Government

Government employment – at either the federal, state, or local level – offers many advantages. Pay and benefits are generally good, as is job security. In addition, many positions allow employees to count on having a regular 8-hour workday – something that is increasingly hard to find in other sectors. More important, to many people, is the sense of satisfaction that working in publics service brings. For professionals in many fields including the law, the environment, public health, engineering, security, and international relations, government employment offers opportunities that are simply available nowhere else.

The disadvantages of government employment include the bureaucratic nature of many office environments and the lack of opportunities for creativity or initiative. The job security that comes with government employment is offset by the risk of hitting career and pay ceilings at mid-career. And, while government jobs pay better than many people expect, they do not compete with the material rewards available in the private sector.

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