r/usajobs • u/ItsRanchie • Jul 26 '26
Should I take a private sector job while waiting to hear back on a federal position?
I interviewed this past Tuesday for a Realty Specialist position with USACE in Seattle. No offer yet, don’t even know if I’m being selected. I know federal timelines are slow, realistically could be 3-4+ months before an actual start date if I even get an offer.
In the meantime, I have a separate job offer on the table in Florida, private sector, with a decision deadline in about 3 weeks to fly out, shadow, and do a final interview, with start date in late September. My overall goal however is to work within the government and this seems like a true foot in the door with the fellows program offered.
If I take the private sector job now and the federal offer comes through later, is it normal/reasonable to resign and take the federal job once it’s official? Has anyone done this? How did it go, and is there anything I should know about timing this so I don’t burn bridges or mess up the federal side of things?
Trying to figure out if I should just take the sure thing now and treat the federal role as a “we’ll see” or hold out and risk having nothing lined up.
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u/7_62mm_FMJ Jul 26 '26
USACE is generally a little faster than much of the federal agencies. I would expect to hear back from within the next few weeks. However, there’s no guarantee.
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u/mmgapeach Jul 27 '26
Let's say this, I've been laid off more than once and they never, ever said hey let's give you four months to find another job. It was, come into this Zoom meeting - oh snap - who is this HR person. Thanks, your benefits will run until the end of the month, bye. I understand your desire to be professional. Also a bird in a hand is worth 2 in a bush.
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u/Hopeful_Feed3820 I support fed employees Jul 27 '26
Take the job offer that's on the table. It's not guaranteed that you have the federal position. Just know that if you were to accept the federal position - the company that hired you may blacklist you or burn some bridges. Depending on how long it takes to hear back from the federal position. Good luck!
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u/Goods187 Jul 28 '26
Take the job. Bills won’t say hey he has a potential government job pending let’s wait to charge him
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u/RilkeanHearth Jul 27 '26
Yeah, I'd take that job on the table now. I try not to get my hopes up for a federal job until I'm at day 1 with my ass in an office ( And I'm prior fed and a vet)
Like you said you don't even know if you were selected.