College or Civil Service???

Hi,

Name is Moss. I'm 21. I'm a Clerical Officer in the Civil Service (In the CSO).. I'm looking for advice there, i just passed my probation period, but i'm torn apart in should i finish college or do i just forget about it and make a career out of it

I was a student in Waterford IT and i studied Criminal Justice Studies. I appiled for the job in 2007 (2 yrs to go in my course) because i'm afraid there (and seems to be right) won't be much jobs around when i finished college.

The lectures told me to go for it as i would be a very young age going into the CS (if i got in) and also they said the expierence i would gain from applying would be good for me when I start My career looking for work (interviewing expierence and all that) and thus i dcided to go for it. I managed to get it to my surprise and i took it.. my dilemma is that i only had 9 months to go in my course and i wonder should i finish it or leave it go because i dont think that the Civil Service give extra wage for a degree...and i think its not really a civil service related type degree

And also i think, my degree won't matter for a career in the CS... i'm wondering what is the procedure now, in regards to making a career out of it? and is a good job for a person my age to take....

So I hope someone will be able to offer some help on the matter, because our career guidance adviser here is'nt great and and im looking for someone who is working in the CS and who knows what they are on about, and publicjobs.ie don't offer that much information..


Cheers,

Moss.

Last week I turned down an offer of a job as a Statistician in the CSO (I applied in late 2007). The Information Booklet on the job clearly indicates that you can skip several points on the scale because of education or experience (this has to be agreed to by the Director General). The CSO is now responsible for the compilation of crime stats for the country, so your degree could be relevant. Have you actually read the Info Booklet and CSO website?

When I applied for the job I was in a dead end private sector job with no progression prospects or benefits. The far better starting salary, benefits and security of the CS were also attractive. There is a section in the CSO that deals with issues relevant to my education and experience.

I turned it down because I've since moved onto a much more interesting private sector job. Also, the enhanced pay, benefits and security arguments are about to be thrown out the window by the government.
Furthermore, my father has been in the CS for most of his life and said that it can be very stifling, with few prospects for ambitious people, a very boring atmosphere and an old guard that refuse to change the status quo.
The length of time it takes the CS to offer a job after initial application is also highly unimpressive, and gives the impression of an organisation that operates in glacial time.

It's a semesterised course.
What about taking a career break or go worksharing to complete the course? Or if you're workig in Waterford, the course may be done in the evenings, or you could use the credits to transfer to the evening law course, or some other course that's run in the evenings. Who knows, you may even be able to get your department to refund the fees on you completing the course.

With the Civil Service, a degree won't get you extra money immediately, but it does help in the promotional stakes in the future. A law qualification of any kind is quite valued in many departments, as what we do tends to be prescribed by law. The course you've been doing is quite diversified and provides skills that would be useful in a variety of departments. Present that right in an interview and you are giving yourself a good shot. On the other hand, there are unlikely to be many promotions for the next few years

Also, in this environment, having a relatively secure job is no bad thing.

j26 said:

It's a semesterised course.
What about taking a career break or go worksharing to complete the course? Or if you're workig in Waterford, the course may be done in the evenings, or you could use the credits to transfer to the evening law course, or some other course that's run in the evenings. Who knows, you may even be able to get your department to refund the fees on you completing the course.

With the Civil Service, a degree won't get you extra money immediately, but it does help in the promotional stakes in the future. A law qualification of any kind is quite valued in many departments, as what we do tends to be prescribed by law. The course you've been doing is quite diversified and provides skills that would be useful in a variety of departments. Present that right in an interview and you are giving yourself a good shot. On the other hand, there are unlikely to be many promotions for the next few years

Also, in this environment, having a relatively secure job is no bad thing.

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I agree fully - an excellent post - keep your job and look to complete your degree or an alternative related degree. Then go on and do a masters. It will benefit you and set you apart when it comes to promotion. If you can you should in time do a PhD

@OP -

I think it depends on where you're working. CO is the hardest grade to break out of; I've interviewed for promotions from CO grade and have been highly impressed at the calibre of people working at that level - to the extent that we were not able even to shortlist people I would have been delighted to have working for me at a higher level.

I would certainly finish the degree, by hook or by crook. If you have to take a career break to do so, then - if at all possible - do. It may be directly relevant and useful in a number of different departments and agencies, and at the very least it will show that you have the drive and capacity to obtain a higher level qualification. This will put you at an advantage in the jobs market generally, and will definitely give you an edge in promotion competitions within the civil service [if anyone is promoted any time in the next decade...].

I would have thought that most if not all jobs available from a course in Criminal Justice Studies would be in the public sector?

Eblanoid said:

the impression of an organisation that operates in glacial time.

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Glacial time, I love that.

For the sake of 9 months to have a qualification that will stand to you for the rest of your life, postpone your CS career. You'll have more options going forward if the CS is not all you would like it to be.

Finish your degree young man!
A primary degree is the new Leaving Cert, and you will find it very difficult to build a career in the Civil Service without one. Perhaps the most difficult promotion to obtain is from CO to EO because of the numbers in the competition. You need a degree (and also a good assessment and interview) to stand out.
It really matters surprisingly little what your degree in in because, unless you work in a very specialised area, professional administrators can come from any background - arts, sciences or business. Perhaps the exception to this rule is in the more specialised offices such as the CSO. I imagine that unless you are interested in statistics (and are willing to complete formal studies in this area) that promotional opportunities will be limited in that office. However if you can, apply in a general EO competition and request a transfer if successful - you might even consider requesting a transfer anyway. As another poster has pointed out, any qualification with a strong legal component will be useful in a wide range of CS jobs.
Good luck with your decision.

First of all, I'd change your original post so that anyone working the CSO can't identify you!
Then I would take a career break to finish your degree. This will help you apply for AO and your experience as a CO will stand to you if you get to interview stage (it will also help in some of the job simulation exercises). Your degree would of course help if you were in the Department of Justice, or the Courts Service however it will help in whatever area you end up in.

The degree is important, but I would consider your financial security to be more important! Once you are an established civil servant, you can take a career break to pursue your studies with the advantage of having a secure job to fall back on.

I was in a similar situation that you are in- I was midway through an Arts degree when I got offered a job as an EO. I took the job and am delighted I did now! I started a new degree at night, and am now studying for a MSc.

In the current economic climate, you have to ask yourself what kind of job will you be applying for in 9 months (if you were to leave and finish your degree). The public sector will undoubtedly be facing into a recruitment ban for at least 2 years, so if you walk away now, you may not have the option of reapplying when it suits you!

Best of luck whatever you choose to do!

Thanks for your help.... i will take a career break in a few years and finish it... thanks..

maurice_mul said:

i will take a career break in a few years and finish it.

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Easier said than done - It is very hard to give up on a regular income once you've got used to it, particularly if you have commitments such as car loan or mortgage to meet.