Pros
- Based on which group you're working with, you may very well find yourself doing the most rewarding work you'll ever find while making important contributions to human health and the environment - You'll work with some of the smartest, caring, and well-intentioned people you could ever wish to work with - Most positions offer a flexible schedule, and sometimes also telework for a few days per week - If you're a self-learner, there's a lot of opportunity to teach yourself about how things work outside of your particular silo of expertise - Government benefits are solid - but long gone are the days of the "government pension" that will put you on the gravy train for life. However, the government's version of a 401k, (the TSP) is a pretty good low-cost retirement savings program, the healthcare options are decent, small pension is a nice bonus, and if you are a decent saver and live frugally, the pay is OK. The best perk is the time off. You get all federal holidays, and separate banks of vacation time and sick time - both of which are pretty generous. All of the benefit info is on the OPM.gov website.
Cons
- Based on what you get stuck working on and who it's with, you may find yourself in the middle of an inescapable Kafka-esque nightmare. Incompetent managers, connected regulated community with deep-pocket ties to Congress, political appointees, and lobbying groups can all make it seem like a waking nightmare - If you're a career peon like me, you'll suffer from the changing political winds almost always screwing up the work you're doing, in some way. Or the agency lawyers screwing things up....god help us all, there are a few good ones, but largely they're just the worst. - Like to take unplanned, unscheduled, and potentially unpaid vacations from time-to-time? Well, every time the politicians cause the government to be shut down, that's what happens. So far, the past few times this has happened, employees at least get paid a few weeks later, but there's never a guarantee that will happen. Prepare to become a trading chip in the dysfunction of American government. -You'll work with some of the least qualified, disinterested, nasty, bad-boned, lazy and incompetent people on the face of the Earth. It's a total mixed bag. Some were improperly brought in or promoted during narrow windows where hiring was possible in a rush to get butts into seats. Others started off with great intentions, and were ground down over the years by the numbing ineptitude, terrible management, idiotic program leadership from HQ or the Regions, the bean-counting, the poorly written rules, and political interference. It happens a lot. - Want to start up a related side business in your off hours? Well, hold those horses! Federal employment is unlike that in the private sector. There are rules on what you can do, with whom you can do it for, and limits on political activity. Some roles require financial disclosure.Fun!