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As contractor I’ve noticed that it’s VERRRRRRRRYTYYY difficult to get fired from the govt. it’s still possible but the process is a lot to get you kicked out from what I’ve personally witnessed- ya gotta screw up pretty bad or do illegal stuff… even then, it results in a lot of paperwork and process improvement plans probably 6mos to a year of messing up bad to get fired unless it’s a physical altercation or danger to national security. Benefits are decent (have a few family members working in the govt). Room for growth depends on the branch you work so I can’t comment fully on that. Pay is decent and competitive, not to mention pretty much annual raises, paid training and paid travel for it, and “awards” (bonuses) for just doing your job. There’s always the danger of “shut downs” but again family members have experienced it- really just results in temporarily needing to burn your PTO, then when govt is reinstated you get your pto back so it becomes a free unplanned vacation. However, the politics and corruption is pretty bad- granted it’s bad in private sector as well, just giving my insight based on experiences I’ve witnessed. All in all, I don’t believe in putting all your eggs in one basket and only aiming for the govt, but it doesn’t hurt. Unless it’s technology based role you’re looking for—- processes and advancements are minimal to years behind, and becomes an issue when trying to advance ur exposure for newer technology. Good luck!
Having worked private sector and government positions, and currently serving in two different government positions (guard and gov civilian), I’d prefer personally a government position. I’m buying back my active duty time towards my civilian retirement, and have good benefits and better pay than I ever did as a private sector employee. If my kid wants that, cool. I won’t push them either way, just advertise what I have and why I like it and let them make the decision.
I drove for the DOD for 26 year's plus my 9 years prior in the Military helped a lot, Benefits, Over Time, Holiday Pay, Vacation, Sick Leave, need I say more, with my combined time with the Military and DOD I was able to RETIRE at 53, but went to work afterwards, retirement felt different, been working since I was 13, joined the Army months before graduating High School, served my time and decided to move on, Government jobs are pretty good, I do it again, but might affect my retirement
Government is still extremely stable and I've noticed on the local level even more so. I work for the county and I've found most people have been here for decades. Senior positions almost never open up unless somebody resigns, retires, or dies.
Only caveat for me, as somebody who came in from private sector, is that while the stability and job security is there, the consequence of this stability is that you're never really going to find yourself "scoring big". The pay and benefits are steady of course, but I am honestly attracted to opportunities to make more money and build more of a reputation that the private sector allows for (at the cost of insecurity and greater stress).
I’m a GS-12 at 25. Pay is solid, my LA recently increased from 4 to 6 hours, 5% TSP matching, and pension (albeit at 4.4%). Annual step increases, annual COLAs. Overall pretty solid deal if you ask me. Especially when compared to some of my family who get next to none of that.
They seriously mislead you. Private industry pays an average of 50% higher and has actual perks. Things government employees will never have.
Yes the post office
I did push my kids to get a government job. My daughter did for a while and quit to go to cosmetology school. Both of my sons are not interested. I've worked private sector and non profit most of my career. Not a fan, zero stars. I love my job in government, the people I work with, the pay, benefits and the pension. I'll never go back to the private sector.
I have experienced awesome stability and have experienced very low likelihood of loss of job while working for the federal government - 27 years in the u.s. army and 11 years as a department of defense civil service. The greatest thing about the military was the feeling of gratitude for having the opportunity to serve in the greatest military on the planet and being a part of that achievement. Great times, hard work and play back in the day. I would have done it for free just for the opportunity to serve. Although for me the pay and benefits were very good and kept up with inflation, while not the greatest, was enough and a blessing in my book. Now that I am retired from the military, the military pension is a gift that keeps on giving. I am now half way thru to a FERS federal government pension when i plan to retire again in 2033 at 65.
I wouldn't push them into anything unless they specifically, explicitly, asked me for advice.