Govt Job Offer
 

I receive a job offer from a Ministry but I prefer another job from Stats Board, but the Stats Board have not call me for an interview. The status updated in Career@Gov for the Stats Board position was "In Process".

Under this situation, can I agree to accept the offer from Ministry first, while waiting for the Stats Board interview? If Stats board offers me the job, then I inform the Ministry that I have better offer? I know this will not appear good in me, but I don't dare to take the risk to reject the Ministry, just in case the Stats Board did not call me for interview or I was not selected for the job. Anyone have experience similar situation before? Can give some advice? I'm really lost now..

Is there any difference in pay and career progression in stats boards and ministries? If i receive a job offer from both, which would be a better choice?

I was in a similar situation as you except that Ministry A made an offer to me and I had to reply them my acceptance or decline job offer before my scheduled interview with Ministry B. I decided to take the risk to decline Ministry A's offer before my interview with Ministry B as I felt that Ministry B's job scope and environment would likely be more suitable for me. Hence I am taking a risk to decline Ministry A's offer while pending the confirmed interview with Ministry B. For my case then, I was still under employment with a statutory board and my interview with Ministry B is confirmed. Hence in the event I rejected ministry a and ministry b also rejected me, at least I still got my current job to fall back on.

You may wish to assess whether do you think your chance with the stat board is high enough and you are willing to take a risk to decline Ministry offer. Usually, in process in career gov doesn't mean you will get an interview for sure. This has happened to me before and in process can become unsuccessful for reason unknown to you. If you do not like to take risk, assess whether the ministry offer is reasonable and whether you will like the job or not. You may want to accept the ministry offer since the start board's interview is not firm and you are in need of a job and the ministry offer is acceptable to you. However if you accept ministry offer, signed on the dotted line and back out at the last minute cos you decided to accept another better offer say from stat board, you have to prepare that in future your application to the ministry may not be considered .i.e the ministry hr dept may blacklist your name. Hope the above sharing is useful and you can make a wise informed choice

Civil servant KPI during appraisal
 

Is it true that nowadays civil servants are required / encouraged to do special extra KPI in their appraisal every year on top of those in the normal job scope. Like organise or participate in public outreach events and exhibitions, give talks, supervise interns, visit the schools or engage reporters to talk about the work they do in the civil/public service?

Is it compulsory for all or only for those ambitious ones who are trying to outperform or stand out for a promotion?

Are the directors and managers being made to encourage their subordinates to do extra work?

These extra tasks outside of primary jobscope has been there all along in the govt sector.

And no, its not compulsory for you to participate in public outreach. Unless you are in that specific department that handles these activities because that will be your primary jobscope.

Directors will encourage staffs to join these but ultimately, its your choice. They can't force you.

But during performance appraisal, if all things equal, naturally the person whom did more additional tasks will get a better rank over you. Simple logic.

cannot siam CCA one
if nt hw u standout during appraisal

Yes but if one cocks up, it's worse than doing just well in your routine work.

Tech/engineering career
 

For engineering/IT jobs, is it true that in the public sector, there is not much chance of staying a technical specialist in the long run?

I understand that there may be real engineering work only for entry level fresh grad engineers.

But they'll be moved up to project management in the long run eventually, mostly handling outsourced projects, handing budgeting, procurements and tenders, talking to vendors about project specifications and requirements, and presenting project updates to management.

In short, there is no long term career route for technically inclined people.

People do not have the choice to stay in a technical role due to the career advancement policy in public sector. Most people would be pressured to move up to project management roles where they may stay stagnant unless they're scholar of some kind.

Is the understanding correct? Are there places within the public sector that allow engineers to specialize in technical work?

It is true to a certain extent. The amount of estabs in public sector for senior specialists are very little as compared to managerial roles. From here, you can already differentiate the different path. There are definitely more senior managers role as compared to senior specialists. One thing for sure is that your salary will still go up yearly until you reached the ceiling :)

What to expect from a IT Support Technician/Desktop Support working in A-STAR? My very first job, hence I'm curious.