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If you were a recruiter, how would you sell work in the public sector to a student who has the choice between government and private jobs, specifically, work at the Attorney General's office?

If you were a student, what would attract you to public sector work, knowing it pays approximately 2/3 of that of a private sector job?

2007-10-06 12:19:14 · 7 answers · asked by drusillaslittleboot 6 in Business & Finance Careers & Employment Law & Legal

More details:
- At this school, 55% of second years get offered jobs, and 95% of those jobs are with the private sector.
- There is a benefits plan at all of the major private firms which rivals or exceeds the AG's office. The AG does not pay student loans, but pays for part of the bar examinations/licensing.

2007-10-06 12:56:39 · update #1

7 answers

The primary motive is to eventually get a better paying private sector job later.

I know one person whose plan was to works as a policeman, an ADA and then as a defense attorney. He got a job as a patrolman with the NYPD out of college. He took a leave of absence to attend law school. NYPD promoted him to sargent when he graduated. His next step was to become a NYC ADA. Unfortunately the ADA pay was half of the seargent's pay. He eventualy retired a a Lt. from NYPD.

2007-10-06 12:26:38 · answer #1 · answered by lou_kur 2 · 1 0

The best one - NO BILLABLE HOURS!!!

But to give a more detailed answer:
1. The rewards of working for the public, helping, knowing you're making a difference in someone's life (not monetarily);
2. Although the money is less than a private sector job to begin with, there is usually a LOT less stress (although it also depends on what you do at the AG's office);
3. The hours - besides the NO BILLABLE HOURS at the AG's office - you will probably work at 9-5 job at the AG's office, whereas in the private sector, you'd be working a 9 am to 9 p.m. job (or even later) and may not be able to take a lunch break. And, depending on what group you work in at the AG's office, you may have a flexible schedule where you can work 80 hours in 9 days (rather than 10) and have every other Monday (or Friday) off;
4. A GUARANTEED retirement - I don't care what the private sector says to get you to work for them about retirement benefits, it's not as good as the public sector. Private firms usually only provide 401Ks which are risky and don't contribute any money (matching or anything) whereas a public sector job is a DEFINED BENEFIT program (you get the retirement money guaranteed, as long as you have been there so many years and have reached a certain age). Plus, in the public sector job, you don't have to put ANY contributions in (your employer will pay for all contributions);
5. PAID holidays....again, whatever the private sector says that you get "paid" holidays, it's really not true because you have to make up the BILLABLE hours you lost by not working on the holiday.
6. Protected employment....after you have passed your probationary period, you cannot be discharged from your employment EXCEPT for good cause...you have a protected property interest in your job (at least in California) whereas with a private firm, it's at-will employment;
7. No marketing - yes, you'll get paid some big $$ (bucks) at the beginning, but eventually, the firm you work for will bug you to market and get more clients for them, without you getting any additional compensation - until you make "partner."
8. Partnership - that's a bunch of baloney. In most law firms, even if you're called a "partner", you don't get to make any choices about hiring, firing, how you are compensated (so, in essence, you are a partner in name only, without any of the benefits, but then you'll be considered an independent contractor and have to pay all the fees, taxes, etc. that your employer previously paid). Only the equity partners are "real" partners.
9. Politics - yes, there are politics in government jobs, but even more so in private sector jobs since employment is at will in the private sector.
10. The job at the AG's office will be "easier" compared to the private sector.

I think that's all I have for now...

2007-10-06 17:13:56 · answer #2 · answered by Princess Leia 7 · 1 0

There are several reasons!
1. The benefits are amazing. You get better health insurance and more vacation time than associates at high-paying private firms.
2. The stress level is actually LOWER than in the private sector.
3. If you enjoy helping people - this is a very rewarding job.
4. Employers in the public sector are MUCH more flexible! You can get the time off you need to take your kid to the doctor, go to his/her school play, and even to have a baby in the first place. (A firm in the private sector is almost never family friendly.)
5. Student Loan Repayment. You can't get a better deal here! Many state-funded programs, like Civil Legal Aid, will repay at least a portion of your student loans, if not all of them.

2007-10-06 12:49:56 · answer #3 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 1 0

Having BEEN employed in the public sector for the last 35 YEARS, Retiring 2 years ago at the age of 55 with FULL retirement benefits, I guess I might just qualify as a "spokesperson" of sorts for Public Employment vs Private Sector jobs.... First off, the pay to START might be 2/3 of that in the private sector, but if you are ambitious and get a reputation as a good worker, you can rise rather steadily through the ranks to the higher paying positions..... the public sector health insurance benefits package is one of the best in the country (Fed AND State or County public positions) ...TEACHERS, which are most definitely public sector jobs except in private institutions (elementary - college)...have an EXCELLENT benefit package plus a rate of pay comenserate with experience and paid summer vacations if you so choose the exaggerated payment plan for paychecks... (smaller during the year but you can be paid all summer long rather then just for the 9 months of the year you are teaching).... The main draws for public sector work are the benefits, the leave and accruals and the flexible schedules you can work... Some offices (at least in New York State where I worked) allow workers to choose the hours they want to work---any time between 7AM and 9AM for an arrival time and 3PM - 5PM for a departure time as long as they work a 7 and 1/2 hour schedule per day... You can in a lot of state and federal and county agencies receive PAID overtime and some agencies even provide day care to their employees.... which is paid on a sliding scale based on income and number of children being cared for. Another benefit of public sector employment is the RETIREMENT incentive packages they offer. For example, I retired at FULL BENEFITs at age 55 after working 35 years.... your retirement is adjusted if you are UNDER 55 or have less then 30 years of service. BUT, where else can you retire at 55 (younger if you are a State Trooper or City or County policemen or Fireman/woman.). In most instances in MOST agencies throughout the state, county and federal employment arena, you pretty much can trust that once you are IN, your job is much more secure then ANY position in the private sector....and you DO have plenty of room for advancement.. which is NOT always the case in the private sector positions... Public sector positions also seem to be MUCH more lienent when you MUST take time off in "kid emergencies"....and maternity leave will NOT hinder your chances for advancement.... all in all, public sector work is really a very good way to make a living.... and a very good way to make a career in your life.

2007-10-06 12:40:50 · answer #4 · answered by LittleBarb 7 · 0 0

Just go to the other 45% that do not have job offers. They are most likely very desperate and will take whatever you offer. I know people that could not find a job, worked for a law firm for free just to get their foot in the door after law school.

2007-10-07 14:18:20 · answer #5 · answered by stephen t 5 · 0 0

I be conscious that if a wealthy guy is criticized for having pots of money, precise wingers and tory zealots will say. "Oh, it incredibly is in basic terms the politics of envy, you're in basic terms jealous of such people". yet whilst the main suitable wingers and tory zealots desire to wreck the standard public sector, they don't seem to be ashamed to apply the politics of envy to coach the final public against public sector workers. they say. "seem british inner maximum sector workers!..the standard public sector workers have greater rights!!, greater effective pensions!!, retire till now and are actually much greater effective paid than you!!!...what do you think of of that!!?? and of direction, each and every of the on a daily basis Mail sheep will shout "harm the standard public sector!...down with nurses, firemen, policemen!!". The tories must be pi$$ing themselves guffawing at how utilising the politics of envy so fairly works, cos for each guy or woman who can see by way of this, there is double the quantity who will have faith each and every thing those think of tanks say.

2016-10-21 06:40:08 · answer #6 · answered by balsamo 4 · 0 0

Well unless the new grad is in the top 3% of his class, he isn't getting many offers.

And once you figure that a federal job means pay for life, more time off than jesus and nearly free healthcare, the pay rises quickly to the top of the charts.

Just tell them that after 25/30 years in the AG office they can be paid for life and then go out and go into private consulting for companies to fight the AG. Their inside experience will be worth a fortune.

2007-10-06 12:28:50 · answer #7 · answered by Gem 7 · 1 3

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