R
rbrund
I was wondering what your guys opinions was on State DOT work compared to Private work. What are pros and cons, and at a young age should i even be asking this question.
I agree... if you start in gov'tI'll chime in here.
I think the longer you stay in state gov't the harder it will be to transfer into to private industry. If you work as a consultant and go gov't its kinda like throwing away everything you have worked for away. Being a consultant is all about the "feathers in the cap".
You will never get the respect from peers in gov't work.
If you go gov't, plan on staying a while.
Boy you and I think alike....I moved FROM private sector work (8 years) to state government (for 9 years now). The move to state government was very appealing at the time - it was comparable pay, but far more relaxed work, better benefits, shorter hours, sleep well at night knowing I was doing something "good", etc. But, like JR said, many of the benefits have eroded now. I still have what anyone would consider a pretty "cool" job, but my pay has been frozen since 2000, and recently cut because of budget shortfalls, and I have been treated like dirt by incoming management. Don't understimate that aspect: you will be working for limited-term political appointees, NOT qualified people who have worked their way up based on merit. Maybe if you're low on the totem pole in some huge agency, this won't matter so much. But just keep that in mind - the people who hire you may like you and respect your qualifications, but four years later the new bunch won't know you from the next guy, and probably wants you gone so they can put their cousin Billy Bob into your sweet tax-payer paid cubicle.
Can you tell that I'm not happy with working for state government right now? It's OK in my mind, as long as you work in private sector long enough to develop marketable skills (because you pretty much won't in government) and enter government either a.) thinking that it's just for temporary fun & connection building (stay no more than 3-5 years), or b.) to "retire at the office" and collect your salary for 25 years until you can retire at home (if you don't commit suicide from the frustration first).
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