Need some career advice

[Guest help]

Currently I've been working in public service for quite a number years. It was my first job and I've had no prior experience outside or any skills outside of contract management and getting countless approvals from so many levels of bosses. Honestly I dont really feel very satisfied nor accomplished.. Feels like in public service theres always something that stops you from carrying out your task. 

 

Lately I've been dreading going to work although this happens on and off but happens too frequently. Being under a micromanaging boss doesn't help either.. Sending draft e-mails sends chills down my spine because of all the nitpicking Im expecting. 

 

Been contemplating leaving for a while now. The problem lies in my experience. Having a number of years in public service doesnt help in my application outside. I've forgotten all my technical skills since graduating uni and uni syllabus barely touches the surface on these industry software, skills, etc. I'm probably going to need to enter as a fresh grad. I mean I could probably start looking at short courses to catch up to speed before applying but on paper I still got no experience. 

 

I guess from what I wrote you guys can probably see Im not that good at writing much less drafting e-mails. So what Im asking is whether I should leave and start new. Something that feels more rewarding for my efforts but taking a huge paycut (considering the salary revision coming August).

[Guest Get to the point]

On 6/29/2022 at 8:49 PM, Guest help said:

Currently I've been working in public service for quite a number years. It was my first job and I've had no prior experience outside or any skills outside of contract management and getting countless approvals from so many levels of bosses. Honestly I dont really feel very satisfied nor accomplished.. Feels like in public service theres always something that stops you from carrying out your task. 

 

Lately I've been dreading going to work although this happens on and off but happens too frequently. Being under a micromanaging boss doesn't help either.. Sending draft e-mails sends chills down my spine because of all the nitpicking Im expecting. 

 

Been contemplating leaving for a while now. The problem lies in my experience. Having a number of years in public service doesnt help in my application outside. I've forgotten all my technical skills since graduating uni and uni syllabus barely touches the surface on these industry software, skills, etc. I'm probably going to need to enter as a fresh grad. I mean I could probably start looking at short courses to catch up to speed before applying but on paper I still got no experience. 

 

I guess from what I wrote you guys can probably see Im not that good at writing much less drafting e-mails. So what Im asking is whether I should leave and start new. Something that feels more rewarding for my efforts but taking a huge paycut (considering the salary revision coming August).

whatjob do you want to do/re-train for? What about it will be different to your current role? Is the salary increment worth your time? Etc 

[Steve5380]

On 6/29/2022 at 7:49 AM, Guest help said:

 

I've forgotten all my technical skills since graduating uni and uni syllabus barely touches the surface on these industry software, skills, etc. I'm probably going to need to enter as a fresh grad. I mean I could probably start looking at short courses to catch up to speed before applying but on paper I still got no experience. 

 

 

If you have/had technical skills and inclination for technical subjects,  you should make it you hobby and apply them on your own to acquire practice, while perhaps expanding them with a postgraduate course.  Then you will be a fresh grad. while having practical experience.

[Guest Tomato]

On 6/29/2022 at 8:49 PM, Guest help said:

Currently I've been working in public service for quite a number years. It was my first job and I've had no prior experience outside or any skills outside of contract management and getting countless approvals from so many levels of bosses. Honestly I dont really feel very satisfied nor accomplished.. Feels like in public service theres always something that stops you from carrying out your task. 

 

Lately I've been dreading going to work although this happens on and off but happens too frequently. Being under a micromanaging boss doesn't help either.. Sending draft e-mails sends chills down my spine because of all the nitpicking Im expecting. 

 

Been contemplating leaving for a while now. The problem lies in my experience. Having a number of years in public service doesnt help in my application outside. I've forgotten all my technical skills since graduating uni and uni syllabus barely touches the surface on these industry software, skills, etc. I'm probably going to need to enter as a fresh grad. I mean I could probably start looking at short courses to catch up to speed before applying but on paper I still got no experience. 

 

I guess from what I wrote you guys can probably see Im not that good at writing much less drafting e-mails. So what Im asking is whether I should leave and start new. Something that feels more rewarding for my efforts but taking a huge paycut (considering the salary revision coming August).

 

With main experience in a civil service-

If you are less than 40 years old, just move out and look for something different.  You have a long runway.

If you are more than 40 years old, suck it up and stay on.  (Sorry, but) there is not much value from the HR's perspective.  Not to mention, you may find it hard to get a job in today's market.

 

You also have to understand your personality. Since you have worked in CS for so many years, very likely you subconsciously prefer a predictable environment with certainty environment.  If so, even if you are young (less than 40), you may not get used to what's outside. So stay on in CS.

Many people get tired of the CS because you are just another worker (if not scholar), but that is the trade off.

The pro is you can almost be able to know how much your income is over the next x years.  Good reason to stay on for retirement planning.

 

Lastly, sad as it may sound, many Sporeans, after a few years or working, just want to earn enough to buy that house, go for hols, pay for loans, buy this buy that.

Unless you are passionate and have a high level of passion in realising your dreams.  But i know 95% of Sporeans are not wired like that.

[qsefthu78]

Speak to a career advisor/counsellor at WSG. You need to have a proper conversation. You must always be mindful that no one is responsible to make the decision for you. You are the one to make your own informed decision.

[IkuTube]

Dear Guest help,

 

When you know what you truly want, opportunities open up.  It is when you are neither here nor there that confuses any goal setting.  Knowing what you want gives you the courage to pursue.  However, do weigh in your current circumstances to make right by and for you on your next course in life.

 

Should you are still young, do not procrastinate and don't let it trapped you in your comfort zone.  Do not dwell on 'the problem lies in (your) experience' and 'having a number of years in public service doesnt help in (your) application outside'.  The more you empower these negative thoughts (albeit whether it is true), the less you get to see what can be available for you.

 

You have somewhat decided for a change when you wrote 'Something that feels more rewarding for (your) efforts but taking a huge paycut'.  Follow your Higher Self and what you had verbalized.

 

The only way for you to make your own right decision, be proactive.  Look around, ask around.  Again, when you know what you truly want, the Universe will conspire.

 

All the best to you.  May you find what you are looking for.

 

 

[GachiMuchi]

On 6/29/2022 at 8:49 PM, Guest help said:

Currently I've been working in public service for quite a number years. It was my first job and I've had no prior experience outside or any skills outside of contract management and getting countless approvals from so many levels of bosses. Honestly I dont really feel very satisfied nor accomplished.. Feels like in public service theres always something that stops you from carrying out your task. 

 

Lately I've been dreading going to work although this happens on and off but happens too frequently. Being under a micromanaging boss doesn't help either.. Sending draft e-mails sends chills down my spine because of all the nitpicking Im expecting. 

 

Been contemplating leaving for a while now. The problem lies in my experience. Having a number of years in public service doesnt help in my application outside. I've forgotten all my technical skills since graduating uni and uni syllabus barely touches the surface on these industry software, skills, etc. I'm probably going to need to enter as a fresh grad. I mean I could probably start looking at short courses to catch up to speed before applying but on paper I still got no experience. 

 

I guess from what I wrote you guys can probably see Im not that good at writing much less drafting e-mails. So what Im asking is whether I should leave and start new. Something that feels more rewarding for my efforts but taking a huge paycut (considering the salary revision coming August).

 

I feel that even if you go into the private sector, it will be worst for you.

Reading your post, I feel that you are a person with meek personality and I doubt you are the "take charge" type nor the "go getter" type.

I feel that you are only good for the public sector, if you go the the private sector, you will be slaughtered,

Private sector has lots of office politics and lots of more driven person as your colleagues.

So personally, I don't recommend that you change job because from what you had written, you are already behind in many things.

 

What you suggest for yourself is good. Go for courses, etc. but the biggest issues is your attitude towards things. Things won't change when you are still the same person. You should look into how you can make changes to yourself and only then, regardless of any jobs, you can fight a path of yourself.

 

I know you had been writing many post as guest about your lousy job, and how lousy you feel. So, if anything is going to change is you, not the job. You might want to seek some help with regards to how you change yourself.

[cityhallguy]

On 6/30/2022 at 12:49 AM, Guest help said:

Currently I've been working in public service for quite a number years. It was my first job and I've had no prior experience outside or any skills outside of contract management and getting countless approvals from so many levels of bosses. Honestly I dont really feel very satisfied nor accomplished.. Feels like in public service theres always something that stops you from carrying out your task. 

 

Lately I've been dreading going to work although this happens on and off but happens too frequently. Being under a micromanaging boss doesn't help either.. Sending draft e-mails sends chills down my spine because of all the nitpicking Im expecting. 

 

Been contemplating leaving for a while now. The problem lies in my experience. Having a number of years in public service doesnt help in my application outside. I've forgotten all my technical skills since graduating uni and uni syllabus barely touches the surface on these industry software, skills, etc. I'm probably going to need to enter as a fresh grad. I mean I could probably start looking at short courses to catch up to speed before applying but on paper I still got no experience. 

 

I guess from what I wrote you guys can probably see Im not that good at writing much less drafting e-mails. So what Im asking is whether I should leave and start new. Something that feels more rewarding for my efforts but taking a huge paycut (considering the salary revision coming August).

Have you found out why are you not satisfied with your current job? If is your work scope and not the company system or people than can ask to transfer to other departments, I think is called “Internal transfer”. If is the company you dislike already then no choice and you should start looking for jobs and no need to consider if you should find a private sector or public, as both the same to me. The only different with private and public sector to me:

 

• The private sector offers volatile pay ( can be high or low, with bonus or without depending on the coy performance), high chances of overseas travel, more opportunities to work with other nations, high risk of company closed down, high risk of retrenchment, no proper company system especially for small private coy. 
• The public sector offers stable pay and low or no increment/bonus, less chances of overseas travel and opportunities to work with other nations. The risk of company closed down is very unlikely and so is retrenchment. The sector will have a strong and firm SOP, which is good and bad.

I had jumped from Financial sector to Shipping sector to Marine surveying and now to health sector. So defiantly have to do some form of study or learning to move from one sector to the other if necessary. For my case, they are different industry and have different job-scopes so I have to. But for you, it might not be the same case as me as long as you still looking for contracting management jobs which I think is a good general job and not a specialist job, this allows you to transit to different kind of industries. As all industry will have contracting departments to draw out/negotiation contract with vendors and customers, so you just need to have the eagerness to learn and understand that industry you are working in, for better understanding the contract.

 

Self-Upgrading is always needed to survive in SG, but are you prepared as is not easy for people to do that as that will take away some of their own free-time for it. You can look at learning writing or draw contracts and how to responds and negotiate contracts if such courses are available. I know there are courses for legal and compliance, which I know it is relevant to your contracting work as it help you to better understand the terms and conditions of the contract. 
 

Lastly, you said you want a job that can make you feel more rewarding for your efforts. I don’t know what are you expecting to receive from your work to make you feel rewarding? Money, a treat, promotion, verbal appreciation from boss and colleagues, a smile from customers? So I think is hard for anyone to help you with that but only you know yourself well. For me, I help my customer solve his back pain and he thanks me, so that’s a rewarding to me. Or when I resolve a wrongly ship construction approval, but my boss thanks me, that’s also rewarding. Or me as a taxi driver drive passenger to their destination and thanks me, also rewarding. So to make you feel more rewarding is to work with someone or a coy or an organization which highly appreciate individuals efforts and I bet no one can tell you where as this really depending on 天時地理人和。

[Guest Guest]

Unfortunately the general perception of people from government jobs is they are lazy and knock off work on the dot. But this is not true for all government sectors. Used to work in private then moved to government. My current government job is so much more challenging, dynamic, stressful and complex than my previous private sector job! One of the reasons is the extra layer of public accountability. Every step you take must have black and white, so much so in event of audits by the ministry, there is a supporting document to show. This creates a lot of admin work and thinking processes. Unlike private sector, which is more straightforward, we just move and don't waste too much time dwelling on audit issues. 

[Guest buay tahan strawberrry gen]

every job is like that.

public or private.

startup or tech.

if its so fun and relaxing, are u really working?

 

just suck up. work is just showing up. earn money. go home. rinse and repeat.

dont want to earn money then dont work. retire.

 

KIDS THIS DAYS

STARTING PAY SO DAMN HIGH BUT COMPLAIN THIS AND THAT 
WTF MAN

[chubbylover]

You would need to realise that

(1) the only constant in life is change, and 

(2) learning never ends, especially after your graduation.

 

Since you are already uncomfortable, and considering your young age, you have almost nothing to lose by taking the plunge out of your comfort zone, learn new skills and knowledge and explore something else potential more rewarding and satisfying. 

 

It hurts even more for not trying, and ending up with all the "I should have..." and "what if....." later in life.

 

[singalion]

I go more with the advice of GachiMuchi.

 

Probably seek more satisfaction in your private life.

 

You can have worked in the private sector for 20 years and still be at the same stage as you are now.

Mean feeling frustrated, not achieved much in work life etc.

 

I don't think a switch into private sector would do good for you.

 

Also I find your "complaints" very petty. Maybe you thought you would be the head of the department by now, but...

 

It seems also, you are not fully occupied in your work that you find the time to think about petty things.

 

The only help I can spot is to either do something in private, engage in some charity, start a project and focus on getting the boost through your private life.

 

[Atwork]

How about challenging yourself to make your micro managing boss to like you? 

Prove to him that you are capable, initiative and he could learn something from you. Because everywhere has this kind of bosses. If you are being micro managed everytime, it means that you have not changed. 

[sgmaven]

When it comes to work, it really depends on how you view your own career. A boring and mundane job is by no means a bad thing, if it enables you to spend your energy on your hobbies and interests outside of working hours. This is especially so, if it pays you well enough to indulge in those interests on the side.

 

While it may seem glamorous to travel all over the world for your job, do realise that it is also very exhausting. It is also quite dislocating as it becomes difficult to maintain your relationships with friends and loved ones. I remember when I used to travel often for work (three weeks in a month), I would have to schedule get-togethers with friends 2 or 3 months in advance! And even then, I may still have to cancel at the last minute when work called me away. I used to spend much of my weekend writing trip reports, and then preparing and packing for the next trip, so even the weekends may not be that free.

 

So, do consider if you are willing to work long hours (lots of OT where you don't get extra compensation, aside for taxi fare home) and burn your weekends.

 

Public sector jobs may be boring and not very motivating, but they tend to be very stable. That enables you to plan even years ahead. Contrast that with a private sector job, which can be full of changes, and be much more demanding. You might earn more in the private sector, but I think once you factor in the increased work (hours and pressure), you might consider that the additional cash only compensates for the amount of time you have forfeit. Think about the teleconferences/Zoom calls at night, and global meetings, and you will start to understand.

[Guest help]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll definitely look into upgrading with something more relevant. Probably will look at an internal transfer first before anything. 

 

I don't hate my job scope but I don't like the admin side of having to get everything in black and white and the countless levels of supervisors and bosses I have to clear before getting anything done. Where the different levels of bosses have different thinking and ideas and 1 small comment from them can shift the whole trajectory of the project or proposal.

 

To address some comments, yes after being in this line for a while I've gotten comfortable and am not really the go getter nor am I the leader type. And Im not unhappy because I'm not promoted or anything. I'm not a scholar or in the talent pool, I know my place. It's just the way govt works and how most of my time is spent on admin work. What I want to feel satisfied? To see at least some fruition to my efforts. I'm handling very routine projects, not very exciting. 

 

Anyways I've decided to stay for a while and catch up to the in demand skills. But I'm definitely going to ask for a transfer when there are openings. things move too slowly in my current place. 

[Steve5380]

On 6/30/2022 at 11:18 PM, Guest help said:

 

To address some comments, yes after being in this line for a while I've gotten comfortable and am not really the go getter nor am I the leader type. And Im not unhappy because I'm not promoted or anything. I'm not a scholar or in the talent pool, I know my place. It's just the way govt works and how most of my time is spent on admin work. What I want to feel satisfied? To see at least some fruition to my efforts. I'm handling very routine projects, not very exciting. 

 

 

You have already a project that has nothing of routine.  It is the Project of you Life,  the cultivation of your personal abilities and ways to put them to the best use.  Your job at this time, while it takes a lot of your time,  is simply a way to make a living.  A source of monthly income.   Hopefully it leaves enough free time for you to independently work on your Life project.