# Pros and Cons of Becoming a Government Contractor

- Link: https://www.lumlawgroup.com/pros-and-cons-of-becoming-a-government-contractor/
- Published: 2019-11-08T01:11:36-08:00
- Author: Albert J Lum

Employment with the government, whether full-time and permanent or on a contractual
basis, comes with a unique set of opportunities and challenges. The nature of government
operations differs dramatically in many ways from the private sector. For example,
there are generally tighter regulations around government work as well as more reporting
requirements, whereas with the private sector there is a less consistent supply 
of work and availability of jobs tends to be more volatile than with the federal
government. Here are a few tips on what to expect when considering a federal contracting
gig.

## **You’ll Need to Tighten Up Your Security**

Because of the sensitivity of state secrets and other confidentiality concerns, 
a clean record is a must for any contracting job which requires access to classified
information. Likewise, if you’re dealing with anything tech, you’ll need to make
sure that the equipment you’re using is up to date in terms of security.  Recent
national security concerns regarding foreign interference in governmental operations
mean security will likely only get tighter in the future. If you’re working with
the Department of Defense, you’ll need to make sure that you comply with [NIST 800-171 cybersecurity requirements](https://www.totem.tech/nist-800-171-security-assessment-preparation-checklist/).

## **You Can Rely on Your Employer**

Unlike private companies, the federal government is unlikely to “go out of business”–
at least not any time soon. The US federal government operates on a multi-trillion
dollar annual budget, far surpassing the average corporation listed on the stock
exchange.  A huge portion of this is devoted to[ contracting research and development](https://www.bcg.com/en-ca/publications/2017/public-sector-agency-transformation-why-startups-dont-bid-government-contracts.aspx)
from third parties, especially in the IT field. Of course, contract jobs aren’t 
guaranteed, but you’ll know that there’s fiscal stability backing up your contract.

## **Expect Delays and Change Orders**

Another important way that government work differs from the private sector is the
frequent change in procedure and execution of projects. This is due to the changing
nature of government makeup, bureaucratic shifts in priorities and other issues 
not faced in the private sector. Flexibility can help you excel.

## **You’ll Get Guaranteed Payment**

In the private sector, collecting on debts owed eats up a substantial portion of
many companies’ bottom lines. Efforts to collect money often mean lengthy campaigns
that are sometimes unsuccessful. The government, on the other hand, is usually reliable
in terms of paying contractors on time. 

Working on a contractual basis with the government can be rewarding, but you should
be aware of what to expect going in. Many contractors mistakenly assume that working
for the government will be much like working in the private sector. It is actually
quite different, but not necessarily in a bad way.

**Read more: **[**How Much Protection Does Your Business Actually Need?**](https://lumlawgroup.com/Staging/how-much-protection-does-your-business-actually-need/)