Be Prepared - Transitioning from the Federal Government Workforce

It's time for a frank discussion, Feds. If you aren't prepared for a possible layoff you need to start thinking about it. Some of the Feds who I've spoken to in my backyard of Oklahoma and across the country that I've worked with over the years are not being realistic about what this "RIF stuff" all means.

It means--

▶️ No one is going to negotiate the severance package you want. You get what get per the OPM policy... and that's it. Know if you are eligible and calculate it now. (https://www.fedsubk.com/post/severance-pay-and-reduction-in-force-rif)

▶️ Your agency doesn't care that you don't want to retire until 62 when you reach that 1.1% for the annuity calculation and that reaching that goal is the only reason you stayed as long as you did. You may have to retire earlier than planned or can afford to.

It also means--

▶️ If you are a remote worker or have a sweet 1 day a week in the office set up now, you will likely not have that in the private sector. Be prepared to be in an office.

▶️ Your Federal title and grade doesn't equate to what it did as a Fed. You need to be able to describe what you did in industry terms. Don't cop a 'tude if people don't know what you did by the job title or understand what your grade meant in terms of seniority or supervision in the Fed space.

▶️ The salaries (or many times now hourly rates) are going to be different. In many cases the pay will be lower because your position as a Fed may hold different and less importance in private industry.

▶️ The duties related to your position as a Fed may not translate to equal duties, responsibility, or authority in private industry. A good example is Contracting Officers. You hold a lot of power as a Fed CO/KO for decisions and signature authority. It won't be the same in private industry. You won't be signing contracts or be the final decision-maker. Start adjusting your expectations now.

▶️ Taking a step down to take a step up again in a few years. You may need to play the "get your foot in the door" game now. You will likely need to prove yourself again, especially if you aren't picked up by an entity that knows you.

▶️ You may have ethics considerations around seeking employment while a Fed or in your post-employment that you must consider. See my previous post about this which I will find and link in the comments.

I'm never trying to burst your bubble, but these are the things my private industry contacts and I who are talking to Feds want you to realize.

➡️ You have great skills but you also must be realistic and practical.

➡️ Learning to covey those skills and understanding where they fall in the pecking order in industry is important to adapting to working a different sector.

➡️ Talk to a financial advisor about your options and start planning your financial future if you haven't already. Find an advisor that is familiar with the payments and benefits of Federal employees. A great resource is SOFA (https://www.sofausa.org/about).

Be prepared.

FedSubK Now! Fed Forward article "Severance Pay and Reduction in Force (RIF)"