WHO IS A CIVIL SERVANT?
A Civil servant is an individual who works in the civil service, which is the name given to numerous departments and agencies which provides services directly to the public and to the government. The various departments and agencies of the civil service work with the government to create and implement policies which will impact directly upon the lives of people. A Civil servant is also known as Government servant or Public servant.
WHAT DOES A CIVIL SERVANT DO?
The duties and responsibilities of a civil servant includes :
· Formulating policies and overseeing the implementation of them in practice.
· Interpreting complex written information.
· Interpreting complex statistical data.
· Analyzing the application of written information and data to specific policies and procedures.
· Managing resources
· Keeping up to date with political issues and the economy.
· Producing reports with appropriate accompanying diagrams.
· Presenting these reports to other people including ministers.
· Researching areas of economic relevance, and analyzing them as appropriate.
· Producing letters
· Contacting large companies.
· Attending training courses and training others.
WHAT IS THE WORKPLACE OF A CIVIL SERVANT LIKE?
Most Civil servants work in an office environment but this obviously depends upon which department an individual is employed in. For example, some civil servants will work at airports or at ferry terminals. The large majority of civil servants manage to work to a nine to five timetable but some roles will demand longer hours. Flexible working hours are also available subject to departmental needs.
KNOWLEDGE AREAS THAT A CIVIL SERVANT NEEDS TO BE ACQUIRED
· Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
· English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
· Creativity and flexible thinking - The ability to adapt to change and think creatively around problems is a must factor.
· Commercial awareness - While not in a commercial sector as such, you'll need to understand what incentives clients and people in this sector and what impact government policy and politics has on the wider commercial world.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Skills
· Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
· Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
· Coordination- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
· Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
· Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Abilities
· Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
· Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
· Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
· Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
· Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
· Teamworking - Working with myriad of different people with varying skills and qualities. Need to know how to motivate them and work alongside them.
DETAILED WORK ACTIVITIES
The detailed work activities of a civil servant include, provide educational information to the public, write advertising or promotional material, develop promotional strategies or plans, coach others.
The other activities include :
· Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
· Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
· Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
· Interacting with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
PERSONALITY
People interested in this work like activities that include leading and making decisions.
Work Styles
· Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
· Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
· Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
· Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
· Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Work Values
· Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
· Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
· Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
EDUCATION
Graduate entrants tend to have a diverse range of degrees but those in particular disciplines may be useful. These degrees include economics and business studies. However, degrees in disciplines including English may be viewed positively, since these will show competence and the ability to produce written work of a high quality. However, it is possible to enter the Civil Service without holding a degree, although this would be confined to the clerical grades. After an initial application to a department in the Civil Service, you will probably need, as a graduate entrant, to undergo a relatively long selection process. Paying attention to detail whilst keeping a broad and open mind will be invaluable when answering the questions asked during these tests, whether they be written or verbal. If you are considering applying for a job in the Civil Service, you should think about trying for the Civil Service Fast Stream. If you are successful in this scheme (which is very competitive and for graduates only) you will be placed in different departments to give you an opportunity to experience different roles and ultimately choose your preferred career path.
JOB OUTLOOK
The Government of India has fixed salary grades for Civil Servants. Approximately the range of salaries drawn at various levels is as follows:
Junior Officers:Rs.8000-275-13500
Senior Officers: Rs.10650-325-15200
Junior Administrative Grade:Rs.12,750-375-16,500
Selection Grade: Rs.15,100-400-18,300
Additional Secretary: Rs.22400-525-24500
Secretary/Cabinet Secretary: Rs.26,000/30,000
The above scales only provide an idea of the pay scales. Different branches of the service have different scales of pay. In addition to the salary civil servants receive various allowances such as Dearness Allowance, City Compensatory Allowance, Leave Travel Allowance, Medical and subsidized housing.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How to become a Civil servant?
In general, entry level positions (clerical and administrative) require at least a high school diploma. Applicants must also complete a Civil service exam to prove that they are able to competently perform the jobs they are seeking.
Which Civil Service have highest salary?
Working at Reserve Bank of India is the highest paying government job as of today. The total CTC per annum for a Grade – B officer. That is, manager which is an entry level post in RBI is around INR 18,00,000.
Is teacher a Civil servant?
Civil servants are defined much more narrowly than public sector workers and police, teachers, NHS staff, members of the armed forces or local government officers are not counted as civil servants.
What jobs can you get with civil service exams?
Some of the professions that require the civil service exam include, police officers, air traffic controllers, and postal service workers. Other government positions may require a differenttest as well, so be sure you know the requirements before applying.
Is Civil service a good career?
Civil Services offer an attractive and challenging career to the ambitious, the aspiring and the talented. The wide variety of jobs within the fold of the Civil Services have relatively greater sphere of authority and power than any other services in India.