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Staying with the US Digital Service

mattcutts.com

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Re: Staying with the US Digital Service

#231

Post by Matt_Cutts »

throwaway9865 wrote: post #71

Hi Looking at the salary and that I'm in Baltimore making $135k as Sr. UI/UXer (designing/coding sites apps for Govt agencies) I'm not sure the salary range of up to $163k would be worth it. That's probably not for UI/UXers or is it? My rent here in Baltimore with utilities is 2k ... if I moved to D.C. A lot of the additional salary would be absorbed by the doubling or tripling my cost of rent. Thus I wonder why remo…

I believe the HHS/CMS team spends quite a bit of time in Baltimore, because that's where CMS is. So it might still be worth talking to a USDS recruiter to see if it could be a good match.

Re: Staying with the US Digital Service

#232

Post by Matt_Cutts »

saycheese wrote: post #125

>> "I'm the head of the webspam team at Google." Just a heads up that the above is on your HN profile: https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=Matt_Cutts

I updated my profile--thanks! It's a bit daunting to think about all the places where I'll need to update my profile/bio. :)

Re: Staying with the US Digital Service

#234

Post by Matt_Cutts »

redtapemachete wrote: post #214
edblarney wrote: post #108

I applaud your commitment to civic duty. I wish more of the big tech players would encourage leaves of absence to partake in these important tasks.

Microsoft has a special civic leave program for this work, and work like it!

That's pretty cool. I would love to see Google make this option easier for people who want to help with improving civic tech at the local, state, or federal level.

Re: Staying with the US Digital Service

#235

Post by wslack »

bogomipz wrote: post #204

Can explain briefly how 18F relates to USDS? I guess I thought that 18F was the group behind healthcare.gov in the US and clearly I have that wrong. Thanks.

Check this part of the thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13433319

Neither 18F or USDS existed when healthcare.gov launched.

Re: Staying with the US Digital Service

#237

Post by pc86 »

stale2002 wrote: post #197
pc86 wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

NSEERS is not even remotely a Muslim registry. It says if you're from one of five countries or are specifically selected, you have to pass additional scrutiny to enter the US and are subject to additional notification and reporting requirements.

Well it is effectively the same as what Trump wants to implement. So it is as much of a Muslim registery as his plan. (which, as you argue, is not at all)

No it's not. Trump said he wanted to register people based on their religion. NSEERS says if you're from one of five countries or are individually selected, you have to have additional screening. Also NSEERS doesn't even exist anymore.

Re: Staying with the US Digital Service

#238

Post by jgalt212 »

I said this in an earlier thread, but also applies to Matt's (and other Googlers) work for the USG.

AT&T, through Bell Labs, tried to be indispensable to the US Govt throughout the Cold War so that it would allow its monopoly to continue to exist. Google is following the same game plan. The problem with this game plan is that by Google seeming too cozy with USG it makes it harder for it to operate in foreign markets. AT&T did not have this problem as foreign markets during the Cold War were much smaller and more closed.

Re: Staying with the US Digital Service

#239

Post by ganley »

shostack wrote: post #157
dkhenry wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand your feeling, and even if you could get to the 163k pay rate (which you might not) you would be looking at a different lifestyle. Its important to go into the process knowing that a Job at the USDS isn't going to make the most financial sense, many people have turned down packages many multiples of 163k for the opportunity to make a difference on a scale that people would only dream about. If your not ex…

Does that fact tend to "filter out" those who are not young and unencumbered by financial obligations like mortgages and families or those who are well off?

Well, it definitely filtered me out. And BTW, $163K is for a step 10. New government employees almost always start as a step 1.

Re: Staying with the US Digital Service

#240

Post by ganley »

tobltobs wrote: post #78
iblaine wrote: post #69

> Working for the government doesn’t pay as well as a big company in Silicon Valley. We don’t get any free lunches. Many days are incredibly frustrating. All I can tell you is that the work is deeply important and inspiring, and you have a chance to work on things that genuinely make peoples’ lives better. Pretty easy thing to say when you already have millions in your bank account.

Without millions in in your bank account you wont be starving working for the USDS either.

Starving, no. But making a lot less than you could make elsewhere.
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