Civil Svc/ Statboard - Typical Timeline for making a Hiring Decision

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What is the working culture like at MFA for those in the political and economic track? Apart from long working hours, what's the relationship like between management and subordinates? Reviews on Glassdoor seem to paint a particularly negative picture.

Entered the second round interview but failed it back in Nov 2019. The person that conducted the day 1 activities was a new hire for about 9 months, and he told us that he worked till around 11pm most of the time for the first 6 months because he was so busy trying to learn the ropes during an honest conversation at the end of day 1. Starting pay averaging 4.5k for FSO regardless of track, though I'm not sure if the pay will scale according to your work exp.

According to him, not a lot of onboarding except for the most basic first 2-3 days HR spiel if you are really unlucky because it's up to the senior before you to guide. For him, his senior left for the 3 year overseas posting about a week or two into his job so he had to learn a lot on the job by asking around. I honestly can't remember if his department gave him any support during his first months since it's been nearly half a year since I went for the interview and I don't remember much of the conversation, but it is likely they did so even if it was in a limited fashion. Can't remember if your role rotates after every 6 year cycle of local+overseas or if its on a yearly basis.

Basically, you should enter expecting the worst while hoping for the best as with any other job. The FSO role is pretty backbreaking, but you'll at least have a meaningful career and never stay bored for too long.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What is the working culture like at MFA for those in the political and economic track? Apart from long working hours, what's the relationship like between management and subordinates? Reviews on Glassdoor seem to paint a particularly negative picture.

Entered the second round interview but failed it back in Nov 2019. The person that conducted the day 1 activities was a new hire for about 9 months, and he told us during an honest conversation at the end of day 1 that he worked till around 11pm most of the time for the first 6 months because he was so busy trying to learn the ropes. Starting pay averaging 4.5k for FSO regardless of track, though I'm not sure if the pay will scale according to your work exp. It's also pretty difficult to get in - about an average of 1/4 of applicants pass the first round and 5% of that pass the second if I recall the numbers correctly.

According to him, not a lot of onboarding except for the most basic first 2-3 days HR spiel if you are really unlucky because it's up to the senior before you to guide. For him, his senior left for the 3 year overseas posting about a week or two into his job so he had to learn a lot on the job by asking around. I honestly can't remember if his department gave him any support during his first months since it's been nearly half a year since I went for the interview and I don't remember much of the conversation, but it is likely they did so even if it was in a limited fashion. Can't remember if your role rotates after every 6 year cycle of local+overseas or if its on a yearly basis.

Basically, you should enter expecting the worst while hoping for the best as with any other job. The FSO role is pretty backbreaking, but you'll at least have a meaningful career and never stay bored for too long.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What is the working culture like at MFA for those in the political and economic track? Apart from long working hours, what's the relationship like between management and subordinates? Reviews on Glassdoor seem to paint a particularly negative picture.

Entered the second round interview but failed it back in Nov 2019. The person that conducted the day 1 activities was a new hire for about 9 months, and he told us during an honest conversation at the end of day 1 that he worked till around 11pm most of the time for the first 6 months because he was so busy trying to learn the ropes. Starting pay averaging 4.5k for FSO regardless of track, though I'm not sure if the pay will scale according to your work exp. It's also pretty difficult to get in - about an average of 1/4 of applicants pass the first round and 5% of that pass the second if I recall the numbers correctly.

According to him, there won't be a lot of onboarding except for the most basic first 2-3 days HR spiel if you are really unlucky because it's up to the senior before you to guide. For him, his senior left for the 3 year overseas posting about a week or two into his job so he had to learn a lot on the job by asking around. I honestly can't remember if his department gave him any support during his first months since it's been nearly half a year since I went for the interview and I don't remember much of the conversation, but it is likely they did so even if it was in a limited fashion. Can't remember if your role rotates after every 6 year cycle of local+overseas or if its on a yearly basis.

Basically, you should enter expecting the worst while hoping for the best as with any other job. The FSO role is pretty backbreaking, but you'll at least have a meaningful career and never stay bored for too long.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hey, thanks a lot for your advice. Just wondering if anybody would even bother shortlisting with someone who has a 3 months stint. I have been low balled by them before in the past where they offered me lower than my last drawn in private sector of $3,500.

Yup, of course! I had 2 x 3 months stints (w 2 months unemployment interval between each stint) in my resume and i'm now in the service. Just make sure you flesh out your skills as much as you can and explain properly the duration if they ask.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

The first time HR called you, was the application period over? Or still accepting applications? Thanks

I think it was still accepting, but I cant be 100% sure on that since I didn't really check and it was over a month ago

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yup, of course! I had 2 x 3 months stints (w 2 months unemployment interval between each stint) in my resume and i'm now in the service. Just make sure you flesh out your skills as much as you can and explain properly the duration if they ask.

Sorry to add on, i think they lowballed because they dont consider 3 months as working experience, so to speak. In my case, i graduated last year and HR explained that even with my stints, they took me in on a fresh grad level w no formal prior experiences.

Does anyone know if min/SB will update portal status or send rejection email? Thanks guys

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Does anyone know if min/SB will update portal status or send rejection email? Thanks guys

They usually will notify you if rejected (in either or both of the ways). Some will be very fast, some will be very slow

I only had a contract job experience (which was paid quite poorly below market rate). Switching into another field in public sector but the job experience I had is not relevant. Will the salary be lowballed, or will I be considered as a fresh grad and getting a decent salary?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I only had a contract job experience (which was paid quite poorly below market rate). Switching into another field in public sector but the job experience I had is not relevant. Will the salary be lowballed, or will I be considered as a fresh grad and getting a decent salary?

It will depend. I have had a conversation with HR a few years back because my starting salary low as a frontline worker (I was working at a front desk job), and his explaination was that if I ever transition to a managing role in a non-related field from a frontliner and if the previous company is willing to provide you with a reference, you might be able to start off with a pay in the management level if you get the job rather than scaling off from your frontline pay. However, if it's another entry level role, your pay will likely be scaled according to your previous pay unless you have relevant experience you can bring from your past workplace. If your workplace knows they can get away with paying you lower, they will do so.

Let us know how long you have been in the workforce, add maybe a short description of your previous contract job, talk about the current position you are applying to as well as where you graduated from so we have more to be able to help you. However, you should expect to be lowballed for most entry level jobs given the current climate and the number of competitors you are facing (many fresh grads now since it's June).