MEETING /
TOP STUDENTS URGED TO JOIN PUBLIC SECTOR JASMINE HO |
18.10.2011
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Credit: SPF
Top tertiary students joining the public service sector can expect benefits comparable to multinational corporations, said Yong Ying-I, permanent health secretary, at an exclusive networking event held Oct. 11, 2011 at the National University of Singapore.
The networking event gave students the chance to meet staff from 36 ministries and statutory boards, including the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health. The event, NUS Public Service Networking 2011, was only opened to selected NUS students who had outstanding academic results.
Yong said that the younger generation often hesitates to become civil servants due to their misconceptions regarding the public sector.
“Firstly, my young staff are surprised that the starting pay of a job in the public sector is comparable to the private sector, contrary to the longstanding urban legend from their parents’ time,” she said.
Besides a rewarding pay, she added, the public sector also provides a dynamic work environment.
“Many of you do not know what you want to pursue as a career and wish to try out a diverse range of jobs,” Yong said. “In the public sector, we provide the flexibility for you to work across different agencies and accumulate different experiences.”
She cited the example of an environment agency officer who went off to France to pursue her master’s degree through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, only to come back and rejoin the National Environment Agency.
Her reason: to join her husband who was relocated back to Singapore from France.
She also pointed out that working for the public sector is no longer mundane, as given “the uncertainties that the public sector is facing now”, public servants have to deal with new challenges.
Making references to the online publications and videos surrounding the recent presidential elections, which she described as “hilarious, but some were downright cruel”, she said that public servants are now expected to deal with a new political climate and learn to listen what the public wants.
Several of the students said that they were convinced by Yong’s speech to consider a public service career.
“I will definitely consider a career with the government given such good pay and chances to learn in overseas environment as mentioned by her,” Ally Le , 22, a third-year life sciences undergraduate said.
However, other students are still unsure about pursuing a civil servant career.
A fourth-year NUS business student, who only wanted to be known as Lee, said, “There is much more bureaucracy involved when working for the government, so I’m not too keen.”
The networking event gave students the chance to meet staff from 36 ministries and statutory boards, including the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health. The event, NUS Public Service Networking 2011, was only opened to selected NUS students who had outstanding academic results.
Yong said that the younger generation often hesitates to become civil servants due to their misconceptions regarding the public sector.
“Firstly, my young staff are surprised that the starting pay of a job in the public sector is comparable to the private sector, contrary to the longstanding urban legend from their parents’ time,” she said.
Besides a rewarding pay, she added, the public sector also provides a dynamic work environment.
“Many of you do not know what you want to pursue as a career and wish to try out a diverse range of jobs,” Yong said. “In the public sector, we provide the flexibility for you to work across different agencies and accumulate different experiences.”
She cited the example of an environment agency officer who went off to France to pursue her master’s degree through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, only to come back and rejoin the National Environment Agency.
Her reason: to join her husband who was relocated back to Singapore from France.
She also pointed out that working for the public sector is no longer mundane, as given “the uncertainties that the public sector is facing now”, public servants have to deal with new challenges.
Making references to the online publications and videos surrounding the recent presidential elections, which she described as “hilarious, but some were downright cruel”, she said that public servants are now expected to deal with a new political climate and learn to listen what the public wants.
Several of the students said that they were convinced by Yong’s speech to consider a public service career.
“I will definitely consider a career with the government given such good pay and chances to learn in overseas environment as mentioned by her,” Ally Le , 22, a third-year life sciences undergraduate said.
However, other students are still unsure about pursuing a civil servant career.
A fourth-year NUS business student, who only wanted to be known as Lee, said, “There is much more bureaucracy involved when working for the government, so I’m not too keen.”