Working as a Civil Servant: Is it Still a Dream Job?

Joining the civil service more than a decade ago was my dream. As a fresh graduate brimming with idealism, I felt I could contribute to changing the world by serving in the government.

Early this year, more than 335,000 individuals took the civil service exam administered by the Civil Service Commission. This is proof that many still aspire to be part of the service. We have our personal motivations to become a civil or public servant—be it love for the country, finding a meaningful career, doing development work, giving back to the community, helping the marginalized, seeking the security of tenure, securing a good retirement package or simply continuing a family legacy.

While our motivations may vary, becoming a civil servant is an honor that brings pride and responsibility. Yes, it is prestigious, but it is a double-edged sword. Looking back, working in the government for more than 12 years was a fulfilling yet sometimes lonely journey.

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Not all were made to enter civil service; it requires a strong sense of dedication and resiliency.

It is not a path for everyone to take. Some might even call it a sacrifice. 

The work in the civil service could be overwhelmingly demanding. Beating multiple deadlines and managing a heavy workload are a few challenges one will face. Sometimes, working beyond hours and over the weekend becomes necessary; hence, achieving work-life integration can be challenging. This is not to glorify the work in the service, but these are simply the common realities.

As a civil servant, one is more exposed to criticism especially those working in the frontline dealing with the general public. There’s also a high risk for those who are working in the health, peace, and security sectors, especially those who are assigned to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in the country.

Unlike in the private sector, where policies and processes are sometimes flexible, government work operates under stringent guidelines. We are duty-bound to adhere to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.  Civil service is bounded by strict qualification standards and performance management, among others.

I have friends who left the civil service due to the slow-moving bureaucratic processes within their departments. Approvals do not work in a snap of a finger as there are tons of layers before they reach the approving authority. This kind of experience is sometimes frustrating, especially for people who thrive in a fast-paced environment.

A former colleague has resigned from the office as she felt constrained in realizing her ideas and initiatives due to these bureaucratic hurdles. Often, due to limited financial and human resources, we need to be creative and resourceful to get the job done.

If you lack a strong sense of commitment to public interest, dedication, and resiliency, then civil service may not be the right path for you. 

The best and the worst people are in the government.

The government is the country’s largest employer. You will encounter the brightest and the worst in the industry. You will have the opportunity to meet the true rockstars in their respective fields—the top economists, social workers, educators, gender experts, lawyers, and scientists, among others. The Philippine civil service boasts a pool of talented civil servants and career executives whose leadership and competencies were honed in the service, the technocrats who are the real backbone of the government.

Meeting and learning from those who have reached the pinnacle of their careers or seasoned veterans in the government and even those who steadfastly serve in their modest roles is both inspiring and humbling. Their high sense of professionalism and commitment to public service shines through, regardless of their ranks and accomplishments.

However, the government also harbors its share of challenges. Unfortunately, there are cases of corrupt civil servants and elected officials who tarnish the bureaucracy’s reputation. For instance, despite strong legal frameworks in ensuring safe spaces for everyone, instances of committing gender-based discrimination persist even in the government setting.

Moreover, politics is one of the key determinants in hiring an employee in the local setting, also known as the reputation of "palakasan" (patronage system) in the government sector. Working alongside these employees and appointed leaders who lack the competence and commitment to uphold the office's ideals and principles also becomes a challenge. In environments rife with patronage politics, the direction-setting and effectiveness of an agency or local government unit (LGU) often suffer.

Inevitably, you will also meet individuals who are incompetent, narcissists, and micro-managers. A friend once shared with me her experience of working under a workaholic and narcissistic boss who struggled to set boundaries for personal and work-related activities. The situation eventually put a toll on the mental health of both her and co-workers. Some people may even belittle and unfairly judge your abilities as well.

My early years in the service were not easy as I had to navigate with different personalities in the office, especially those people who had already been there for a long time. I think this is common not just in the government setting but where office culture is deeply entrenched. Challenging the common and usual office practice and process often casts one as a villain of the story.

The public sector offers a wealth of opportunities and incentives for professional growth and development.

There are a lot of opportunities in the government, from numerous training and local and international scholarships to pursuing advanced studies and building connections to a wide professional network.

Upskilling is part of a civil servant’s career and is often facilitated through the conduct of capacity development interventions, coaching and mentoring sessions, and job rotations. There were times when international organizations even funded training and workshops. I was fortunate to receive a fully-funded international scholarship to pursue graduate studies where the usual recipients are those working in the public sector. Joining the civil service will open the door for you to establish a network, be it local or international, that you can tap for collaboration and partnerships in future undertakings.

Furthermore, one of the things that attract individuals to join the civil service is its retirement package and benefits. Depending on the position and number of years in service, the government provides a hefty pay on social pension. Additionally, one has the option to convert accumulated leave credits for both vacation and sick leaves, which one earned for years, into a payout upon retirement.

While there are opportunities for professional growth, career progression is not as inviting. Promotions are not automatic since the next available positions require another series of examinations, meeting specific requirements, especially for those working in the academe and rounds of interviews. It remains a competitive application process again, and there will be cases when the ladder for promotion is particularly steep depending on the nature of the government agency.

As a younger generation enter the workforce, the public sector is forced to adapt to the changing times. In this era of virtual assistants and artificial intelligence (AI), they now have varying levels of appreciation for work culture and environment. They value organizations that support flexible working arrangements, advancing digital proficiency, and a career that promotes work-life balance. Addressing these may require innovative approaches from the government sector, including embracing digitalization to streamline processes, improve service delivery, and create a more agile and responsive work environment.

Expect to be poor.

If you are dreaming of having a lavish lifestyle, then civil service is not for you. Simple living is one of the norms of conduct of a public official or employee. Borrowing from the words of the late Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto F. del Rosario, "Do not join the government unless you truly love your country. If you decide to join, expect to be poor. If this does not happen, you must be doing something funny."

I remember my early days in the service when I had to take out a loan just to make ends meet. This noble profession does not typically translate into a high-paying job. Unlike in the private sector, where salary and benefits are negotiable, salary in the public sector is non-negotiable. A friend who is working in the private sector shared with me that they have an annual salary increase to cope with inflation. In contrast, we are operating in a fixed salary grade, job grade or pay grade system. My friend, who is a human resource specialist, told me that their LGU is struggling to attract accountants, lawyers, and IT specialists due to huge salary gaps with their private sector counterparts.

While looking beyond monetary compensation remains central to the commitment to civil service, the government must also find solutions to help its employees cope with the increasing cost of living. It is high time the government revisits its existing compensation packages to attract more individuals to stay and join the service.

Going the extra mile or working outside your job description might not necessarily reward you, but it will provide you with a sense of purpose.

This purpose will eventually shape and define your version of success.

You'll realize that success comes in various forms and different metrics. It does not always present itself in the grand scheme of things, nor is it solely about personal achievements and material gains. It may be seen in the positive impact of the policies you create for the greater good, the programs you introduce that sustain the livelihood of a community, or even in the awareness seminars you conduct that empower individuals to understand and advance their rights.

Effecting change may not happen instantaneously, as I initially envisioned.

However, I have realized that by initiating a ripple of changes—by doing our part, no matter how modest it may seem, and by inspiring others, I can lay the groundwork for broader change.

Joining the civil service over a decade ago was a dream born of youthful idealism and a deep-rooted desire to serve and contribute meaningfully to creating positive and impactful changes. Despite the difficulties and sacrifices along the way, this path has been profoundly fulfilling. My decade-long journey as a civil servant has made me fully realize that civil service is not just a job; it's a calling that demands dedication, resilience, and a genuine commitment to public service. 

Balancing all these factors raises important questions that we need to ponder: Is civil service still a dream job? Is working for the love of country or "para sa bayan" still relevant motivation today? Is finding a meaningful career a sufficient reason to work in the civil service? Given its demanding nature, is it still worth it? 

Reflecting on these questions will help us better understand the true essence and worth of a career in the civil service.

Kim Harold T. Peji has been in the civil service for more than 12 years. Part of his current role is providing gender and development (GAD) technical assistance to national government agencies, regional GAD mechanisms, and local government units.