Fresh graduates want to think that they ought to start off in the private sector because it is more dynamic and offers more room for growth. However, many end up with mediocre pay, long hours of work and slow progression. They also tend to believe that they can switch to civil service easily at a later stage of their career, having accumulated adequate experience in the private sector. On the contrary, the selection process for a government job is far more stringent than what many think, with academic credential being an important consideration. Out of all who applied, only a handful manage to get in.