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    USDA Rural Development Reviews

    Updated September 13, 2018
    36 reviews

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    3.2
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    Thomas C. Dorr
    7 Ratings

    36 Employee Reviews

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    1. "Area Specialist"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Area Specialist
      Current Employee - Area Specialist

      I have been working at USDA Rural Development full-time

      Pros

      Excellent medical, dental, retirement, 401K benefits, paid time off, promotion opportunities, telework available, etc.

      Cons

      Occasional hiring freezes and occasional reductions in force are possible.

    2. "Terrible, Inefficient Agency"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - MFH Specialist in Indianapolis, IN
      Current Employee - MFH Specialist in Indianapolis, IN
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at USDA Rural Development full-time (More than 10 years)

      Pros

      Great Pay Scale
      Flexible schedules and leave

      Cons

      Little to No training
      Severely understaffed to do efficient work
      Government red tape
      Extremely slow processing times for every transaction, leading to frustrated customers
      Little power to enforce rules

      Advice to Management

      Put an extensive ongoing training program into place for all employees
      Increase the Full Time employee numbers by a LARGE amount so that one person is not overloaded with an unmanageable number of tasks, and that multiple persons can handle similar tasks so that jobs to not stop with one person. Hire more specialists and technicians that specialize in more specific areas of each program, rather than a very small amount of employees trying to master a huge amount of different subject areas (budgets, inspections, ADA rules, foreclosures, workout plans, transfers, substitutions, learning several computer programs, and countless other day to day tasks.
      Have an open line of Communication among field offices, state offices, finance offices, and national offices.
      Not belittling field office employees for asking questions when no training is in place in the first place.

    3. "Bad time to be a federal employee."

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Area Technician in Chicago, IL
      Current Employee - Area Technician in Chicago, IL
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at USDA Rural Development full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Schedule is great! The work life balance is great. We really do a lot of good in the community. We a help people every day.

      Cons

      USDA isn’t hiring right now. This includes internal promotions as well. No lateral movements, nothing. It’s a rough time to be a federal employee.

      Advice to Management

      Hire people! Let people move!

    4. "Loan officer"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      Pros

      Stable work environment with good job stability and good compensation structure

      Cons

      Changes can come slowly. Compensation versus performance may not be appropriate

    5. "Supervisor"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      Pros

      Somewhat job stability with federal government

      Cons

      Upper management are VERY incompetent. They are grandfathered in the old system and have been able to get away with harassment, bullying, and whatever they can do. Horrible management skills and most upper management do not have degrees in business. Please do not work here!

    6. "Overall a good place to work"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Area Director
      Former Employee - Area Director
      Recommends

      I worked at USDA Rural Development full-time (More than 5 years)

      Pros

      Great health insurance
      Transparent pay scale
      Help people
      Value experience as well as education
      Generous amounts of PTO

      Cons

      Government red tape
      Never enough employees for the amount of work

      Advice to Management

      Acknowledge the amazing things employees accomplish with limited resources.

    7. "What you make it"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at USDA Rural Development full-time

      Pros

      There are definitely opportunities for growth up to a certain level and then you would hit a ceiling. Management and Employees really are driven to help those in the surrounding rural communities. Great work-life balance.

      Cons

      There may be some outside of State offices they may be overlooked for promotions and somewhat slow to change overall.

      Advice to Management

      Don't be afraid to look at the unconventional candidate for potential. potential

    8. "USDA Rural Development- Civil Rights"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Washington, DC
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Washington, DC
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at USDA Rural Development full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Great benefits.
      Weekends off & all major holidays.
      Relaxed environment.

      Cons

      Commute to D.C. can be tiresome if you live anywhere but in the district.

    9. "Best job ever..in spite of uncertainty"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - GS 13 in Iowa City, IA
      Current Employee - GS 13 in Iowa City, IA
      Recommends
      Negative Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at USDA Rural Development full-time (More than 10 years)

      Pros

      Get to work with great people while helping rural towns, businesses and people. Every day is different. Wonderful work- life balance available with telework and flexible hours.

      Cons

      Uncertain future due to changes in administrations and federal budget. Lots of bureaucracy and some remnants of "old boy network" mentality. Not nimble so slow to effect change.

      Advice to Management

      Recognize the hard work and dedication of the employees in the field rather than continually focusing on those at State or National level.

    10. "Area Technician"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Area Technician
      Current Employee - Area Technician
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at USDA Rural Development full-time (More than 10 years)

      Pros

      Diverse programs that provide assistance to rural communities. Teleworking is available as well as a flexible work and leave schedule.

      Cons

      Because of the perpetual hiring freeze, as people retire or leave they are not replaced and their work is divided up among staff. I had better health care benefits when I was in the private sector. Budget cuts play havoc on any type of long-term planning.

      Advice to Management

      Assessment of your staff is key. Finding out their strength and weaknesses will really help make the team stronger. Place employees in areas or programs where they will thrive.

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