US Department of the Interior FAQ

Pros

The Department does fantastic work, and it's exciting to be part of it. Compensation is typical for feds, solid. Benefits are typical federal benefits, which are solid, and I'm grateful for that. Great healthcare that covers a family very affordably, 4% match on the 401k, and the pension, as well as many ancillary benefits like transit and life insurance. I'm happy with the package you get as a fed, and appreciate federal service, despite the fact that Interior can feel a bit monolithic at times.

Cons

The Department employs over 70,000 people and is run by a large cohort of political appointees, who generally manage agencies less well than career executives. Employee development seems weaker than at other agencies I've worked for, and the pay scale is stuck in the lock-step traditional GS mode, where no matter your performance, you move up only one rung per year. People's experience will vary widely depending on what part of the agency you work for, but I've felt a bit stuck and siloed in my corner.

Pros

Cares about employees and good benefits

Cons

Supervisor and management hands are tied

Pros

Great benefits and vacation time

Cons

Hard to move up. Many lower positions; few upper positions.

Advice to Management

Start taking employee’s seriously. All management does is look out for themselves.

Pros

The Department does fantastic work, and it's exciting to be part of it. Compensation is typical for feds, solid. Benefits are typical federal benefits, which are solid, and I'm grateful for that. Great healthcare that covers a family very affordably, 4% match on the 401k, and the pension, as well as many ancillary benefits like transit and life insurance. I'm happy with the package you get as a fed, and appreciate federal service, despite the fact that Interior can feel a bit monolithic at times.

Cons

The Department employs over 70,000 people and is run by a large cohort of political appointees, who generally manage agencies less well than career executives. Employee development seems weaker than at other agencies I've worked for, and the pay scale is stuck in the lock-step traditional GS mode, where no matter your performance, you move up only one rung per year. People's experience will vary widely depending on what part of the agency you work for, but I've felt a bit stuck and siloed in my corner.

Pros

The Department does fantastic work, and it's exciting to be part of it. Compensation is typical for feds, solid. Benefits are typical federal benefits, which are solid, and I'm grateful for that. Great healthcare that covers a family very affordably, 4% match on the 401k, and the pension, as well as many ancillary benefits like transit and life insurance. I'm happy with the package you get as a fed, and appreciate federal service, despite the fact that Interior can feel a bit monolithic at times.

Cons

The Department employs over 70,000 people and is run by a large cohort of political appointees, who generally manage agencies less well than career executives. Employee development seems weaker than at other agencies I've worked for, and the pay scale is stuck in the lock-step traditional GS mode, where no matter your performance, you move up only one rung per year. People's experience will vary widely depending on what part of the agency you work for, but I've felt a bit stuck and siloed in my corner.