In general, working for the civil service means taking on jobs that strive to make a difference to people’s lives.
You’ll have many opportunities for learning and career development, with a steady salary and good benefits.
The civil service encompasses wide-ranging fields, such as healthcare, defence, transport and other executive agencies, which means a large amount of choice in terms of career paths.
It’s possible to follow a career path in whichever area of work that interests you the most, as long as you possess the required knowledge and skills and you have the drive to learn continuously.
For fresh graduates, there are many routes to entering the civil service, from training programmes to internships.
In Sarawak, getting started in the civil service can begin with internships available at government agencies and departments as well as government-linked companies for soon-to-be graduates, with the possibility of being integrated into the workforce.
For example, the Rural Water Supply Department of Sarawak offers training programmes in various fields.
The Sarawak Energy Board and Department of Irrigation and Drainage also offers internships to final-year students.
Additionally, they can consider applying for Sarawak Economic Development Corporation’s (SEDC) Graduate Internship Programme (GIP).
GIP provides on-the-job training for unemployed graduates for a year. Interns will gain necessary experience and learn skills needed by SEDC for its daily operations.
If you find yourself unable to get placement on a training programme or internship before graduation, applying directly afterwards is a good alternative.
Make sure your resume and cover letter are up to par; each application should be customised not only to the job you’re aiming for, but also the specific organisation you intend to work for.
Being patient is key to success, as it could take anywhere from days to weeks to go from an application send-off to a job offer.
For those already employed or have work experience, or if you don’t want to join any training programmes, you can apply for jobs and browse vacancies through e-Recruitment.
The website allows you to sign up for job alerts tailored to your skills and experience when you create an account.
The civil service recruitment process is highly competitive, with over 95,000 applicants in Malaysia in 2019. It’s inevitable that many graduates won’t be hired.
However, this doesn’t mean graduates shouldn’t be applying for civil service jobs. The civil service can offer you an exciting and fulfilling career if you’re willing to forge your way up the career ladder.
The civil service offers a great opportunity for those who take them. From developing a career path to pursuing a role that impacts the people directly and indirectly, people can flourish in this environment.
Read more: Careers in the Civil Service
File photo from RAKAN Sarawak.
