
<p>22 years ago my sister chose an auditing (accounting) position with the Federal Government right out of college over corporate type opportunities. While the pay was not nearly as good (especially difficult when living in CA), the lifestyle (you get paid for what you work as opposed to the hoards of unpayed OT in private), the security (although in her agency all vets have seniority over non-vets when it comes to RIFs - yes they do happen), and of course the benefits.</p>
<p>Through 2 decades of work, she has avoided the pitfalls of private industry cycles (she works in defense) and has risen to a management level where she complains about the tax deductions she cannot take because of the AMT. She has subordinates in multiple locations and has to travel a bit, but she has had an easier rise up the ranks (she's only 44) than she would have had in private industry.</p>
<p>I would say that the trade-offs are similar to teaching - and the benefits are similar. If that is what you want for your life, it is a good thing to start young.</p>
<p>I'm a federal employee, working for Dod in a comptroller's office.</p>
<p>Peruse USAJOBS</a> - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site that is the only way to apply for a federal job. You can see what jobs are out there and what they pay. For IT, or Math or Engineering, you can expect to walk in at a GS-11/12 level. 2008</a> Salary Tables and Related Information if you work in a 'locality area' the pay is better. We do get good vacation years 1-3, 4 hours per pay (13 days a year), years 4-14, 6 hours per pay (20 days), and after 15 years it's 8 hours (26 days). Plus at some agencies you can work 4 days of 10 hours and/or telework. </p>
<p>Yes, it can be insane. But it is stable (relatively). We don't get free health care (common misconception) but the rates are much better since you are part of a group. </p>
<p>I have no college at all. started in 1991 as a GS-3 and now am a GS-11. I don't think I could earn as much as I do (about 67K) in private industry.</p>
<p>i'd look closely at the difference in benefits between the state and the federal jobs. i've heard something about health insurance and that federal retirees can continue their coverage after retirement........can someone explain more about this? it's supposed to be a good benefit from what i heard.</p>
<p>Dude, federal civil service are sick.</p>
<p>California has laid off a buch of COBOL and now can't change payroll computations. Nothing is stable with States and the Federal government having budget problems.</p>
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i've heard something about health insurance and that federal retirees can continue their coverage after retirement........can someone explain more about this? it's supposed to be a good benefit from what i heard.
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<p>This is the main reason I'm hanging on to my federal job till retirement in 2013. I will be able to keep my excellent Blue Cross Federal Employee Program policy after retirement at the same rate I pay now. My husband will be able to keep it, too, even if I die before he does as long as I purchase a spousal annuity for him (which results in a smaller retirement annuity for me but it's worth it for that insurance). In order to keep the insurance, you have to retire on an annuity and you have to have been employed continuously for the previous 5 years, I think.</p>
<p>Actually, I'll be paying even less in retirement because I'll be able to downgrade to Basic from Standard -- a little less coverage but it won't matter since Medicare will be primary, and the Basic policy is lots cheaper.</p>
<p>Government can be a really strong starting point.
Good training, references, and connections.
A college friend worked for the department of Labor as an accountant for 3 years, got his masters, and landed a 100k yr job at Boeing.</p>
<p>I spent 30 years in Federal service. I suppose that if you are in a non-controversial area like IT it would be ok. But for those of us who were in positions where policy was more important than law the work can be painful. Constant re-organizations, know-nothing political appointees; and constant attacks by politicians, the press, and the public can be hard on you. More importantly, IT is not a core government function for most agencies and is often contracted out so be prepared to be riffed (RIF=reduction in force.) Plus the benefits for current employees aren't as good as they were for those of us in the old civil service retirement system.</p>
<p>So--being a Fed has its advantages, but be wary.</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about the United States Patent and Trademark Office? I heard they are horribly backlogged and looking to hire thousands of new patent examiners. How are the pay and working conditions?</p>
<p>Exactly.
again...</p>
<p>Government can be a very strong STARTING point.</p>
<p>poetsheart...I have a few acquaintances at PTO who tend to be at higher levels and would confirm that they are overwhelmed at the moment. They are mostly engineers and lawyers...the job site link above should tell you what types of skills they are looking for. PTO has a brand new complex in Alexandria which is nicely located and very convenient to Metro.</p>
<p>tsdad's read on politics is a bit more discouraged than mine; I was lucky to be in a mostly-technical agency where both the career and appointed executives respected the integrity of our work...not to say there weren't untoward pressures, or that changes in administration often brought about some downtime while the new people learned their new jobs. Also, throughout my career and to this day, the only times people have been "riffed" is when they had temporary appointments to begin with. If anything, while major IT functions are often contracted out (hence my earlier suggestion that you look at contractors) the IT function in agencies I'm familiar with has grown, what with new requirements for security and efficiency. Finally, while I stayed in the "old" civil service retirement system and am happy with it, my peers who moved to the new one are actually a bit better off than me....</p>
<p>whatever you do, do NOT work for Accenture. they are who my agency has outsourced the implementation of 1 BILLION dollar SAP software project to replace our legacy systems. I have never seen such a mess in my life.</p>
<p>"I suppose that if you are in a non-controversial area like IT it would be ok."</p>
<p>IT departments of agencies are not immune from controversy. Trying to figure out how one politician mysteriously downloaded spyware to another politician's computer will quickly involve the techies in 'day-to-day' politics. Otoh, depending on the agency the benefits/perks can compensate for the salary difference of private sector.</p>