D.C. Area Nesties
CarrotsMakeMeFat
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Fed employee poll
If you work for the Feds...
(1) What agency do you work for? (you don't have to be too specific if you don't want to...)
(2) What are the pros and cons?
(3) How long have you worked for that agency?
(4) Have you worked private sector or another agency previously?
(5) Anything you'd like to add?
Re: Fed employee poll
(1) What agency do you work for? small, so I don't want to say
(2) What are the pros and cons? We are pretty progressive, which is unlike most agencies. We have a lot of work/life benefits. Telework is very common. We aren't being hit really hard with the budget like a lot of other agencies.
(3) How long have you worked for that agency? 3 years then a break, now back 3 months
(4) Have you worked private sector or another agency previously? Yep, I tried out two other agencies in the past year and half. It's not pretty out there. The levels of incompetence in management, the overlooking of problem areas, the wasted time, the hidden agendas... it's disgusting.
(5) Anything you'd like to add? My hubz works for NGA (not the museum) and it is one great agency to work for. I've tried to get in but haven't had luck. He gets training, career advancement opportunities, and in this job, lots of international travel. They seem to foster an environment of performance. Rare in gov.
I've heard NGA is awesome. I've also heard good things about FDA.
I should add that I had AWS optional at my last DoD job, but not my current one or any other ones I have held. That is super annoying. I've heard telework and AWS is more common in other agencies.
(IN FULL DISCLOSURE, I am kinda sorta interested in agencies people like so if jobs open there, I know whether I want to apply or not)
(1) What agency do you work for? (you don't have to be too specific if you don't want to...)
It's pretty small, so I won't say. But we consistently rank in one of the top 10 places to work among smaller agencies in the federal government in the OPM survey.
(2) What are the pros and cons?
Pros - good work life balance. I'm getter better work with more responsibility, which is what I wanted. Nice to be on the side of the good guys for a change and to help people.
Cons - the pay. I took a very significant pay cut to come to the government, but at least there is stability. On a day to day basis, my biggest con is the lack of administrative support. I went from having a secretary and other support staff to having to do everything myself.
(3) How long have you worked for that agency?
2 years.
(4) Have you worked private sector or another agency previously?
Private sector for 8 years.
(5) Anything you'd like to add?
Overall, the people I work with are great. They care about their job and do good work. There are a few people who aren't so great, but you'll find that in any organization.
(1) What agency do you work for? (you don't have to be too specific if you don't want to...) I'd prefer not to say on the web for all to see, but I am happy to PM anyone who really wants to know. You may be able to figure it out from some of my comments below.
(2) What are the pros and cons? Pros: there are a variety of offices in our Department that carry out very interesting (to me) and high profile work, whereas in my previous agency (see below), there were very few other jobs that interested me; good opportunities for foreign travel; relatively competent colleagues; generally good management. Cons: Somewhat limited opportunities for civil service; most offices aren't very conducive to life-work balance (very few permit teleworking or flex scheduling, and I rarely work only 40 hours/week).
(3) How long have you worked for that agency? Five years, in three different positions.
(4) Have you worked private sector or another agency previously? I worked for Treasury previously, and have only ever worked there and at my current agency. It was a good first job (I traveled all the time), but there were few other jobs outside my particular bureau that interested me.
(5) Anything you'd like to add? I'm pretty happy overall with being a Fed. During college, I would never have guessed I'd end up working for the government (this was during the Bush administration), but I've had some great opportunities and (I think) I've done pretty well for myself. That being said, I get really annoyed with all of the commentary that Feds are overpaid and underworked, especially when I know many Feds who go above and beyond (working long hours and over weekends with no comp time, etc.).
Baby248 - ETA 1/10/13
(1) What agency do you work for? (you don't have to be too specific if you don't want to...)
rather not say
(2) What are the pros and cons?
it's a small agency, i have smart colleagues and an ability to positively impact the outcome of the things i'm working on
cons - it's a small agency, and the "perks" aren't as good as those at some other agencies. plus, i think the promotion schedule is a little slower than in the office i used to work in.
(3) How long have you worked for that agency?
8 years
(4) Have you worked private sector or another agency previously?
yes. 1.5 years at a big cabinet agency, at the department level
(5) Anything you'd like to add?
i love my job right now, but that directly correlates to my current direct supervisor and my current position. i wasn't as happy 4-5 years ago, even though i was in the same division.
(1) What agency do you work for? (you don't have to be too specific if you don't want to...) Rather not say, but I will mention our offices are in Silver Spring if that narrows it down . . .
(2) What are the pros and cons? Pros: good work-life balance. I work 8-4:30 so I can spend time with DS and this is fully supported, as is my weekly telework day. My particular office is full of people who are really passionate about their jobs, which is great (not all agencies are like that). Good benefits.
Cons: No short-term disability or maternity leave (not a consideration for everyone, but it is for me). We are not on the GS schedule, but a more merit-based one. On the one hand, it's nice to be recognized for hard work etc., but on the other hand it would be nice to be able to count on a specific increase every year.
(3) How long have you worked for that agency? Since May as an FTE, but I was here for 4+ years before that as a contractor doing the same job.
(4) Have you worked private sector or another agency previously? I was at a non-profit for five years before I came here.
(5) Anything you'd like to add?
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
I will add that your experience can vary hugely depending on your boss/management. I left this agency because the stress and how I was treated actually had physical manifestations. I never imagined I'd come back. I have a great boss now, and some rotten management has moved on. It's a different world.
In other agencies, telework, AWS, etc varied manager to manager. Just because the agency supports it, does not mean a manager does.
(1) What agency do you work for? (you don't have to be too specific if you don't want to...)
I'd rather not say, but I will say that my agency is fairly large, and things like work environment, work-life balance, telework, and flex days vary throughout the agency. There isn't one agency-wide policy that everyone follows. Each office/department can have its own policy. I know my department is one of the least flexible, unfortunately.
(2) What are the pros and cons?
Pros: Work is interesting; I work very smart people who are committed to their jobs and to being public servants; fairly flexible work hours, at least compared to the private sector; rarely have to work nights and weekends (although people more senior than me often work after hours).
Cons: Salary is significantly lower than private sector; less ability to work from home than previous jobs.
(3) How long have you worked for that agency?
3 years
(4) Have you worked private sector or another agency previously?
This is my first federal job, and I worked in the private sector before this. It's a very different experience, mostly for the better.
(5) Anything you'd like to add?
DHworks for the gov't and his agency is pretty disorganized and has zero flexibility. This is his 2nd agency and he would love to go back to the first. I am happy to pass along to you where he works in PM :-)
If anyone wants to PM me their agency, that would be awesome.
I know your office can depend on how good management is. That said, I've worked at enough "jobs" in my agency and different departments to see a trend...I will leave it at that.
YGPM (I hope - the Nest ate my message the first time around...).
Baby248 - ETA 1/10/13
1. A component of the Department of Homeland SIecurity
2. I feel like most of my pros and cons are really dependent on my specific job and the office I work in. Pros: I get a big picture of the agency, I really think that most of the stuff that we do is cool and good, even if it doesn't always get publicized as well as it should, have the ability to do AWS, office is very good about giving comp time or OT, and I get to interact with upper management. The other good thing is that Congress keeps wanting to give us more money even when other parts of government are being cut.
Cons: Being at a law enforcement agency, there is sometimes a divide between the agents and those of us in mission support. I also hate our tasking/clearance process (agency wide). Plus since we are a component of DHS, we have to deal with the Department and go through them for some things, so it can be frustrating at times.
3. 1.5 years
4. This is my first federal job. Previously I worked at a large state university in another state and then I worked in the Governor's Office in southwest border state.