Debate about Corporate Job Vs Government Job is ages old and has been inconclusive to the extent that both the schools of thought have been able to sway the swing equally on their side. To some, security of a government job is incomparable to any other virtue of a corporate job whereas to others, the higher salary offered by corporate job is more attractive.
Post 1991, when Indian economy was opened to MNCs, corporate jobs offered the calling for majority. These MNCs attracted the best human resource, offering hefty salaries and a glamourous working environment in glass & ivory towers.
In last few years, scales have been tilting back towards government jobs. A large number of young professionals after having experienced the lure of corporate jobs in MNCs, have been gravitating back towards government jobs. This phenomenon got accelerated post COVID pandemic which resulted in closing of big industrial houses, MNCs and loss of jobs for millions of people who were employed in private sector.
Among all the government jobs, UPSC Civil Services have stood out as the most sought after by working professionals who have felt lack of satisfaction or achievement in their respective spheres of work. Civil Services are much sought after as they are not only symbols of great power, social recognition and affluence, but they also: –
- provide opportunity to participate in nation building;
- contribute effectively in the decision making process of country;
- make a difference in the lives of the people
- It is a job which provides an opportunity to satisfy personal ambition as well as indulge in social welfare.
A person who wants to participate closely in the process of building society and wants to bring about positive social change should try for Indian Civil Services. There is nothing better than this.
Job Satisfaction should be the most important terms of reference for anyone working in any sector. A famous quote should sum it up
“If I couldn’t see the upside, I couldn’t be bothered, and as soon as I couldn’t see the upside in that job I started looking elsewhere.”
Besides the job satisfaction, there are various other reasons adding to the attractiveness of Civil Services in India. Some of the noteworthy are:
Salary award, benefits and perks: There is no denying the fact that government sector can’t match private sector on salary issue. However, considering facilities and privileges which a civil servant gets along with the salary, it is nearly at par with the private sector today. Moreover, government also have been keeping pay commissions’ graph upwardly from 6th pay commission onwards with the aim of attracting and retaining the best talent. In the 7th pay commission the starting basic salaries and other allowances like HRA, DA, TA have been substantially increased. The salary packages are now comparable to salaries in corporate jobs and with the assured career progression, the emoluments go up to as high as INR 2,50,000 ++pm for an officer of the rank of cabinet secretary. Good salaries coupled with perks and benefits offered by Civil Services Jobs and the job security makes these more attractive than private jobs.
Job Security: This is the most persuasive reason for many to quit highly paying private jobs and shift to government jobs. It is a frightening experience to start your day with a thought that you might be getting a pink slip today because you are no more wanted by an organisation or may be because the company has to cut costs or simply because your boss doesn’t like your face. On the other hand, government jobs are 100 % secure where your continuance in your job is not influenced by external factors at all.
Quality of life: Today’s generation is wiser to understand that earning tons of money offered by corporate jobs cannot be the aim of life. What use is this money if one is unable to give time to self and family! The MNCs which pay well also take their pound of flesh in terms of family-time and health. It is not a hidden fact that many young professionals have been falling prey to life- style diseases. Unlike this, government jobs offer a balanced life.
Many are cracking the IAS exam with full time job
Anyone following results of Civil Services exam would have noticed that the working professionals have been cracking the IAS exam relatively well. The reasons for their better results are: –
- Their proven acumen and basic instinct to put in hard work.
- Better clarity on how to prepare for a competitive exam as most of them have already gone through the grind of one or the other competitive exam.
- Their methodical way of studying results in better utilisation of time and effective use of resources.
- Limited time and resources: Since they are working and their focus is restricted to preparing from a single source unlike many aspirants who tend to refer to multiple resources and end nowhere.
- Their job security and not having to worry about earning their livelihood makes them more confident to face the challenge of UPSC.
- Self-confidence of a working professional is better than the other competitors. Obviously this is by virtue of having work experience and exposure to professional world.
- Working professionals have the luxury of preparing for exam over a longer time span, at their own pace, since there is no financial pressure on them to sustain themselves.
Civil Services Success Stories of Working Professionals
“Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it”
- Ms Pujya Priyadashni, (AIR 11, CSE 2018) is B. Com (Hons) graduate from Delhi University. Later, she did Masters in Public Administration from Colombia University, USA. Subsequently, she worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers, a multinational accounting company providing professional services through network of firms. Ms Pujya prepared for CSE while working with a company which was uncompromising on its work requirements. She cracked CSE in 3rd attempt.
- Mr GSS Praveen Chand (AIR 64, CSE 2018), is an IAS success story which has been inspiring many. An Electrical Engineer from IIT Patna (yr 2013), Mr Praveen has had total three attempts at UPSC Civil Service Exam. He got success in the second attempt in yr 2017 when he got 512 rank and was selected for Indian Information Service (IIS). He had prepared for CSE while working as a Tech Lead in a software company for three years.
- Mr Raushan Kumar (AIR 114, CSE 2018), with his unflinching perseverance cracked CSE in 5th attempt. A Mechanical Engineer by profession, he had completed engineering in 2010 and during campus placement interviews was picked up by JSW Steel Ltd and joined in October 2010. Mr Raushan worked with the same company for almost 09 yrs. While working he kept preparing and took attempts at CSE.
- Mr R Vaithinathan (AIR 37, CSE 2015), secured AIR 37 in his fourth attempt. What makes his achievement even more commendable is the fact that he was working as a doctor in a Delhi hospital while preparing for the CSE. Despite facing parental opposition for changing his career track as he was a gold medallist in medical college, he went ahead to pursue his dream to join civil services.
- Mr Lokesh Mishra (AIR 44, CSE 2015), is from Pratapgarh, UP. He is IIT Delhi alumni and has done Chemical Engineering from there in yr 2012. Mr Lokesh, then joined Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals, Kota. While working there he prepared for CSE 2014 and did make it to the reserve list. In the subsequent attempt in 2015, he got success with AIR 44.
- Mr Manish Kumar (AIR 84, CSE 2017) was working with Railways, when in 2014 decided to appear for civil services exam. His first attempt was unsuccessful. However, he didn’t lose hope and continued preparing. Success kissed his feet in 2015 when he scored AIR 224 and was selected for IPS. Mr Manish appeared again in year 2016 but unfortunately his performance was not as good. That year his AIR was 399. Not to give up so easily, he tried again and got AIR of 84 in CSE 2017.
- Mr Siddhartha Nahar (AIR 182, CSE 2018) a native of Rajasthan, holds a graduate degree in Petroleum Engineering. After completing graduation in year 2012, he had worked with Gujrat State Petronet Limited (GSPL) as Procurement Officer for two years. There, he got inspired by an IAS officer who was MD of GSPL group and had established online procurement project in the company. This made Mr Siddhartha realize the impact and positive changes an IAS officer can bring in a short time. This motivated Mr Siddhartha to start preparing for CSE. While preparing for CSE (2014-2018), Mr Siddhartha started a small online education business of selling software tutorials to the clients in USA and Australia. He prepared for CSE while running his own business and cracked CSE, in 3rd attempt.
- Mr Nitin Sangwan (AIR 28, CSE 2015), has done BE Mechanical and later did MBA from IIT, Chennai. After PG he had joined Infosys in 2012 and alongside started preparing for CSE.
- Ms Mittali Sethi (AIR 56, CSE 2016), an orthodontist who was working when she had started preparing for CSE. She started preparing in 2014 and cleared exam in third attempt even though she was unable to clear Prelims in the previous two attempts.
- Ms Bandana Pokhriyal (AIR 83, CSE 2015), was working as a Central Excise Inspector for about five years prior to securing the IAS rank in her second attempt. She had prepared for the Civil Services for two and half years while working at her job.
- Dr Ravindra Goswami (CSE 152, CSE 2015), on completion of MBBS from Jaipur joined as Medical Officer in a district in rural Rajasthan. While working he realised his calling for Civil Services and started preparing. He was also pursuing post-graduation (MD) while preparing for CSE. He got success in his second attempt.
- Mr Nitesh Wadhwani (AIR 209, CSE 2017), a graduate of NIT, Surat is a Mechanical Engineer by education. After completing engineering in yr 2012, he had worked in Larsen & Toubro for one year. Subsequently, he joined Central Secretariat Service and was working from December 2015. Mr Nitesh, prepared for CSE 2017 while working with Central Secretariat Service and got success.
- Ms Mohita Sharma (AIR 262, CSE 2016), has done engineering in Electronics and Communications trade. She subsequently joined Election Commission of India as Assistant Section Officer. Prepared alongside and got success in 2016.
- Mr Abhilash Baranwal (AIR 272, CSE 2016), is an ISM Dhanbad alumni and has done Petrolium Engeneering in yr 2011. He got employed with Oil India Limited in 2011 itself. Mr Abhilash started preparing for CSE while working. He was able to get success in third attempt in yr 2016.
Friends, these are few of the many examples of working professionals who have made to Civil services. At first sight, it might seem impossible to manage professional requirements and preparations for exam at the same time but efficient planning, skilful time management, professional guidance and your perseverance can make all the difference.
The most obvious constraint for a working professional is Time. Besides time constraint, there are other issues like family responsibilities, social responsibilities, professional obligations. All these will persist in your life however the challenge is to overcome and surmount these for a reward which is incomparable and can change the course of your life.
