Is there anything specific you would like to know from me?
[AMA] I'm a Tech Government Worker with 10 Years Experience
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ahhahaahha
yeah, not at all interested. the AMA with the guy who owns $46m bitcoin much more interesting.
Where are your glasses?
No idea,have you seen it?
Did u check under the bonut?
No i don't have my glasses
Did you turn it off and on again?
Repeatedly, but I still can't connect
- what tech stack?
- what do you do day to day?
- rough income? (and bonus)
- what does it take to get in? i.e. Know something/know someone?
- work life balance?
asking as a dev from a financial firm
I know i'm not OP but.
what does it take to get in? i.e. Know something/know someone?
You apply for the job that gets posted on Seek or the Government job site, just like any other job.
Government jobs aren't special.
work life balance?
If my experience with government employed software engineers is anything to go by, they rarely do any overtime.
my question is more like do you need certain skills (say programming language, knowing how to maintain certain systems etc), or like do you need to be proficient in whatever level of leetcode difficulties?
or like how much easier was it to have a referral than just apply from public available job board
- Working with React, Kotlin, and Spring Boot these days
- I work for the state Government. I have already worked on digital transactions, vouchers and grants engine, the citizen's accoumobile app services app, and a new auth system. There are a lot of meetings, briefings, and stakeholder management. But we work agile, close to designers and PMs, and work is very dynamic and fast.
- 200k (no bonus, no equity)
- Knowing someone helps, but the role needs to be available, and you will need to be interviewed against at least three other candidates. Interviews are usually divided into three stages, with a challenge given as stage 2.
- Best I ever had. Please don't take me wrong; the job's stressful, but my agency has a 4-day/week and WFH policy now. As long as I pack 40 hours of work in 4 days, I'm not required to work the 5th—a lot of time for family and hobbies.
People were abusing the NSW vouchers a while back. Did you receive any requests from the executive to close the loopholes or was that just the community fearmongering?
Are you from the private sector as it seems odd you mention no bonus and no equity because I have never heard of the government providing bonuses and regarding equity, well you can't own a piece of the NSW government in that sense, so it was odd that you mentioned it.
Why are most tech workers from the government I have met garbage, and I note a lot them cannot code but usually end up in some area involving compliance, e.g. forensics contractor, after leaving the public sector? Are the internal training programs not robust enough? Someone of your calibre could be doing a lot to fix this problem, especially if you actually bring experience from the private sector, but again you probably are not assigned to run any program of sorts.
Have you ever been told to code anything unethical to assist with recovery of revenue or have you avoided working for the Revenue NSW division?
The whole voucher scheme happened too fast, and COVID put enormous pressure on Gov to support citizens, families and businesses. All other natural disasters didn't help either. So yes, the first iterations of the program were flawed, and some people did take advantage of them. But many of those loopholes were shut down, and I worked on some of them, like stopping people from creating fake accounts to claim additional money. We really did the best we could during a brutal and unprecedented period.
I worked in the private sector for years. And yes, you can't get any equity in government, but many agencies give you very healthy bonuses if you are high enough in the chain. Think NBN, Auspost, Sira, Sydney Metro.
When I started in government back then, engineers and developers were mostly contractors. In-house people were, as you said, very much below average. But things have changed quite a lot, at least where I am. I think COVID and now the tech layoffs have exposed how 'safe' government jobs are. Many technologists are moving in, some very talented people…some stay, some leave in a few years. But there is more of a parity now with private, I reckon.
I have never been asked to do anything unethical. I have been asked to do some really dumb things in the past, but never something delivery nefarious, Robodebt style.
"loopholes" didnt exist, you're probably talking about fraud. Since proof of identity checks were required to apply.
@Willy Beamish: There were many loopholes, @Willy Beamish.
Tech is not the only layer here.
When policy is rushed through, it creates spaces that bad actors or people trying to get a monetary advantage can exploit.An example is when COVID hit, and states started to scramble to find ways to provide financial support to citizens.
States agreed to lock some areas of their big cities off based on the number of cases and other types of health advice.
Initially, you would only receive those funds if you lived in certain postcodes, so people started to change their postcodes online or via their Transport agencies. This was a huge loophole that was abused, later identified and closed.So many other loopholes related to how small and medium businesses disclosed their decline in revenue were identified as the relief programs continued.
And yes, loopholes normally lead to fraud attempts, but not always. Loopholes can also lead to dead ends or inefficiencies.
$200k in government? Gees. Plus super? How many direct reports if any?
For my role, I'd prob make a bit more work in the private sector, but I enjoy Gov quite a lot…that desperate search for profit is not here.
I've got about about 25 under me.@fredblogs: It's 200k plus super. And yes my friend. Family time and mental health are more important than any money.
@wheresmyglasses: Ive got 4 days too and similar income for a tech job but didnt know it was possible in government job.
Is it a negotiated wage or a defined ladder?@xsacha: Defined. You move up tier by tier. I've reached my peak and would have to move to an executive role to progress tiers now.
The 4 days a week is an experiment certain agencies are rolling out. How good is that?
@wheresmyglasses: Ah OK. You are quite a bit further up than me. The super would be nice but I can't touch it yet.
What makes you choose a lower wage? Since you can likely earn more in a private job.@xsacha: I ask that question (private vs gov) in my head a lot. I enjoy the way my work directly supports the community and in the end, it's not just about profits.
Let's see how I'm going to feel towards the end of the year.
200k…. are you contracted to Gov or a permanent public servant? What level and step are you if the latter? Which state?
Permanent role. There are some agencies with their own salary structure. I work for one of them.
I have reached the top of my tier structure.
I work for a prominent state on the East Coast.
Which government agency has a 4-day work week? Also how do you manage your 25-member team when the team is working on different days?
Some are testing the 4-day arrangement. Even the federal government is flirting with the idea.
Managing the teams is challenging, and having certain people working certain days is logically complex but you make it work. The key is communication, proper rituals, a lot of one-on-ones and retrospectives.
You saw them at lunch today so I'm assuming this question is not aimed at me.
You saw them at lunch today
He had to go change them. Did you forget?
Only because you asked me to
Pity the person that lets JV see their underpants.
Jerry: So, she's taking about her panties, so, uh…so, I said, "You mean the panties your mother laid out for you?"
George: "The panties your mother laid out for you"? What does that mean?
Jerry: I don't know! It just popped out.
George: Well, how did she react?
Jerry: She flipped out! Just left.
George: Well, that's not offensive. It's abnormal, but it's not offensive.
Got the blue Mandalorian undie on today
How did you know?
This is the way
How old are you? Your kids must be disappointed that they're smarter than their dad (if you have any).
How old are you?
Why?
Don’t you wear underwear?Wouldn't you like to know.
@jv: Why did you ask then?
See, your kids must be disappointed! They're looking to you for leadership.
Step up!
Who won WW2 and who came second?
Winners = the allies
2nd place = my friend BobActually the Italians came second, because they were smart enough to switch sides in the middle to the one who looked by then like it was going to win.
How easy/hard would it be for someone who has a degree in IT but no experience in the IT field yet to get a job from the government?
I don't work in the government sector, but a long time in IT. As a graduate, look for a graduate position. Then there's the expectation you know nothing and you're there to learn. If you can't get a graduate position, then get yourself some IT certifications to make you stand out a little (Microsoft, Amazon, Google etc). Employers and agencies love certifications and you'll learn some skills and lingo along the way. Consulting firms also hire a lot of graduates because they can quickly train them up and charge them out. Do that for a few years (or longer) to get experience. Then you're free change jobs as you please because you have some experience.
Govs have really great Graduate programs.
Those are tough and very competitive.
But if you go through it and make the cut, you'll have a guaranteed IT Gov job after your initial rotation.
That's an excellent way to start.
What will Nintendo Switch 2 specs be?
Tech Government Worker
What in the name of generic titles is this.
This could be anything from a software engineer, consultant, product manager or some devops guy.
What's your actual title?
Principal Solution Architect
Ah yes the old reworded 'problem solver'.
Jack of all trades, master of none!
@wheresmyglasses: Is this true?
If one doesn't have a LinkedIn, then you don't find jobs easily?
Then again, if someone works in Govt. and has a LinkedIn,
doesn't that make them an "easy target" to foreign agents?
ie. isn't it discouraged to have LinkedIn, if working in/with Govt. ?@whyisave: I don't think so. LinkedIn is an excellent employment and recruitment social media platform. It's important to have a presence no matter who you work for.
It's about you, not your employer.
You can follow many people and organisations you'd like to work for one day and learn a lot.A foreign agent has never contacted me.
But even if they do, I can terminate the contact immediately.
How many boxes have you drawn last week? :D. So that's how much Principal SA get paid in Gov. Below industry but probably not by much. How much do Principal Engineers get paid in Gov? Or does the position even exist? I just cannot see myself as SA, sorry i really don't like SA :D.
when Half life 3?
You just can't wait for it, hey?
Titanic lady: it’s been 84 years
If and when do you think China will make a significant move on Taiwan?
I think they have realised the West will f*&% them to no end based on what they did to Russia over Ukraine.
Nah, don't think China has the balls!I think China likes money more than it likes the small parcel of land which is Taiwan
Wars are expensive and generally unpopular
Sometimes is not about the size
Why would China get into Wars?
They are not the US of A :)The US of A has mainly got involved in wars,
to benefit 1 middle eastern country
and/or to destabilize the "neighbours" of this country.This was 'policy' of last 40-years.
And what about all their foreign wars for the hundreds of years prior to that?
Is it OUR government you work for?
Australian Gov…certified!
is it true that (some) government departments still have tea ladies?
Not mine…never seen one
Definitely not in the federal government, for decades
Can you work remotely? As in living in Bali but still getting work done?
In theory, you can. I work from home here in AU. Because the agency I work for deals with highly sensitive data, we are only allowed to work abroad if in a country with a cybersecurity agreement with AU. Which coincidentally are the 4 of the 5 Eyes countries: Canada, NZ, the US and the UK.
That's very interesting, thanks for replying
Is your super balance a lot more than those is the private sector?
Commonwealth gov pays 15.4% super. I work for the state gov, and unfortunately, only 11% like everyone else.
10 years in the same role?
How many people under you?
How many redundancy cycles have you been through?
Any inside stories on high level incompetence or corruption?
Met any reptilians?Different roles but in the same area of expertise…mostly ascending the latter to where I'm now.
I've got around 25 under me.I've seen some level of redundancy, which tends to happen when the other political parties take the reigns again.
But pollies avoid public sector redundancies like the plague. It's terrible media.There are so many stories of incompetency that I can't single one out, but I have never seen open corruption myself.
I haven't yet met our alien lizard overlords, but if you are reading this, king Zarnox, I support the cause and am happy to become a human envoy!
Still here, buddy…was actually having a few drinks with mates. It's Friday hey!
You have been persistently antagonising the OP for no reason - he is answering questions and being polite and friendly and you are continuing to make assumptions and troll him.
If anything you are behaving like the stereotypical government worker you accuse him of being with no basis whatsoever.
How do you do it?
90% of my IT consultancy is with private sector.
The 10% I have spent in public service I have been aghast at the sheer inefficiencies, waste, and lack of care from those agencies.
When we don't meet deadlines in the private sector, we have to front up to the project board, explain why and justify why they should give you more money to do the work.
In public service virtually all the projects I have seen are MONTHS if not YEARS over time and budget.
There is simply no blowback if targets are missed, its just a matter of filling in the forms for project extension and rinse repeat.
They simply don't care because it is not their money and the money seems infinite. Virtually no one gets fired for poor work or just warned and nothing more.
When at the public service I would often put on my taxpayer hat and be disgusted at the bad use of taxpayer funds.
The daily waste and inefficiencies in my opinion FAR outweigh corruption yet a slightest hint of corruption its all over the news and peopel scramble.
You are not wrong; over the years, I've seen the inefficiency, lack of accountability and care.
But I saw some individuals 'pay' for some big mistakes, too…and if you are a big Karuna and lead a fairly unsuccessful project, you are often pushed out, reassigned or demoted.I'm trying to be apolitical here, but I must say, I'm pretty impressed with the new wave of state and federal labour governments. They Are cracking the whip and scrutinising every project, initiative and dollar spent. Is it perfect? Absolutely not, but I haven't seen previous governments pushing for public money accountability as I'm seeing right now. A lot of things are up in the air at the moment until assessments are made and business cases are approved. It's a start.
I hear more and more these days internally how the public sector must operate like its private counterpart regarding funding accountability. It's about time…
It's because the government has been turned into corporations. CEO's in local councils, as one example. Public Private Partnerships another example. It has been happening incrementally for decades. We are no longer men & women & children being served by our governments. We are instead seen as "customers" & "clients". That is how corporations see us, which is why we are also "corporations", so they can "trade" with us.
You're absolutely right mate!
With 1 caveat, corporate goals are profit and shareholders' financial gain. Whilst Gov seeks good service (in general) and politicians to be re-elected (the true currency here).@wheresmyglasses: Governments are now serving the corporations. The politicians enable this to happen. It is why the middle class is being hollowed out & the disparity between the top & bottom is growing ever wider. It hasn't affected you yet, but it will eventually catch up to most, although signing up with the reptilians may extend your wellbeing for a little longer!
I know your pain mate. Same at the Authority I work for. Job satisfaction non-existent.
how far away is the social credit system ?
asking for a friend …If you are in China…it's already happening.
In Australia, the public privacy laws are way too strong to let this sort of thing happen.
The Australia Card debacle in the 1980s defined some key guardrails, which still stand to this day!
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no