Pros/Cons of Public Sector work ~ Deloitte Consulting Forum

Manager Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

Just wanted to see what people's opinions are on public sector work. I hear a lot of negative things but I am sure there are people out there with great experiences. I'll start a list:

Pros:
- good client exposure
- ability to act at a few levels above your position
- security (can stay on some projects for your entire firm career)
- good network of Public Sector people
- easy to get onto PS projects

Cons:
- often hard to get off of
- tight budgets
- older crowd
- usually in state capitals which are depressing

Any other stories to share?

Manager Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 40

I think just about all those rules apply to Healthcare projects as well.

I prefer to steer clear of both.

Analyst Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 8

Pros:
- good client exposure (OK, but my clients are so self-absorbed, they barely notice the inccredible patience I exercise with their annoying asses)
- ability to act at a few levels above your position (True)
- security (can stay on some projects for your entire firm career) True! These people aren't going anywhere, so I have learned to tolerate them
- good network of Public Sector people (I like the people in my office)
- easy to get onto PS projects (Not easy considering we have brought people from R10)

Cons:
- often hard to get off of (True - Unless they hate you)
- tight budgets (Yes)
- older crowd (Not really - I'm 37 and I feel old)
- usually in state capitals which are depressing (Hell Yes)

Consultant Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 12

My experience on federal projects has been mostly negative. I've felt a major lack of urgency and responsibility on the federal side. There is alot of bueracracy to deal with, things move very slow. Most of the govt employees are not the most motivated people. You cant blame them, because usually they're responsible for performing mindless tasks that they dont really believe matter. But in this situation you might realize what you are resposible for doing doesnt really matter anyway.

In the govt. when profits don’t matter and departments have a use it or lose it budget that they are encouraged to use up and are never rewarded for not using, you've got a situation where the govt is wasting millions in tax payer dollars in meaningless work. You not only feel like you are just there because the agency needs to alocate some extra budget somewhere but you feel like your not doing anything important, and you might feel guilty for helping deloitte steal taxpayer money and then get angry that your getting a fourth of what they are charging for you...

Consultant Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 12

But it has its pluses: score the right project, and have the right mind set and youve got an easy job of coasting by, smiling and nodding, and sitting in a cube with an occasional mindless task and getting great reviews from your manager. Smile

Just try not to think of the taxpayers money being wasted on you going to deloitte and how much your actually getting...