Civil Service Job Interview

[Acemundo]

that's because PS is a super VVIP.

 

if you know the civil service well enough you'll find that perm secs are as well respected and feared, if not more than ministers are. some have been running their respective ministries for many many years. they're essentially the CEO of the ministry, with minister being chairman.

 

a "secretary" is a minister under the british nomenclature. a "permanent secretary" is to denote the job's civil service nature - it's permanent in the sense that the guy can't be voted out, like the minister/secretary can be.

 

how many perm secs are there in one ministry? their yearly package 500k-900k ?

 

yesterday review say their pay is market rate for such talents wor, no adjustment downwards needed.

[Sosaria]

True story.

 

Public servant here. Too many hentak kaki senior managers around.

 

Not exactly sure about civil service but in public service, it is very organisation-dependent. Generally, progression for non-scholars is incredibly slow. ADs/DDs are usually scholars/paratroopers who get parachuted into positions.

 

It seems to be the case, also true in private companies, that once you join the organisation, you are expected to show promise and do great achievements in the ensuing few years, leading to progressive and regular promotion.

 

Once you're passed over, because of slack too much or someone up there thinks you're not promotable... then it's very likely to hentak-kaki already. No matter what you do further down the road - assuming you pick up the pace again - it seems that once considered "old", there's no longer chance for promotion. That's why people are quite rightfully worried about taking long break or sabbatical from work to do something else.

 

I guess because the organisation got to reserve promotion budget and chances for the younger ones that are still coming in.

[Hiphiphoray]

The timing just about right.........its more of less fixed with experience.

 

My wify is currently on DD after 5 years. HOD of a newly form dept.

 

By right HOD must be at a least a D. Just that there is this time/experience restriction.

 

Of course it started off with the minimum Ass. D then cums Snr Asst D & DD.

 

5 yrs - Deputy Director

8 yrs - Senior Deputy Director

>10 yrs - Director

>15 years - Senior Director

>20 years - Assistant CEO

>25 years - Deputy CEO

 

Only special scholars can be CEO.

 

Disclaimer - promotion only happens if someone above retires hor... otherwise stuck at manager for 20 yrs...

Edited April 9, 2013 by Hiphiphoray

[Kurtselva]

It depends on ur degree, uni, guy/girl and the office u go.

 

Local uni engineering 2nd upper go dsta or dso can get 3.9k. Lta around 3.6.

 

Ok. So if I quote expected salary as 3k and if their usual salary they give is more than that, will they still pay their usual or will they lower it as I quoted ?

[Hiphiphoray]

You are focusing on the wrong issue.

 

You should convince & get that Contract employment first.

 

That +/- 10% of 3k is not important at this point of time.

 

Ok. So if I quote expected salary as 3k and if their usual salary they give is more than that, will they still pay their usual or will they lower it as I quoted ?

 

[Kurtselva]

1. govt job got no chance to bargain. pay is relatively fixed esp for fresh grad. iirc it's publish on the website classified by hons.

 

2. whether civil or private, fresh grads got little to no bargaining power. dont llook at pay only. go for the one that can give you long term career prospects

 

Since it is fixed, would they actually ask for your expected salary?

Or just quote their pay?

[Angcheek]

With the recent spade of corruption cases, do prepare yourself for question like "Do you like BJ?" or something to that effect. Answer wisely.

 

Yes I like Bean&Jerry icecream

[Angcheek]

Since it is fixed, would they actually ask for your expected salary?

Or just quote their pay?

 

They will still ask . Or they will tell you their budget and ask for your comment.

 

 

 

[Leslielai]

Ok. So if I quote expected salary as 3k and if their usual salary they give is more than that, will they still pay their usual or will they lower it as I quoted ?

 

Like someone here mentioned, your focus is wrong.

 

Don't worry. They will pay you based on what is fair, IF they want you. For a salary within that range, a few percentage difference isn't too much in absolute terms.

 

[Little_prince]

Since it is fixed, would they actually ask for your expected salary?

Or just quote their pay?

You Can ask for whatever you want. What they offer is out of your control.

 

My advice is just get the offer first. Everything else doesnt matter

 

 

[Porker]

Ok. So if I quote expected salary as 3k and if their usual salary they give is more than that, will they still pay their usual or will they lower it as I quoted ?

 

They give you less than you do this to them

[Coolad]

Since it is fixed, would they actually ask for your expected salary?

Or just quote their pay?

 

Yes it is fixed... Used to temp in a stat board during my uni days...

 

there "appear" to be some differences becoz it is computed very detaily.

 

For eg: Distinction in English/ Mother tongues in "O" level add in some dollars; B3 and above in GP also have some dollar increments

NS rank, vocation blah blah blah....

 

 

[Hiphiphoray]

Seems like you still dont get it..........

 

Tell you what.

 

Your completed studies so far is a platform to get employed at their condition.

 

Your ROI for now is to get employed.

 

When you get that job, you put in effort to gain experience & knowledge.

 

After a couple of years then u can demand for that ROI in terms of $ in your favour.

 

U understand or not ?

Edited April 9, 2013 by Hiphiphoray

[Angcheek]

hahahaha

[Angcheek]

They give you less than you do this to them

[Kurtselva]

Seems like you still dont get it..........

 

Tell you what.

 

Your completed studies so far is a platform to get employed at their condition.

 

Your ROI for now is to get employed.

 

When you get that job, you put in effort to gain experience & knowledge.

 

After a couple of years then u can demand for that ROI in terms of $ in your favour.

 

U understand or not ?

 

Yea I understand

 

But I afraid they might ask for expected salary and I dunno what to say and say something not relevant to the current market .. First time going for interview

 

Anyway, what are the usual questions they will ask?

Other than how you can contribute to the coy, why u leave your job (not applicable to me) etc etc

[Kurtselva]

They give you less than you do this to them

 

 

Or take out the real thing

[Porker]

My young grasshopper: Give them a range when asked about expected salary and make damn sure that range is higher than what you'll be happy to settle with