5/5/2024 · 2 min read · governmentcareerdevelopmentadvice
Before I Begin: The views represented here are my own and have never been views of my employer(s). Last Updated: May 2024
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Going Into Gov Tech
Note: This is a riff on this post here.
- Don’t be afraid to step across org hierarchy early and often
- Measure success in improved outcomes to users
- Make tactical changes yourself - don’t stray too far from your expertise - don’t solely rely on contractors to set & execute on their own strategy
- Nudging the rudder of the ship 1° affects it’s long-term trajectory
- The code you write (or your teams) will be a liability 5+ years from now
- Writing software on a piece of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) is next to impossible - try to change this with Cloud IDEs, getting locally installable software approved, etc.
- It is almost always a people/process problem and not a technical problem
- It’s easier to make changes to an org from a place of understanding - rather than from a place of arrogance
- Question how and why processes exist that have created or will create more bureaucracy
- Interpret memos & directives on your own - otherwise someone else will
- Be careful what you say ‘yes’ to - carve out dedicated heads down time for deep thinking. There will be enough work for you to stay at a place for your entire career
- Call your colleagues - even if it’s for 5 minutes - learn why they are there and what keeps them there
- Know when you reach the height of your power & recognize that it is probably your time to leave
- Be bold - a strong vision for how things could be can be a HUGE motivating factor. I’ve put this into practice with projects like tracking CO2 emissions across government websites, creating government design systems, and exploring federal AI implementations.
- Unbury great people from within the org and let them execute & lead
- It is OK to be wrong - solicit feedback early and often - so long as you course correct quickly
- Never forget why you started & the peoples’ lives you are changing. Whether you’re working on design systems, software templates, or exploring new technologies, focus on the impact on users’ lives.
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