Offered and accepted job with fed agency, what am I in for?

So I just got a new job as a sysadmin for a federal agency and was wondering what it's like to work for the government? Past few jobs have been mostly corporate settings. Last two were at big Silicon Valley corporations. Previous one dealt with cloud/storage and was very big but felt really laid back. Current one is a large software company and just full of politics and bureaucracy. What should I be expecting from a government job?

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wolfinsheepsclothing

7 years as an IC gov contractor. Would not make the jump to a staff position at this point in my career unless it's a 13 or above.

Anonymouse

QuantumCPU wrote: »

How many years of IT experience qualifies you to even apply for a sys admin position?? (if you already have the certifications desired)

Depends on the position I suppose. My last sysadmin job required a bachelors, certs, and a few years of relevant experience. I had none of that and was coming from a bottom level helpdesk job where I tried to cram as much knowledge into my brain about how everything works together. Did this by working tickets above my support level and asking a crap ton of questions to everyone at work. Convinced them in the interview that I knew what I was talking about and then proved it on the job while trying to cram even more relevant knowledge into my little brain. Same thing with my new job.

Anonymouse

It seems pretty chill here. Just found out I need Security+ and need an OS cert like you guys said. Not sure which OS cert I will get. They pretty much told me to choose one since I'll be administering Windows, MacOS, and Linux. They just want me to get certed in one but I'll be working with everything. I'm not sure if I should do the easy route and go Windows since I already have a lot of experience in it or go for Mac or Linux 'cause it's always interested me.

devilbones

wolfinsheepsclothing wrote: »

7 years as an IC gov contractor. Would not make the jump to a staff position at this point in my career unless it's a 13 or above.

Oh cool. Which one? I miss NOVA.

GreaterNinja

ArabianKnight wrote: »

I pay 1600 a month for a 500 square foot apt

I pay $2025 USD /month for a 600 sq foot studio in San Francisco. I'm seriously thinking about living in a van to save for retirement. Thats over $24,000 a year on rent

devilbones

GreaterNinja wrote: »

I pay $2025 USD /month for a 600 sq foot studio in San Francisco. I'm seriously thinking about living in a van to save for retirement. Thats over $24,000 a year on rent

Where the Google employee living in the company parking lot is putting his savings - Business Insider

ArabianKnight

GreaterNinja wrote: »

I pay $2025 USD /month for a 600 sq foot studio in San Francisco. I'm seriously thinking about living in a van to save for retirement. Thats over $24,000 a year on rent

Wow, that is a big studio! Mine is a 1 bedroom.....the studios here are about 350 sqft!

Burnsie

Yea, cost of living in Hawaii is insane. Here, on Oahu, the housing prices are similar to San Francisco and Washington DC, but every other expense (food, gas, child care, services, etc.) is higher due to shipping costs. Take a look at the sales flyer for Safeway:

http://plan.safeway.com/Circular/Honolulu-848-Ala-Lilikoi-St/139074518/Weekly/1/2

And those are the prices for things on sale, not regular prices.

B

Blackout

Damn 11.99 for Toilet paper? Good Bye Socks lol

Burnsie

Blackout wrote: »

Good Bye Socks

I hope never to be that desperate for TP!

B

wolfinsheepsclothing

devilbones wrote: »

Oh cool. Which one? I miss NOVA.

PM'd

Anonymouse

Anonymouse wrote: »

It seems pretty chill here. Just found out I need Security+ and need an OS cert like you guys said. Not sure which OS cert I will get. They pretty much told me to choose one since I'll be administering Windows, MacOS, and Linux. They just want me to get certed in one but I'll be working with everything. I'm not sure if I should do the easy route and go Windows since I already have a lot of experience in it or go for Mac or Linux 'cause it's always interested me.

Just bumping my last reply in this thread since it went way off topic. Or can mods clean it up for me?

jibbajabba

Not sure about the US - but in the UK I would think 'Red Tape' - When you work for the MOD and Windows Updates need 6 months to be approved then you either get a big book or move on

Edit: Darn, guess I just got dragged into a heck of a bump ...

Blackout wrote: »

Damn 11.99 for Toilet paper? Good Bye Socks lol

Can't believe it took me a minute to 'get' lol ...

Burnsie

Anonymouse wrote: »

Just bumping my last reply in this thread since it went way off topic. Or can mods clean it up for me?

In all honesty, knock a cert out that you find easy. The last thing you want to do is take on something that will be a challenge and then get fired in 3 to 6 months when you don't pass. Pick a Microsoft MTA exam that you like and knock it out. The books and the exam are inexpensive and will be a quick read if you have a decent background. Then at that point, start working on more challenging certifications. The certification that you get will not mean anything other than getting your IAT/IAM. They really could care less what certification it is.

B

Blackout

Burnsie wrote: »

I hope never to be that desperate for TP!

B

In all honesty if you're wearing socks in Hawaii, you're wrong.

SaSkiller

tsimmns wrote: »

While you might not get hired at least you will know from the feedback if you qualify or not. A Bachelors qualifies you for GS 5 it states and a master's qualifies you for a GS9

My butt. I think i've been approved for 2 jobs on USAJ a CBP Agent position and a IT position for State. No other position has considered me qualified despite a clearance, 10 years in IT and a number in security, with experience doing what they need. "Oh you didn't top out the questionnaire by saying you are an expert in everything and explaining it again despite the fact that it's on your resume? Not qualified."