Come work for Uncle Sugar

[Gabriel]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR2009030202935.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

The Washington Post says the federal government will need to hire tens of thousands of workers to implement President Obama's ambitious (and huge) budget. Considering the economic situation, working for the man doesn't seem like a bad idea.

Has anyone considered making the shift from the private sector to the public sector?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR2009030202935.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

The Washington Post says the federal government will need to hire tens of thousands of workers to implement President Obama's ambitious (and huge) budget. Considering the economic situation, working for the man doesn't seem like a bad idea.

Has anyone considered making the shift from the private sector to the public sector?

I've given it some thought.  While the pay might not be as good in some areas as the private sector, the benefits/retirement plans are great. 

[bsmooth]

I've given it some thought.  While the pay might not be as good in some areas as the private sector, the benefits/retirement plans are great. 

I have several friends who have turned down better paying jobs to get jobs either within government or private companies that offer better health plans.

[Househead]

When i first graduated law school I wanted to work for a federal agency as an attorney - 6 figures, go home at 4, no weekend work, 3 weeks vacation, great benefits.....too bad everyone else wanted that too since the working conditions in the private sector are tough as a lawyer....and that was while the economy was booming....I can only imagine how difficult it is now.   But yes, I'd work for the feds in a heartbeat.

[Buddhagirl]

I would love to work for the feds. Unfortuntely, as Househead pointed out, so would everyone else.

[CF DolFan]

I work for the government and my insurance is  twice what I used to pay.  I pay $525 a month for family. Retirement is OK but I always had 401k and or profit sharing. We cut 10% of our work force last year and are getting ready to do it again ... probably by a larger percentage.  At least on a local level, there is no stability any more. 

The biggest example of something better I see is the time off.  Other than that, it's a wash.  If you want great benefits, work for a professional company like an Engineering firm or a bank.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I work for the government and my insurance is  twice what I used to pay.  I pay $525 a month for family. Retirement is OK but I always had 401k and or profit sharing. We cut 10% of our work force last year and are getting ready to do it again ... probably by a larger percentage.  At least on a local level, there is no stability any more. 

The biggest example of something better I see is the time off.  Other than that, it's a wash.  If you want great benefits, work for a professional company like an Engineering firm or a bank.

I've worked for several banks in my lifetime, and the benefits aren't all that.  They're about average compared to other companies. 

[CF DolFan]

I've worked for several banks in my lifetime, and the benefits aren't all that.  They're about average compared to other companies. 

Well I know that Chemical, Chase, and SunTrust had about as good as beneifits as I have seen. My wife is contract now but she has always had great benefits when she worked directly for banks.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Well I know that Chemical, Chase, and SunTrust had about as good as beneifits as I have seen. My wife is contract now but she has always had great benefits when she worked directly for banks.

I worked for SunTrust and their benefits suck.  You basically had only one health insurance option, and it cost quite a bit more than what I'm paying for insurance now at Kaplan University.

[Gabriel]

When i first graduated law school I wanted to work for a federal agency as an attorney - 6 figures, go home at 4, no weekend work, 3 weeks vacation, great benefits.....too bad everyone else wanted that too since the working conditions in the private sector are tough as a lawyer....and that was while the economy was booming....I can only imagine how difficult it is now.   But yes, I'd work for the feds in a heartbeat.

I know a few attorneys who work for federal agencies. None of them are out of the office before 6:00 p.m. That being said, I'm sure their hours are still better than what you would find in the private sector.

Most government workers in professional positions work pretty hard and, as has been mentioned, some private sector companies offer comparable benefits to government jobs. The big trade off, as I see it, is stability versus salary. Many of my friends out of school made more money than I did, but today I'm the only one who is 100% sure that I'll still be employed 6 or 12 months from now. With the economy in the toilet and a new baby, I'm happy to not be worrying about my job.