Paying Your Dues

I had lunch with a government employee today and she was telling me that everything she does at work has such a process to it. She went on to say she feels like she could be more productive if some of the "red tape" were eliminated. Her job at the moment is fact-checking reports that everyone else writes.

It will get better though! I was reminded that when starting out to work in the government, you have to be pateient. You are probably going to spend a few years getting low pay (great benefits though!!) and not doing the most rewarding work. It will change though!

For instance, when you start out working on Capitol Hill, you are most likely going to be a Staff Assistant or a Legislative Correspondent and making $27,000-$30,000. And you are probably going to be doing work that you think is pretty meaningless-- such as answering phones or writing letters. And you will be living in a house with far too many roommates. But ten years later, you will look back and realize it was all worth it for the experience.

And everyone has to do it--but it does get better!