You are correct. It is definitely not a flashy career option. However, if someone is unable to get ahead financially, but then turns down that government IT job because "I have to buy my own coffee", then they are their own worst enemy. They're the reason they're drowning.

[–] nBodyProblem@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yup. I am an engineer and have worked government and private sector. Private sector pays way more and is more exciting because of the hugely reduced bureaucracy. If you have a fun career you love government can really kill the passion.

But if your goal is stable employment with good work/life balance and guaranteed raises? Government is fantastic.

[–] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I haven’t found a WFH government position, so even the work-life balance is terrible.

[–] nBodyProblem@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

When I was in government my work life balance coming into the office two days a week was better than now when I am working full time WFH in private industry, so I guess that’s very subjective.

At NASA they regularly told us, “the rocket won’t crash if you clock out at 40 hours. Go home to your families.” A lot of government positions you could literally just check out and sleep all day for weeks at a time and nobody will even notice.

[–] ssfckdt@mastodon.cloud 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As long as it's not in meetings, I guess 😂

[–] ssfckdt@mastodon.cloud 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

@RandomPancake Okay, but the flip side is how long said person can survive in that environment. I lasted two months. 😂

And it wasn't things like no coffee or the "water clubs," it was things like an inept manager, the nonsensical tasks, the sheer inability to get any resources, the butting heads with hoardy other teams, and the best part, the manager's brain-numbingly boring meetings where she simply read from her own badly made powerpoints that put me to sleep.

So it ain't for everyone :)

[–] RandomPancake@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

an inept manager, the nonsensical tasks, the sheer inability to get any resources, the butting heads with hoardy other teams, and the best part, the manager’s brain-numbingly boring meetings where she simply read from her own badly made powerpoints that put me to sleep.

That sounds like it could be just about any job, but it's the opposite of what I've experienced in civil service. I'm glad you found someplace you like better!