Part of why I wanted to attend this event in the first place was the fact that I haven’t been exposed to that many different types of workplaces. Both of my parents run their own businesses and I’ve heard of big private firms/companies but didn’t know a whole lot about governmental jobs. While initially intimidating, it was interesting to think about working in a place that has so many resources and so many connections.
Despite the differences in the work environment it was comforting to hear that many of these employers value similar things. For example, they seemed to attempt to increase and bettering diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as ensure the well-being of their employees, for example, prioritizing the well-being and treating employees with respect. While of course finding the right place for you will take a lot of research, it is nice to hear that generally employers want to look out for their employees and will help their employees wherever they can.
What I think is really exciting about working at such a big firm/company is that there are so many different opportunities and individuals to meet. I think this has to do with the expansive resources as it seems like a really good place to grow and refine/really understand what aspects attract you and which one seems less interesting. They also mentioned that there’s no average day-to-day itinerary or “day in the life” which is something that I’m really interested in as one of my fears is just doing something over and over again and fearing that it becomes tedious and something I’ve fallen out of love with. I think that’s partially why a career in law is exciting as there’s something that’s always new.
It seemed that each panelist was passionate about what they do, but they all had different reasons for enjoying their work. It was also refreshing to see that the panels shared different backgrounds, and once again this is a benefit of working for such a large entity. I’d like to work in an environment that fosters that same commitment to diversity and find a community in which everyone is truly exhilarated and engaged in what they do every day, as this will make a workplace successful in my mind. As an individual working for the U.S. government I could see how that could be overwhelming, but also provide me the opportunity to work on advocating for myself as you would be in a really great position to make suggestions given your proximity to the bodies that can enforce change. Knowing that you’re working to help or working for a good cause is also super rewarding.
When in the process of a job search, it’s essential to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into as well as formulate a plan and ensure you have all the tools you need to be successful. As long as you take care of these things, I don’t think it matters what you end up doing or where you end up doing it because you’ll be satisfied with your choices, which is crucial in structuring a successful career.
