Are you considering working on DoD IT contracts? Think again. Before you jump into this field, take a moment to read about the not-so-glamorous aspects of working on DoD IT contracts. From lackluster coworkers to frustrating management, there are several reasons why you might want to reconsider pursuing a career in this niche.
## Complaints About Coworkers
One of the biggest complaints about working on DoD IT contracts is the caliber of coworkers you might encounter. Here are some key points to consider:
1. **Low Barrier to Entry**: Anyone with a Sec+ certification and a DD214 can land a job on a DoD IT contract with minimal effort. The lack of a rigorous interview process means that you might end up working alongside individuals who lack the necessary technical skills.
2. **Terrible Work Ethic**: In some cases, coworkers with a history of poor performance in the military carry over these habits into their civilian roles. This can lead to a toxic work environment characterized by incompetence and inefficiency.
## Challenges with Management
Navigating the management structure on DoD IT contracts can be a daunting task. Here are some common complaints about management in this field:
1. **Government Oversight**: The government employees who serve as customers also play a direct role in overseeing the work on DoD IT contracts. This can lead to conflicting priorities and unclear lines of authority.
2. **Lack of IT Expertise**: On-site IT managers may lack the technical knowledge needed to effectively manage IT projects. This can result in miscommunication and delays in project delivery.
## Issues with Work Environment
The work environment on DoD IT contracts can also pose challenges for employees. Here are some concerns you might encounter:
1. **Limited Remote Work Options**: Unless explicitly stated in the contract, remote work opportunities are rare on DoD IT contracts. This can make it difficult to balance work and personal commitments, especially during times of illness or other disruptions.
2. **Health and Safety Concerns**: In some cases, coworkers may come to work sick, putting others at risk of illness. This lack of consideration for health and safety can create a stressful and unproductive work environment.
In conclusion, while DoD IT contracts may offer stability and decent pay, the drawbacks outlined above may make you think twice about pursuing a career in this field. If you value a positive work environment, opportunities for growth, and a healthy work-life balance, it might be worth exploring other options in the IT industry.
For those looking to escape the confines of traditional office spaces, remote work opportunities offer a promising alternative. Consider exploring remote IT job options that allow you to work from the comfort of your own home while still contributing to meaningful projects in the field.
So before you dive headfirst into DoD IT contracts, weigh the pros and cons carefully to ensure that the path you choose aligns with your personal and professional goals. It’s essential to find a workplace that not only values your skills but also fosters a positive and supportive environment for your growth and development.
>Almost any bone head with a Sec+ and a DD214 can get a job here. There is no interview process. In the interview they ask “can you deal with enlisted personnel and show up on time?” If they pass the background check + verify security clearance they’re in!
This is enough reason for people to continue to want these jobs. It’s a very low bar to pass, and you’ll get premium pay compared to what you would get elsewhere.
If you happen to be one of the competent ones, you can easily leverage your “experience” and some certs and get a good security job in the private sector, or an even cozier one in DoD.
Are you working on a military base. Your experience doesn’t sound like the norm for what I’ve seen in the Washington DC area. And here you need Security Plus and a security clearance that might get you in for helpdesk role here. Still a might.
are we co workers or is every single contract job the exact same ? lmao
I’ve been thinking about changing careers to I.T. (Cloud admin) Via defense contracts in theDC/ NoVA area. Is that not a good idea?
I remember hearing from somebody who had a clearance but left clearance work to go work at NASA for basically this reason, people are giving jobs because of their clearance, not their knowledge.
He said when telling his coworker how to do something, he told them to open up the command line. Coworker asked “what’s a command line?”
Try to find an OGA instead of working for DoD. I spent 10 years as a contractor working for a department under the DOJ. One of the best jobs I ever had and they didn’t treat me like I was just a “contractor”. Now, I did have pay issues due to contracts and some other BS, but that was nowhere near as bad as the DOD. Then when those people retired or moved on, they brought me with them. Left cleared work 5 years ago and haven’t looked back.
SAIC in Tampa is pretty good, though. Nothing but good things I’ve heard from colleagues and Glassdoor. I just need to know someone who knows someone who’d sponsor my security clearance.
You apparently just work on a shit contract and, I’m assuming, for one of the shit contracting companies. I’ve been doing DoD IT contracting since 2019 and it’s absolutely fantastic and encounter none of the things you are complaining about here.
You’re just on a shitty DoD contract. I’ve been DoD contracting for 23 years. There have been some shitty ones and some good ones. Left the shitty ones real quick. 16 years on the same contract because it’s a good one. But I’m also in Maryland where DoD is plentiful.
As a veteran myself, the idea of having to deal with retired enlisted veterans on the day-to-day sounds like a nightmare.
Hey OP is it possible to get a DoD contract in IT without being prior military?
Don’t listen to this guy, some DoD contractors are making 6 figures easy, they do tend to lean to in office work but if you can start as a contractor and convert to a federal employee, you may be able to reap some very nice benefits.
Yeah disagree OP, DoD contracts allowed me to excel my career and break over six figures. One thing I will say is working on a base does suck IMO.
Oof, but if I can nab a damn Security Clearance then that’s the only reason I need for taking said job opportunity. Thanks for sharing though, I don’t really have a good outlook when it comes to any government job jn terms of conditions, so I’m not surprised!
So DoD contracts are just like working for any IT org? Beautiful.
It’s a good foot-in-the-door. My helpdesk role here in the middle-east pays 140k too, so that’s a plus. Especially for a 24 y/o!
I think you might just have a bad job. Worked on a DoD contract for 3 years before getting a GS position. Might be a little different because I was a network engineer, but was in the same office as field services and others, and even sat in for a few interviews. We definitely had deeper discussions than what you experienced. One thing that we mentioned is that even though the supervisors are at another base, there are plenty of people to call and ask for help and the only time they would get upset is if you didn’t call about a ticket and let it sit for too long.
Sorry you got stuck at a bad place, but don’t let it block a whole sector when it comes to opportunities down the line.
Also, yes the customer will more than likely not know anything IT related. Thats the same in so many other fields and it is part of your duties to explain the information in a way that is easy for them to understand
Ive got a security clearance and sec+ and haven’t been able to find an IT job. How would one find one of these jobs to get started in IT?
I was offered a job with a gov contractor for an airport.
I was offered $68k to do the IT work for an entire international airport by myself. I actually considered doing it except the only clearance they were saying I would get was “public trust”.
Even then, they said there’s no room to be promoted and that theres no room to negotiate pay (even though the listing said 55-90k. Love when they blatantly lie about there being a range)
Like who did they think was going to take this job? It sounds like hell.
As with the private sector, DoD contracts can be good or bad.
What company do you contract with? Or did you find this on USAjobs
I did a DoD IT contract for 3 years. What I hated was you had to spend at least an hour in a meeting to discuss exact how 10 minutes of work would happen before you could do that 10 minutes of work.
I literally felt like spent 90% of my time in meetings and 10% doing actual, real work.
This just sounds like a bad contract for me. I’ve been doing contract work for the DoD and DoE and love where I work. In fact, they offered to renew my contract if I’d like to stay on for another year.
Sounds like those jobs are the only way around the catch-22.
where do i find these jobs in LA?
Highly disagree. DOD contracts have allowed me to travel, gain massive experience, and make the income I need/want (which is significant). Also, the DoD contracts I have been on has been in highly laid back environments. I just show up on time and do my job, and never really get micromanaged or anything. Not to mention if I need to take off I generally can, and you also get all the federal holidays plus nights and weekends. Not saying the private sector doesn’t offer these things or better, but the DoD sector has helped me significantly achievey goals, both personal and business.
Are these contracts done by external staffing agencies?
It’s not always like this. I worked at a great company for years under a DoD contract. Most of the people were great and I barely had to speak to anyone outside the company. Our government boss worked at our office with us and he was pretty cool. We didn’t have to work on a base. I probably would have stayed but after the pandemic they weren’t really able to keep salaries in line with inflation.
How can I get a security clearance?
Work DoD IT contract. Love it. Ability to handle a wide variety of projects to pad the resume and the team/leadership are great. Regular group training to upskill and encourages study for certs if nothing going on. If kid gets sick I work remote for a couple days and lift everyday on lunch. Maybe shop around a bit and you may find a better gig that isn’t such a toxic work environment.
From my experience the best cleared jobs are working for companies that sell products, professional services or consulting to the gov. You get to keep your clearance, they usually pay a bit more and it’s harder to find cleared folks so a bit of job security and you don’t have to actually work for the gov 9 to 5. Downside it’s more of a real job where they actually expect work most of the time and obviously if the gov stops buying the product or services you quickly become unneeded
The key is to outperform, refer and hire better people and demonstrate to decision makers (I.e. the customer) that these guys are lazy and incompetent.
Basically gotta raise the bar hire and get in good graces enough to be part of the hiring process and you won’t have to deal with shitty team members anymore.
If you’re going contract to contract tho that’ll be tough
Is there anything particularly great about receiving security clearances? I may be confused, why would you want to get one unless you were staying in the public sector?
“show up on time” I’m out. I’m scheduled to start at 7:30 and I MIGHT be there by 8…ish…
How hard is it to get a clearance? Serious question
Working DoD IT contracts help accelerate my career and paid me big bucks with great benefits both in Afghanistan and back here (well, some of that was DOJ, but same difference). All because they needed me to have a TS/SCI and a pulse.
There were some shitbags, but I was offered to come on as a GS14 to do the same job I was doing as a contractor. Turned it down because GS14 was a big pay cut.
Love me some govt contracts! If you’re good you’re a friggin star as well!
Anyone have any DoD contacts for someone graduating in CIS with cybersecurity Specialization?
I got my start in IT contracting for the DoD almost 20 years ago. With the 80/20 rule in effect (20% of the people doing 80% of the work) it was an easy environment to get meaningful experience and to excel amongst my less motivated peers.
It opened doors. The security clearance alone gave me a head up over other candidates once I transitioned to civilian contracting.
Every x years your middleman contract company changes.
What sucks is that pto doesn’t keep accruing, all “new hires” under the new company so it doesn’t increase. Sometimes vacation and sick time is separate sometimes it’s just PTO.
Another crappy thing is getting into a convoluted 401k with vetting that takes longer than the contract lasts.
The worst aspect really are the silo’d duties. Something could require the assistance of another group or department who could have significantly less motivation to solve the problems, especially if they’re hundreds of miles away.
I’ve been trying to leave for years, initially because the pay was shit, but now because it’s really mind numbing with virtualization taking over. And the engineers put the factory reset keys adjacent to each other in the terminals. Awesome. Chairs. Coats. Bookbags. A walrus flipper slapping the left half of a keyboard and it’s useless until reprogramming.
My unofficial job lately is minding the lifer who can’t stop making dumb rightwing talking points. He’s generally a nice man but it’s like he’s infected with a newsmax browser popup virus. Other coworker(s) nearly resigned because of his daily dreadtalks[tm] about the hoax of global warming.
He repeated the lame “I identify as (inanimate object) ” joke in front of the wrong person. He’s no longer in that building.
We don’t share an office. *I’d* resign if that happened.
Different perspective. Sorry for the long post but not all experiences are the same some are better some are worse.
I do have seen hard as interviewes like welcome I am x blah blah build install kubernetes on this machine and run this html and after show dont so much tell but show me how will you trouble shoot abc and also seen some body hires that did not last more than 90 days.
So Yes I have seen some folks that I’m surprised can sharpen a pencil and still be alive…. one lady was crying cause I told her we should focus on the purpose of the meeting and not the next meeting for next week… and she is not ex military one mil cyber guy could figure rmf and got fired 4months in.
Anyhow I saw this job as an opportunity to grow and learn more since i have no illusions on my inteect plus some dont want complex work or even get of the desk to coordinate face to face. So that works for me cause I get to learn.
If i have downtime I am reading documentation or doing labs or bugging architects to learn which they tolerate for some reason
Typically I get one day home and four on office if I need more than that I have never been told no…
If there are no meetings on Friday I try to wfh on the afternoons but I am the dumb who is always 30 mins early to work to check on my stuff “i m paranoic like that’ once I worked a full week from the Antilles and that was cool. While reviewing project onboarding procedures and writing policy and a putting a simplish architecture together
For the customer I am one of those pesky 214 holders so I feel I speak their language Seen some guys mil and non mil that should not be even able to legally drive but not my department not my problem.
The company is providing a service as requested by the costumer so all I can do is do the best I can to set the customer for success and enable the fighters to fight better.
But old geriatric dudes, willing to be corrected on all this.
It’s good to vent but this sounds way better than what I do in the military currently. Working in a maintenance bay 8 hours a day on things that pilots constantly break because they need training. Never-ending, monotonous, soul-crushing work with TikTok-brained airmen.
But what this does tell me is I can keep my security clearance, finish my degree that comes with certs like Sec+ and do what you do?
You’re on a shitty contract, I’ve been fully remote for almost 6 years on multiple different contracts. 3 years at NG, 1.5 years at Amazon, 1.5 years almost at BAH
I work in IT at a company that mainly does DoD contracts, but doesn’t provide any DISA-level support services to the DoD. I’m basically our ISSO, even though that’s not my actual title. I love it.
Only thing I can say is I’ve done several interviews for contractors positions the past couple of months and they always included a technical interview.
Everything else sounds pretty spot on lol
It took me 2 years to become an ISSO starting with no experience, thanks to DOD contracts. I’ve been on a terrible contract myself in the past, but there’s a lot of demand its easy to jump ship if need be. It has helped me growth wise instead of staying stagnant in IT.
I’m currently stuck in between staying at my current remote job in UX or joining something called “Govtech Academy” since I heard overseas contractors get paid pretty well.
What are your thoughts on this? Seeing lots of back & forth here.
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