Public Sector

The public sector is Singapore’s largest employer, employing an estmated 153,000 ofcers across 16 ministries and more than 50 statutory boards.

As this sector’s all about infuencing and helping people – and not just proft margins – most people fnd a career in the public service very fulflling. There’s usually a great deal of training ofered, work practces tend to be fexible and job security is typically less of a concern.

There are many areas within the public sector. Moreover, it’s not all about paperwork – many positons ofer handson experience that afects people’s lives and the society we live in.

Due to certain cascading efects from eforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, there’ll also be a signifcant redesign of the naton’s public sector IT systems, as steps are taken to safeguard citzens’ personal data.

You will need…

• To be highly empathetc • Communicaton skills • Organisatonal skills • To be a team player • Good interpersonal skills Types of employers

• Civil service and government agencies • Higher educaton insttutes

Types of jobs

Public sector work is very varied and includes: • Accountng, administraton and management • Media and communicatons • Healthcare • Research • Specialist roles (e.g. architecture, surveying, engineering, IT, among others) • Community care and welfare

Job-hunting tips

• The public sector ofers a diverse range of jobs, with good opportunites to transfer to a preferred area of work. As such, applicants should conduct some research beforehand so they can talk about their ideal career progression at the interview • Be prepared for psychometric tests and multple rounds of interviews

Work experience

Prior work experience isn’t partcularly important as most ministries will provide on-the-job training.

Deadlines

The public sector recruits year-round. Check individual ministry and statutory board websites for details.

Did you know?

Singapore’s a republic with a parliamentary system of government based on the Westminster model, a series of conventons and procedures used in the Palace of Westminster, the locaton of Parliament in the United Kingdom (U.K.).

Most popular employers

1. Ministry of Educaton (MOE) 2. Ministry of Social and Family

Development (MSF) 3. Ministry of Foreign Afairs (MFA) 4. Ministry of Home Afairs (MHA) 5. Ministry of Health (MOH) 6. Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) 7. Ministry of Finance (MOF) 8. Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) 9. Natonal Environment Agency (NEA) 10.Economic Development Board (EDB)

Source: Singapore Graduate Barometer 2021 editon