This study sought to identify the factors that dominate the process of construction of the psychological contract of individuals with organizations, focusing on a particular organization. The proposed use of the theory of psychological contract was due to the assumption that this model would recognize explicit or implicit factors that characterized the relationship between the organization and the individual, whether in contract preparation or even break the expectations of new employees. We decided to develop qualitative case study with exploratory characteristics. The organization selected was a Brazilian federal state enterprise based in Rio de Janeiro, in the period January 2008 to June 2009, renewed 37% of effective staff with the hiring of more than 600 employees. The strategy adopted for data collection was based on semi-structured questionnaires and group interviews with employees of some higher levels of education, identifying the main reasons that prompted the entry of the same state and how their experiences and ways of thinking influence their relationship with the organization. The results confirm some common beliefs about the motivation of individuals to choose a state employment, foremost among them the search for a more stable situation, especially for those over a certain age group, combined with the possibility of better management quality of life. Although the results lead to the perception of a positive image of the public and a reciprocal relationship between the individual and the organization, they still believe there is need for improvement in relation to concrete opportunities for professional growth and evaluation system for management skills. All of these factors, especially for younger individuals may lead to the disruption of the psychological contract.