Why Not Work for the State of Indiana?

Robby

When people tell me the need to find a job, I usually try and dig a little deeper. Are they hoping to make a paycheck, do they have big dreams, or is it somewhere in between?

Lately, I’ve been recommending something that surprises many people: a job in local or state government.

© Flickr User Alan Levine

Why work for the state? An article on the pros and cons makes two great points:

Stability. Unlike the private sector where companies can go out of business, the government never goes out of business. Agencies or offices may close or morph into new forms, but there will always be government jobs. Employees will always be needed to complete the tasks only government does, and additional employees will always be needed to support them.

Flexibility. In the vast majority of positions, workers can easily maintain a healthy work-life balance. Additionally, telecommuting and alternative work schedules are common in government agencies. For jobs that require employees to conduct much of their business away from the office, government organizations have begun providing equipment to facilitate a mobile workforce.

If you have a personal hobby that won’t ever pay the bills (or you want to keep it a hobby), a state government job can be a great way to keep that interest active. You’ll almost never be asked to put in overtime, and you won’t the risk of losing your job except in extreme circumstances.

Jobs for the state of Indiana are listed through a centralized information clearinghouse. In addition to the advantages listed above, benefits include vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, twelve paid holidays per year, as well as paid leave for funerals, jury duty, and military service. Plus state jobs have health insurance, a retirement program, and more.

There are drawbacks, of course. State government has some reputations for being slow and frustrating, and state employees are sometimes thought of as not being the brightest. But those stereotypes aren’t necessarily accurate, and every team in every department is different.

Consider a job for the state. If you’ve never thought about it, all the more reason!