For those who have been in gov consulting/contracting for a while, would you move to a federal employee position if given the opportunity? Why or why not?

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I would at a younger age, if I could get 15-20 years in, or even full retirement. But when I entertained Fed positions I was at the 14-18 year mark and while I could still get in enough years to make the retirement benefits worthwhile, pay caps at $172k by law at present except a small few very exceptional roles. I can do better in Fed consulting or industry or with a smart investment or side hustle. Pass.

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I can help you with that sir if you are ready
If you are ready give me a message

Salary makes it a non-starter, but more practically, I learn a tremendous amount from my coworkers and have massive career autonomy. We have experts in so many fields, and I can control where I push my career. I’ve never seen evidence of that in the government. Everything is largely rank and file, seniority-based, do-what-we’ve-always-done. I don’t know how anyone can make a career out of roles that have SOP documents tied to them, but that’s me.

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Being in a firm with a variety of projects and pathways makes a huge difference.

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I wouldn’t but the whys: job security and the pension.

The why nots: too many

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Exactly. I left a Fortune 50 to be a 13. Most frustrating experience of my entire lift.

Reminded me a lot of the military. Didn’t matter what your expertise was - if someone “outranked” you, you better shut up and color. Even if it costs productivity.

I didn’t like that at all. Went straight back to consulting went from 13 to 15 money

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Yup, for stability and being able to cruise without worrying about business development. That’s my next move!

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Mgr

Nope. I left govt position in June. Pay is crap, no upward movement, pay increases are pretty non existent and do not even remotely compete with inflation. I was at a net loss of -8% year after year. The bureaucratic red tape, furloughs, more work with less funding and resources….nope. I moved and now make more than I EVER would have in govt even at the highest levels.

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As someone who also jumped ship from Fed employment, I can 100% say to anyone reading this thread that I felt the same way.

Pension?

I’m making my own pension with the 50k more that I make in the real world, I’m far less frustrated, and have a much better team with ACTUAL experts - not people who were experts 20 years ago.

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After 8 years in gov, I’m trying to get the heck out. All the other comments about pay being far behind & folks cruising are spot on.

It’s infuriating to try and get anything done.

The pension really is the only thing that’s a pro. That and PTO, as I get around 20 days a year.

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I feel you with them resisting change and persisting with Stone Age technologies and or techies!

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I would if I got too burnt out and wanted to coast and relax for a while. I won’t right now because I’d take a huge pay cut and the amount of bureaucratic nonsense I have to deal with would double.

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I came to gov from private. Worked out for me. Been a 15 since 2013, now 41 y/o. Work around 25-30hrs a week, fully remote, and travel all over the country when I want. I think it depends on the job and the agency.

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What’s your agency?

It really depends on your priorities - that and your skill set and what part of the government you would consider.

Highest area of impact would be defense, intelligence, and other areas with a lot of sensitivity.

You can make a remarkable impact as a govvie because there are things that only civilians can do by charter but what folks have said red tape-

The people I know that have been happy doing this have jumped in and out - 3 or 4 years max and for a specific position or topic. Good luck ✨

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Probably not. I get the appeal though for some.

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No. The salary would be too low.

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Only for an exceptionally “cool” role. Salary will outpace govt pretty easily, esp when you’re sub-30 yrs old. Would also say if you don’t get a solid 15 years of the federal pension in, it’s not even helpful

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I’d move for a role where I could coast and not do jack. But at the level I would enter in that’s unlikely, also already in the GS-15 salary band. Total comp with bonuses is definitely in the SES pay range so no real incentive at this point cos I don’t think higher levels in govt have great work life balance.

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Formerly a DoD civilian in a very HCOL (GS-12, 3 YOE) and the benefits are decent in terms of PTO but I was definitely underpaid while doing the work of 4 other people since they were struggling to hire additional bodies.

Since there are limited civilian positions, there are many people that have been occupying the high ranking positions for decades with no retirement in sight and adding little value to the org.

With the lack of upward mobility (unless someone retires or quits) and frustration plus the slow pace, I took a fed contractor role and make as much as a GS-15 now to do less work.

I’d say it depends on your priorities (comp, WLB, etc) and location. You may make more as a fed employee in LCOL areas where there isn’t much other industry to work in.

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No. I was a GS after consulting. Worst experience. I went back to consulting.

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I did earlier in my career and enjoyed it for the most part.

I'm considering going back before retirement to get the FEHB retirement benefit and pad out the pension a bit, but the only way I'd go back in the meantime would be at one of the regulatory agencies with an expanded pay scale or potentially back as a 2210 if the proposed expansion of that pay scale goes into effect.

I had no problems with the bureaucracy and all the downsides of being a fed, but then again I have a high pain tolerance.

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I’m 53 just hitting 6 figures and still not enough after Uncle Sam

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Yeah I’ve heard of people taking a pay cut, either when they were with a small firm that couldn’t get them on a new contract, or they liked the client enough to stay.

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