Compare civil service salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

The Foreign Service is the most prestigious and coveted role in the civil service, particularly, in terms of remuneration. They have the highest starting base salaries (around 5k) and are entitled to bonuses particular to the scheme above and beyond the normal schemes (retention bonuses in the 3/4/7/8/9th years in service, other special bonuses and allowances).

That said, they also have the roughest working hours (8am - 12am almost 7 days a week - and for the more intense Desks, 2-3am is the norm). You will be worked to the bone. You will be shouted at and the working environment is not for the faint of heart.

Its also a boiler-pot chock full of elites. Most FSOs (even the non scholars) are either local university scholars or hail from top universities abroad (Oxbridge/HYPSM and the ilk). Do a simple search on LinkedIn if you don’t believe me. Even second uppers are rare. A significant proportion are also law graduates or lawyers by training (given both the relevance of the role as well as the fact that it is the only role in the CS - other than the Legal Service - which pays well enough to make it a reasonable alternative to practicing law in the private sector).[Note: I have to caveat that I am talking about FSOs in the Political and Economic track.]

Put simply, it is the only job in the civil service where you can hope to draw mid five-figures a month in under 5 years - if you get in (one of the lucky 20-30 out of the 5000 or so applicants annually) and if you survive.

Great info!

Would you have any insight on the FSO scheme in the Functional/Corporate track?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Great info!

Would you have any insight on the FSO scheme in the Functional/Corporate track?

Starting pay is similar but dont expect the same progression or ROA. Quality of life can vary vastly across the various functional directorates.

Hi! What is the working hours for CS?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

The Foreign Service is the most prestigious and coveted role in the civil service, particularly, in terms of remuneration. They have the highest starting base salaries (around 5k) and are entitled to bonuses particular to the scheme above and beyond the normal schemes (retention bonuses in the 3/4/7/8/9th years in service, other special bonuses and allowances).

That said, they also have the roughest working hours (8am - 12am almost 7 days a week - and for the more intense Desks, 2-3am is the norm). You will be worked to the bone. You will be shouted at and the working environment is not for the faint of heart.

Its also a boiler-pot chock full of elites. Most FSOs (even the non scholars) are either local university scholars or hail from top universities abroad (Oxbridge/HYPSM and the ilk). Do a simple search on LinkedIn if you don’t believe me. Even second uppers are rare. A significant proportion are also law graduates or lawyers by training (given both the relevance of the role as well as the fact that it is the only role in the CS - other than the Legal Service - which pays well enough to make it a reasonable alternative to practicing law in the private sector).[Note: I have to caveat that I am talking about FSOs in the Political and Economic track.]

Put simply, it is the only job in the civil service where you can hope to draw mid five-figures a month in under 5 years - if you get in (one of the lucky 20-30 out of the 5000 or so applicants annually) and if you survive.

If I want to jiak liao bee, is corporate track better?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Sorry if this is random, but will I eventually be able to buy a condo with a normal civil servant salary?

Depends. You might not be able to afford a 4 bedroom penthouse unit, or something within the central region. However, a 'normal' condo will be well within your means. In my workplace I know of some singles who bought their own 1 bedder bachelor pad before they hit 30, and also many people who bought condos together with their not-filthy-rich spouses.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If I want to jiak liao bee, is corporate track better?

Everyone rotates. For the Functional track it’s every two years. Protocol, HR and Consular peeps work past midnight. Can you imagine having routine team meetings at 8-9pm - welcome to MFA.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Everyone rotates. For the Functional track it’s every two years. Protocol, HR and Consular peeps work past midnight. Can you imagine having routine team meetings at 8-9pm - welcome to MFA.

actually many SB and Min have long working hours.

my typical work week as follows
monday to friday - start work 9am end 8pm, 1030pm (after kids slp) continue to work end 12plus
sat - 3pm to 9pm
sun - 2am to 10am

i am from IT and managing a team of managers and engineers. there are too many activities under my purview.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

actually many SB and Min have long working hours.

my typical work week as follows
monday to friday - start work 9am end 8pm, 1030pm (after kids slp) continue to work end 12plus
sat - 3pm to 9pm
sun - 2am to 10am

i am from IT and managing a team of managers and engineers. there are too many activities under my purview.

to put in context, managing a team of mx11a and engineers (mx12/13 + contractors)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

actually many SB and Min have long working hours.

my typical work week as follows
monday to friday - start work 9am end 8pm, 1030pm (after kids slp) continue to work end 12plus
sat - 3pm to 9pm
sun - 2am to 10am

i am from IT and managing a team of managers and engineers. there are too many activities under my purview.

Thats fair and I presume you are fairly remunerated.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thats fair and I presume you are fairly remunerated.

Not sure compare to the rest. But i am getting about 18.5 to 19 months annual package as a mx10 equivalence