When you’re a govie, there’s a variety of things that only you and your peers might understand. Here at GovLoop, we adore govie employees and all that you do — we think you’re a very special group of people. So for fun, the GovLoop staff chimed in on a series of things that make you a govie. We wanted to catalog them (with GIFs, no less). Without further ado, here are just a few of things that define you as a government employee.
Make sure to head to the bottom of the post to add in your own “You Know You’re a Govie When…”
You bring up the Department of Interior’s Instagram feed at a party
During the winter your browser homepage is set to OPM’s status page
You plan major life events (weddings, your child’s baptism perchance) based on the congressional recess schedule
You can’t see your desk because it’s covered in lanyards and name badges from gov events
You celebrate New Year’s on September 30th.
You get sign-offs on your grocery lists
You consider your finest artwork to be done with a whiteboard and dry erase markers
You tell your kids they are sequestered instead of grounded
You thank the FDA after buying your food
You set money limits on your Christmas gifts
Instead of buying a new couch, you procure one
You and your best friend speak only in government acronyms
You actually have positive DMV stories because you know all about their recent efforts to go digital
Your Kindle is full of white papers
Your last fight ended in a continuing resolution
You are not allowed to work overtime, but you do anyways (don’t tell your boss!)
Your list of fave celebs includes federal CTOs and chief budget officers
You carry a Blackberry, iPhone and tablet. But none can access your personal email
You debate the merits of the C Fund and G Fund
You have an award-winning collection of lanyards
You are okay asking your co-workers how much money they make (what grade level are you? Step 1?)
You have USAJOBS bookmarked
You take two weeks off, because you have too much PTO built up
Per diem becomes your budget constraint, even on vacation
You love your country and work harder for the public good than anyone we know
So, there you have it. Now we want to hear from you! In the comments, fill in this blank: You know you’re a govie when _______