For all the flak constantly earned by government officials, it’s no wonder many young Filipinos are disillusioned from ever joining the civil service. This is a shame, considering that the government is in dire need of young, idealistic, and dynamic individuals with a heart to effect positive changes from within the ranks and commit the best years of their lives in the service of the Filipino public.
In this week’s edition of Q&A Tuesdays, we respond to a question sent in by one of our readers on what it takes to be part of the Philippines civil service.
In about a year I will be graduating from college. At the moment, I am considering all my employment options so that I could plan ahead and be strategic with my goals. One of my options is working for the government. I think being part of the civil service will help me hone my skills, be in touch with the needs of the public, and allow me to have a direct hand in rendering vital services to the public. However, I am held back by the thoughts of small pay, office politics, illegal schemes, and the overall bad reputation of government employees, not to mention that I don’t want to be associated with what I think is an incompetent, abusive, and power-hungry administration. Thoughts?
- Pearl (Bagac, Bataan)It is heartening to note that despite the generally bleak sentiment regular Filipinos have toward government employees, there are still some young people like you who are seriously considering a career in the government.
First of all, one can have a rewarding and fulfilling career in the government – just not financially, but more on that later. There are plenty of employment options available to those who seek to get themselves involved in the civil service as the government continues to ramp up its operations.
Consider your academic background and existing skillset. Assess yourself and your capabilities and look at which office in the government suits you best. Proceed from there.
Know, however, that except for a few posts, work in the government requires eligibility. In other words, you need to be eligible for the position you are aiming for. Apart from educational and work experience requirements, one of the most common eligibility requirements is civil service eligibility obtained by passing the Civil Service Exam either for professional or sub-professional levels.
READ: Tips and pointers on how to ace the Civil Service Exam in the Philippines
However, now is as good a time as any to disabuse yourself from any romantic notion you may have about civil service.
Consider, for instance, that working as a government employee will not make you filthy rich. Civil service is a noble sacrifice made by those with the heart and desire to render genuine service to the public without thoughts of getting rewarded financially for it.
The 1987 Constitution puts it best: “Public office is a public trust.” The only way to get rich while working for the government is through nefarious and corrupt schemes that are really reflective of your own upbringing and fragile sense of morality more than anything.
In addition, working for the government does not necessarily mean that you have to accept everything that’s being told and said by government leaders.
Your freedom of expression and unique appreciation of things do not disappear by mere reason that you are already part of the government. You can still criticize questionable policies, challenge illogical orders, and make your voice be heard in the sphere of public discourse. After all, you work for the people and not for politicians; your loyalty should therefore lie with the public and not anybody else.
So go ahead, make working for the government one of your options. Better yet, act on it and make yourself part of the civil service. It’s a path less taken by many fresh graduates who prefer to take their chances in the private sector, but with the right motivation and the right attitude, it’s a career option that you will find very fulfilling.