is public sector good for fresh grad?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Decent pay, school environment, iron rice bowl. Most are just scared of the real working world.

True indeed. Scared of the real working world.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

then why do so many smart graduates join civil service? (pay is also not exceptionally high )

exam smart and corporate smart is different.

No more rice bowl in public service.

it quite boring working in public sector, you might not gain any working experience if you are fresh grad and working in public sector. The job you doing might not relevant, i think your skill might outdated.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

it quite boring working in public sector, you might not gain any working experience if you are fresh grad and working in public sector. The job you doing might not relevant, i think your skill might outdated.

can it be considered retirement village?

many take public sector as a retirement job..

cos is most stable no need scared retrench when you are 40+

when you are young should go out and see the different working industry..

that what i think..

Originally Posted by wintrysun

Hi all, my friends and I have very differing views on public sector work for fresh grad. May I know if anyone (been a fresh grad there for long), would you recommend starting your career there?

Many said public sector is a dead end. Is it true that most skills are not transferable? hence the high pay?

Be the way, recession is on its way, and many people are applying for public sector jobs. Heard the interview process is increasingly becoming more difficult. Are you sure you can afford to be pick and choose? Better grab a job soon before the storm hits.

Originally Posted by wintrysun

Hi all, my friends and I have very differing views on public sector work for fresh grad. May I know if anyone (been a fresh grad there for long), would you recommend starting your career there?

Many said public sector is a dead end. Is it true that most skills are not transferable? hence the high pay?

I can't speak for all roles in the public sector, but there are many transferable skills.
Skills wise, the government does what they preach. There is constant upgrading and training. Take myself for example, I am constantly being exposed to and trained in the latest tech for my industry. My fellow university friends in the private sector are still using tech a generation behind. How are these skills not transferable? Tech wise, some private companies cut training to save cost. The longer you stay, the more obsolete you become. Difficult for a one-size-fits-all analysis. You gave vague details on your field of study.

Where ever you go, be it public or private, there will be people who do the minimum. End of the day, it depends on yourself.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I can't speak for all roles in the public sector, but there are many transferable skills.
Skills wise, the government does what they preach. There is constant upgrading and training. Take myself for example, I am constantly being exposed to and trained in the latest tech for my industry. My fellow university friends in the private sector are still using tech a generation behind. How are these skills not transferable? Tech wise, some private companies cut training to save cost. The longer you stay, the more obsolete you become. Difficult for a one-size-fits-all analysis. You gave vague details on your field of study.

Where ever you go, be it public or private, there will be people who do the minimum. End of the day, it depends on yourself.

Then let's be specific then as I am interested to know about your upgrading in your domain. You mentioned tech. Do you mean software development?

If so, how are your skills in software development being upgraded. Let's not be vague. Have you ventured in using languages outside C# or Java? What methods are you using now in machine learning? Has your program infrastructure evolved to anything that uses proper design patterns? What about data management? Are you using languages specific to handling large data sets like KDB, Hadoop?

My point is that it's very easy to get the idea that you've upgraded your skills when the government pays for a 3 hour group lesson. It's another thing to actually get upgrade when your company, can be private or public, spends the next 6 months adopting the technology.

Many here are simply parroting what they heard elsewhere about public sector. The truth is that it doesn't apply to all, maybe around 60-70% of public sector is like that. The other 30-40% are doing industry leading work that is well sought after in the public sector as well.

My brother-in-law is moving from a ministry into private sector after 13 years inside. He received a healthy 30% pay increment due to a jump in position. The private company had chased him since January via a headhunter, he made his final decision in April and has been handing over his work for the past 2 months. Also collected his PB for last year which adds up to slightly more than the annual salary of a junior staff (2-3 years experience).