Guberment Jobs

[jayfrizzo]

I've got an interview coming up for a job with the state. It looks like a pretty cool job, pays well, and the group I'd be working with is doing good things.

However I've got no idea what to expect with Government jobs.

Do you?

Are they typically slow and boring?

Can I use my private-sector experience as a plus (we did things fast and furious), or will I be looked at as a money-hungry yahoo?

If I decide to go back to the private sector, is it difficult making that transition?

What else?

It's IT work, so I imagine it'll be a bit faster paced and more fun than, say, processing parking tickets.


J-

[Woodsy]

J man,
not to reinforce the negative stereotypes about our fair slice o heaven but as you have never worked in an office round here I have to warn ya that you need to be prepared to deal with people not at all like you.

in dress, political bent ( Mr. Gyptian would be a hippy round here) choice of recreation (both outdoor & liquid varieties)
this is especially true of State employees from my experience

yur wife & many of the rest of us are in places where that is not the case.

not that everyone in your department is like that, but b warned.

PM frozen for tips on how to fool em & understanding the codewords

[cololi]

Jay,

I enjoy working for the guberment. Everyone I know who works for the state enjoys it. I know of some people who have gone from the private ssector to govt. and vice versa. There doesn't seem to be much of a difference (at least in my field). I am clueless as far as the IT world goes, however.

Good luck with the interview.

[splat]

Dude - it's almost impossible to get fired once you work for the G, allowing you to be sick on the sickest days of winter. Fast-paced???? What are you on???? IT"S THE GOVERNMENT.

[shamrockpow]

A government job should give you plenty of time to post here...

[teledave]

Originally posted by splat
Dude - it's almost impossible to get fired once you work for the G, allowing you to be sick on the sickest days of winter. Fast-paced???? What are you on???? IT"S THE GOVERNMENT.

Well stated, in working for a quasi-governemntal agency I can only dream of how slack a real govt job would be.

Edit: Also inquire as to the availability of a 9/80 schedule.

[splat]

When I worked for the National Park Service, we were assigned about 10 hours of work to stretch out over a 40 hour workweek. When we had an insection, the Park Director opened a closet and found my buddy sleeping off a hangover. Fired??? Nah, just reassigned. When I wrecked a government truck while four wheelin on duty, was I fired??? Nah, just reassigned. And the reassignments were as slack as the original job. Nobody ever got fired.

[jayfrizzo]

Originally posted by teledave
Edit: Also inquire as to the availability of a 9/80 schedule.

Wassat?

I don't want a slack-ass job. I'm, like, a go-getter and stuff. I would, however, like some flexibility as to scheduling in the event of deep pow.

[Barnballs]

It's the easiest job to love to hate....

Same office, people, schedule & you've got 3 x's the time to complete projects, but w/limitless fundage.

9/80 schedule, van pools, bennies out the ying-yang, 14 paid holidays, weekly pot-lucks, 457 PLAN, PENSION, deferred comp, pretax flexible-spending accounts, discount tix for the local theme parks & cinemas, did I mention pension?

Try and leave.....it's tough.


edit: 80 hours worked in 9 days rather than 10. (every other Friday-OFF)

M-TH, 9 hours
F - 8 hours.

[DJSapp]

Guberment jobs (at least my experence)

Slow as hell (no deadlines, or penelaties if you blow one off)
Unmotivated co-workers (why should I work any harder than I have to?)
No rewards
Bosses (more than 3)
Flexable schedules (9/80, 10/40)
No real worries (unless the state budget is fucked, that's why I got laid off)
Not the most impressive thing on the resueme

Coming in from motivated private industry, you'll be rearing to go, and everyone around you is going to drag you down. You'll eventually break down, and be a true bureaucrat.

[3o3]

The posts so far pretty much nail it. I spent almost 9 yrs. in government life and it had its ups and downs. As splat said, it's nearly impossible to get fired, the bennies are great, lots of vacation, usually decent pay in IT.
I came into govt. life from a string of small company creative-type jobs. Working for the govt. nearly sucked the life outta me. I came in with a decent position, a little power, and a lot of "great ideas". Within a few years I felt like I'd been beaten into conformity and was turned into just another drone. It's really hard to affect any significant change. I had a couple pretty successful projects, but it wasn't enough to keep me interested. I droned on for many years because the money and bennies were too hard to let go of.
Overall, it was a positive experience. I learned a lot (good and bad) and made a LOT of contacts. Shortly after I left to start my own business they were calling me to do contract work. That was about 10 years ago and they're still one of my biggest clients.

[Grange]

Originally posted by splat
Dude - it's almost impossible to get fired once you work for the G, allowing you to be sick on the sickest days of winter. Fast-paced???? What are you on???? IT"S THE GOVERNMENT.

As a state employee I must disagree in part. During a budget crisis, which many states are currently in, state employees become the whipping boy of politicians. We have had several people, one of whom I shared an office with for a time get let go. While you may argue getting permanently layed off and fired are two different things the end result is the same, no job.

We have seen out budgets cut by about 20 percent and signs are there to cut it even more. Add to that a 0% and 1% raise in the next biennium with a cut in health insurance and you get low moral.

When it comes to workload I have to disagree with many opinions. When I tranferred to a new location my old position was eliminated and now I am stuck doing my new job and old job. Two full time jobs is not easy especially when my travel budget has been slashed. I have probably put in one or two pay periods in the past year without overtime while the rest I donate my time just to keep to a minimum backlog because I don't get payed for overtime. However if for some reason I worked less that 40 hr/wk I get payed less.

No deadlines and lack of work ethic is a myth in my field. When you have developers and enviro. groups breathing down your neck to get a job done you get a work ethic real quick. As far and deadlines ours are given by state statute and have little room for adjustment. Take the clients I deal with and the deadlines are monitored quite closely.

Pay is below average for the private sector, benefits aren't as good as most think (I admit they aren't bad though), and politics is heavy, so why do I stay? Because I love my job. I get to make a difference in my state by being representing the public intrest regarding natural resources. Taking satisfaction in my job is a definite benefit and it outweighs all the negatives of state employment.

I still find time to post here though.

[lemon boy]

whoa-

what govt. agency contracts out for short movies of huck dolls?

[teledave]

Originally posted by jayfrizzo
Wassat?

I don't want a slack-ass job. I'm, like, a go-getter and stuff. I would, however, like some flexibility as to scheduling in the event of deep pow.

80 hrs in 9 working days, 8-9 hr days and 1-8hr day; plus side, I get every other Friday off and Fridays I do work I get off at 4. Down side, I HAVE to be at work at 7:30AM. Where I work being on time is a major deal, however scooting out early seems to be expected and working past 5 is an absolute no-no.

EDIT: Did I even mention family health insurance coverage costs me $0 a month, and if contribute 3% to retirement they contibute 11%? BUt I only get 8 holidays, the utility workers union must not be that strong here.

[snowsprite]

I work for the gov...and I will agree that it is more slow-paced. However, that does not bother me. I still work at my own pace. And when others are not keeping up, I use the extra time to innovate and solve other problems. Or I read some internet boards. It's not so bad...except for my particular union SUCKS at negotiating sufficient vacation time. That is my only true gripe here (and it's a big one).

Corny as it sounds I feel like I make an immediate difference in people's lives here. When I worked for a private company I felt that less. There, it was all about pulling a profit, and I really didn't care about that. Here, I help people...I provide them w/ info they really need and help solve problems for them. This matters to me. When I tell people what I do, they think it is pretty neat. And so do I. Can't really put a price tag on that.

I don't want to be a "go-getter" anymore as much as a "does something somewhat worthwhile-r."

Sprite

[powderwhore]

Its a job, you currently don't have one. If they want to hire you, TAKE IT!

Then you can worry if you don't like it and find something new.

[mr_gyptian]

Originally posted by snowsprite
I work for the gov...and I will agree that it is more slow-paced. However, that does not bother me. I still work at my own pace. And when others are not keeping up, I use the extra time to innovate and solve other problems. Or I read some internet boards. It's not so bad...except for my particular union SUCKS at negotiating sufficient vacation time. That is my only true gripe here (and it's a big one).

Corny as it sounds I feel like I make an immediate difference in people's lives here. When I worked for a private company I felt that less. There, it was all about pulling a profit, and I really didn't care about that. Here, I help people...I provide them w/ info they really need and help solve problems for them. This matters to me. When I tell people what I do, they think it is pretty neat. And so do I. Can't really put a price tag on that.

I don't want to be a "go-getter" anymore as much as a "does something somewhat worthwhile-r."

Sprite

Sprite, nothing against you at all. I love how government agencies have unions.

[Ski Monkey]

Originally posted by powderwhore
Its a job, you currently don't have one. If they want to hire you, TAKE IT!

Then you can worry if you don't like it and find something new.

I think that's the most relevant point in the whole thread.

Good luck on your interview frizzo!

[jayfrizzo]

Originally posted by powderwhore
Its a job, you currently don't have one. If they want to hire you, TAKE IT!

Then you can worry if you don't like it and find something new.

No diggidy. If it's my only option I'm gonna take it, unless it sucks nuts. Was just wondering what some people's experience is with Government jobs.

Thanks everyone for the info. Sounds like it really depends on the job and department, which I kinda figured. But I didn't know about the 9/80 thing, that's pretty dope.

J-

[13]

I will never, ever, ever, ever, EVER, E-V-E-R work for the government again.

Ever.

It sucked the life out of me and I lived in Jackson Hole.

Hope Utah state Gov't is different than the federal gov't, Jay.