Pros and Cons of Becoming a Government Contractor

Employment with the government, whether full-time and permanent or on a contractual basis, comes with a unique set of opportunities and challenges. The nature of government operations differs dramatically in many ways from the private sector. For example, there are generally tighter regulations around government work as well as more reporting requirements, whereas with the private sector there is a less consistent supply of work and availability of jobs tends to be more volatile than with the federal government. Here are a few tips on what to expect when considering a federal contracting gig.

You’ll Need to Tighten Up Your Security

Because of the sensitivity of state secrets and other confidentiality concerns, a clean record is a must for any contracting job which requires access to classified information. Likewise, if you’re dealing with anything tech, you’ll need to make sure that the equipment you’re using is up to date in terms of security.  Recent national security concerns regarding foreign interference in governmental operations mean security will likely only get tighter in the future. If you’re working with the Department of Defense, you’ll need to make sure that you comply with NIST 800-171 cybersecurity requirements.

You Can Rely on Your Employer

Unlike private companies, the federal government is unlikely to “go out of business” – at least not any time soon. The US federal government operates on a multi-trillion dollar annual budget, far surpassing the average corporation listed on the stock exchange.  A huge portion of this is devoted to contracting research and development from third parties, especially in the IT field. Of course, contract jobs aren’t guaranteed, but you’ll know that there’s fiscal stability backing up your contract.

Expect Delays and Change Orders

Another important way that government work differs from the private sector is the frequent change in procedure and execution of projects. This is due to the changing nature of government makeup, bureaucratic shifts in priorities and other issues not faced in the private sector. Flexibility can help you excel.

You’ll Get Guaranteed Payment

In the private sector, collecting on debts owed eats up a substantial portion of many companies’ bottom lines. Efforts to collect money often mean lengthy campaigns that are sometimes unsuccessful. The government, on the other hand, is usually reliable in terms of paying contractors on time. 

Working on a contractual basis with the government can be rewarding, but you should be aware of what to expect going in. Many contractors mistakenly assume that working for the government will be much like working in the private sector. It is actually quite different, but not necessarily in a bad way.

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