Yes I agree with this also. There is alot of restructuring/redundancy etc. My company just had a re organisation. However we are all aware of the instability. The stability in CS does not entice me to join them. I am mentally prepared that job security is uncertain. If it does happens, I will need to see what the next steps. So meanwhile earn whatever there is while I am here.

Will being in civil service allow me to reach the salary to purchase condo? Or do i have to settle for HDB in the future when i get married?

You can even buy landed if you become Head of Civil Service or Perm Secs. Best still, get into politics and become the next next PM.

Controversial point but I feel that ppl who purely value the stability in CS, with no sense of mission etc, tend to be the less competent/capable folks who otherwise, wouldn't have survived/performed well in private. True that private sector is more cut throat but come on man let's face it, it's just practical for organisations to weed out incompetent folks - sth that CS can't do which leads to inefficiency and financial burden in supporting extremely non-performing personnel.

Also feel that being in CS will inadvertently cause one to be stuck within the organisation and the skills applicability elsewhere is fairly limited for the generalist roles. What if one made a significant mistake and got blacklisted; got disliked by the bosses; doesn't socialise well with the team; low visibility and etc. - the option to leave and start a fresh beginning elsewhere would be challenging. It's also much easier to transit from private to public but not the reverse.

So, if the pay package is similar for CS and your current company. Wouldn't it make better sense to join CS for the additional stability? Unless you are really passionate and interested in the current job you are doing :)

Question is how many people can be the head? The same goes for any private organisation as there are just that few roles for leadership.

The CS culture is just not something that I want. If I am getting the same package as CS, can CS give me a good increment if I join them?


I won't trade anything for stability especially at this time of my career. Even what I am older, I wont want to go CS as well.

Many people who left my company due to redundancy have gotten good packages and can take a good break or retire. Some have moved on to another company. This is especially so if you have a niched skillset.

Bro, this is called a loser mentality. You have not even begun walking and have already given up.

Feel that the job security part for CS is like an excuse for ppl who are less competence/have poorer performance as a safe heaven to keep their jobs. Corporates on the other hand has to be practical to weed out less competent and dead weights within the organisation - sth that CS doesn't really practise which leads to a higher level of inefficiencies and a bunch of farmers with no career aspiration and sense of mission.

Also the job transferability in CS is rather limited for generalist roles and in the event that one gets black listed; commit a serious mistake; immediate boss holds some prejudice; doesn't fit in with the team; and other office politics, that person would be stuck.

I rather do what is feasible at my current stage than to think of being a head.

A winner is not defined by your positon at work.