Why are so many fed clients condescending and aggressive? I’ve worked in private sector and my experience there isn’t the same at all

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I've been on both sides of the fence, was a contractor for about a decade, then a fed for a few years before jumping to industry.

Some feds feel threatened by (competent) contractors. I've known career 15s who are supposedly SMEs in their particular field, but due to stagnation know less than the wet behind the ears analysts and consultants staffed on their project and lash out in response.

Some feds are just like that all the time. In my time on the inside, I worked with a fair number who were like that to everyone, fed or contractor, whether you were a subordinate of theirs or a colleague. I found that type of person to be common across the feds and contractors, not inherently a fed trait.

Some feds see it as a cost thing--"I could do this and I'm being paid $$, yet we're paying you $$$$ to do that same thing."

Some feds just have sticks up their asses, no different than the tons of contractors who have sticks up their asses. "I'm Mr Hotshot 'Assistant Deputy to the Principal Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary,' bow down and kiss the ring, you pitiful fool!"

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ADPADAS 🔥

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The clients I work for are amazing. They are incredibly smart and under-paid scientists providing a critical service. I feel lucky to work with them.

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Because their title is all the have in life. Justifies their 3 hour drives from Woodbridge to downtown DC everyday until they retire.

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generally speaking, government employees = modern white collar crime everyday. Lazy, no motivation, abuse contractors to pick up after them, they have so much power, in most cases their supervisors can’t even control them because they can just complain to the HR claiming they’re being “unfair”.

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You at FEMA?

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In their minds the govt is paying you an exorbitant amount to do a job they hypothetically could do.

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I exited to one of those small businesses from Deloitte. My teams are much more talented than Deloitte, fwiw. We have more seasoned pros rather than aggressive young hires.

Two words...power corrupts! The clause that contracts can be cancelled anytime gives them the unfounded belief that they’re somehow better than us and that we’re at their mercy.

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Which can be true under poor leadership.

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There in lies the challenge of consulting. Your job is to build a relationship with the client. Become a trusted advisor. It ain’t always easy. I’ve had many difficult clients at the beginning of a contract only to turn them into what I’d consider friends by the end of our time together. Sometimes age can be an unspoken issue. Many contractors are young and a few years out of school while the fed client is middle aged with 20+ yrs. So respect has to be earned. It’s hard, but I think one of the most rewarding aspect of the job, when you realize that they are grateful for your support.

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I’m sure some are like you State, however, I’ve also seen consultants talk down to feds and automatically assume they know better. There are a lot of hard workers too. I’ve only done consulting, but my dad, sister, brother-in-law, husband, mother-in-law, aunt, and multiple cousins are all feds.

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Literally just posted the same question!!! It’s incredible! I come from commercial banking and oh god, day and night!!!

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It might have to do with some of what G1 experienced. Also came from private sector myself. In banking money talks. In gov tenure talks. And those two things play very differently with time.

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it’s funny because on one hand, the feds often get disturbed and even “threatened” because contractors teams are often comprised of young fresh out of school grads, who are more competent and motivated to do the work.

But on the other hand, they don’t really have much to worry about because of their job security, no matter how lazy and incompetent you may be. It’s an interesting mix of emotions that they go through.

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No one right out of school is competent at a mid-to-high level. False competence, maybe.

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My guys (client) need me. I’m the only one that knows how to do what I do and they treat me with respect and listen when I give input.

I also keep them out of trouble.

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Very true M2, I am going back to commercial just for that demeaning behavior. I am not anybody’s slave

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Feds are underpaid and bored. Seeing us, especially if we are well dressed, well spoken, and confident, is anxiety inducing.

Can confirm. As a fed, I was well dressed, well spoken, confident, and motivated. When these qualities are seen in anyone working a fed workspace, anxiety happens.

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I worked literally with someone who went from contractor like me to a GS. He became not wanting to do the extra work and would always force it off on others. He has a big ego but his problem is he isn’t driven.

@D6 he hasn’t changed either. I went to a data architect school in December. He is like why - um because it builds my skill set. Not everyone is a GS employee who can just do whatever

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U.K. public work is very different! apart from top echelon civil servants who are basically aristocracy.

Mostly because they’re actually losers who stick with government jobs bc they can’t get fired and want a sense of power that they can’t otherwise get from their useless pathetic lives.

The lower the grade the more snark.. in my experience.. its def an us vs them culture tho .. ive felt it less an a consultant vs actually working for the mission tho

I’ve spent most my career on the Fed side. While I don’t see the value in aggression, I’ve lived their frustration. Procurement boundaries create separation between contractor and customer relations where the Fed has had to jump through hoops before they can actually obtain or direct contractor staff - which creates a foundation of frustration.

Then they end up paying most of the big firms 100+ an hour for entry level folks with minimal skills. Now they don’t understand that those rates translate to relatively low salaries in big cities - and the believe they are getting a fraction of what they pay for (not incorrect). It’s nobody’s fault and really stems from a fundamental lack of understanding for the other side. That’s why there should be an exchange program of sorts.

Much of Federal is staff aug, so if they had staff who could perform their duties they probably wouldn’t have to overpay for junior consultants. Once you get a good consultant with two years under their belt they’re probably worth 2 Federal FTEs.

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