Torn Between a Government Clerk Job and My Passion for HR: What Should I Do?

Dear all, I am working in a 5-star hotel as a SENIOR HR ASSISTANT, earning a salary of Rs. 7000/- per month. I am 26 years old (D.O.B 11-07-1986). My father was working as an A.P. Govt. School Teacher. Unfortunately, he died on 27-09-2011, due to ill health while he was in service.

Government Job Offer

The Andhra Pradesh Govt. is offering me a Govt. job as a Clerk (10+2 Qualification) (Group IV) in some govt. office. The salary would be between Rs. 12000/- to Rs. 17000/-.

Private Sector Opportunity

I got an offer from X hotel as an HR Executive with a salary of Rs. 15,000/-. The reason I rejected it is that I have been with my current employer since Feb-2010, and I would like to complete at least 2 years of service.

Qualifications and Experience

My qualification is M.B.A (HRM), and I have 3 years of experience in the HR field. In March 2011, my company is going to hike my salary, but it won't reach Rs. 10,000/-. I may also receive a promotion. I have completed M.A. (History), M.Phil (Management), and I am currently pursuing an MSc (Psychology) through distance mode.

Career Aspirations

My wish is to continue in the HR field as I love this profession. I am good in Statutory and Staff Welfare. I do not wish to work in government service because if I choose a government job, I would have to be in a remote area, and due to job security, I may become idle.

If I decline this job, there is no one else in my family to take this opportunity (my mother is aged). I am the only option.

Dear seniors, please suggest to me which one I should prefer, either the government job (clerk) or the private job (HR).

Decision Between Government and Private Job

In private, you can do and achieve more. Do accept the offer of the $15,000 hotel job and do your best. Clerk means Group C; just check if it is Group D or C because now the government doesn't recruit Group D people. Group D includes safaiwala, driver, etc. If you like statutory things, then you have a lot of scope. Okay  Cheers and enjoy.

Dear Dinesh, let me be very practical in this regard. If the government job offered to you is on a permanent basis, then irrespective of salary, please go ahead and join it. I understand that you have little interest in this, but with time, slowly and gradually, you would generate your interest there.

My opinion is to go ahead and grab the opportunity. In the private sector, people do whatever, but there are very few chances of a secure career, which you would also realize one day.

Regards

Dear Dinesh,

My advice to you: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER try for a clerical job in any State Government.

With your qualifications of MA, MBA, and MPhil, I would never advise you to take a job as a clerk in the Government where horses and asses are equated, more particularly in State Government organizations. I don't know about the grouping of posts in the Andhra Government organization. But, I feel you are misinformed about the Group-IV post, which is normally equivalent to just a peon in any Government office. Clerks in Government offices are normally in Group-III (or Group-C) cadres.

Even if the post is clerical, the worst thing would be when you will have to work with people with a qualification of 10+2 in your own cadre of service, and you would feel quite downgraded. Not only that, when you would have to work as a subordinate below someone much less qualified, you would feel frustration and regret why you chose that career. By that time, you would be overage to opt for some other good career or to revert back to a lucrative career from such a low category job. Promotional avenues would be rare in the Government department unless you qualify for different competitive examinations of the department you are posted.

Better try for a good job in a reputable company. However, if you wish to join Government service, with your qualifications, you must try for some Group-A (Class-I) post of the Central Government, which you can compete for through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). With your age of 26 years, you are very well eligible to take the competitive tests (Preliminary & Main) of the UPSC. You may like to refer to the brief plan of different examinations conducted by the UPSC from the following link:

http://www.upsc.gov.in/exams/detprg_eng.pdf

For more details, you can visit the website of the UPSC at the following link:

http://www.upsc.gov.in

Regards,

My surroundings are urging me to take up a government job. They say if I ignore it today, one day I will regret it.

Please follow the instructions given by Mr. Dhingra Sir because joining a State Government Clerical job only requires an SSLC qualification, and your degrees will go to waste. Initially, you will have to struggle a lot. But one fine day, you will feel that we made the right decision by selecting a private sector job.

All the best.

Dear Dinesh,

If the people around you are more literate and knowledgeable about jobs, only then should you follow their advice. Otherwise, use your own judgment to assess the pros and cons of lower-level jobs with higher qualifications. You should be the judge of your own decisions. Your career should depend on your own wisdom, not on the pressures from your surroundings. Ultimately, your future success will be determined by your choices, not by blindly following others' opinions.

Considering Government Jobs

If you are specifically interested in Government jobs, I can guide you on a path to directly reach a Group-A (Class-I) position within the Central Government. This would enable you to potentially become a collector/District Magistrate or reach even greater heights within the Government of India. Each year, the Government of India recruits high-level officers through the UPSC, with the minimum qualification being just a basic degree in any field—whereas you possess three higher qualifications. You have the potential to achieve great success in your career, but settling for a clerical job could hinder your progress and limit your career growth in the long run.

I can only offer you my best wishes for your future endeavors.

Regards,
[Your Name]

Just listen to people you are close to—your family and relatives. It's very easy to say to go for a regular job and try for UPSC/IAS, but in reality, it is not as easy as it seems. Missing the opportunity that you are currently presented with may lead to regrets in the future.

Go ahead and join the job. You can also continue trying for higher opportunities while working in that job. Nobody has said that you should stop trying.

Don't miss the opportunity. At the same time, the job you have may be at a lower level, even though you have the qualifications to move upwards in the future by writing some exams. In government positions, you have a more secure job compared to the private sector. Consider your interests, family's interests, security, and other aspects before making a decision.

Wishing you great success.

Regards,
Thiru

Dear Dinesh,

I think you should not give any second thought and just go with the government job. If I were in your place, I would definitely take it since I have more advantages in government as compared to private. After all, the decision is yours. Wish you all the very best.

Regards,
Megha

You are well-educated with good degrees. You should stick to the current company for some time until you pursue some more courses. This is the time to study, considering your age.

Considerations for Career Path

Your qualification does not suit a government job, and moreover, you can't perform as an "HR professional" in government jobs. Rules are made, and you are to ensure that people who deviate do not get caught. If you look at HR as a career, you should not join any government job. It will stagnate your thoughts and creativity. But if you want a job for the sake of a salary, you should take a government job. Moreover, the jealousy that will linger around you will kill your motivation level (by virtue of your degree).

So don't worry, just carry on with what you are doing now. Pursue courses. You are worth more than a clerical government job. All the best.

My sincere advice is that you opt for the government job immediately. As you rightly said, all the qualifications obtained by you are Indian and not from big business schools. Since you are very young, try to pursue some law courses (distance education mode - National Law School of Indian Universities at Bangalore) simultaneously and aim for big posts in the private sector where compensation will be better. As suggested elsewhere, also prepare for UPSC and try to move upwards in the government sector itself.

You have taken a very wise step to opt for the private sector (referencing your post from yesterday). To tell you the truth, I made the same decision, albeit after 2 years of joining the Government service way back in the eighties, and I have never regretted it. I also lost my father, who was in a Government job, and I got a clerical job on compassionate grounds. Since the times back then were very different, and we were hardly aware of alternate non-technical careers in the private sector, and due to family pressures (all were in Government jobs, including my mother), I took the Government job. However, within 1 year, I was clear that it was not my cup of tea. I then pursued a postgraduate degree in HR and secured my first private sector job as an HR trainee in an Indian MNC. It was a very tough decision to leave the Government job, but I did not pay heed to anyone and resigned. Somewhere along the line, I completed my MBA in HR. Now, having spent over two and a half decades in the private sector in various Indian and MNCs, I have reached the level of Group HR Head of a large conglomerate.

So congratulations, my friend, and as they say, "well begun is half done"... all the best.

Regards

Consider a Government Job for Long-term Benefits

Go and join a government job; in the long run, you will find everything there. As far as the private sector is concerned, it is a platform of low and mean-group people in Indian-based companies. Indian employers are like buttering, which is the main reason for the closure of Indian companies after one or two generations.

Regards,
Ashwini Kumar

I have gone through every reply to you and your final decision, but still, I want to say that you should go for a government job. According to my knowledge, the government also arranges time-to-time post-upgradation examinations. By qualifying in those examinations with the help of your degree, you can attain a good post there. Moreover, for your HR side, you can do part-time training programs, etc. So, in this way, you can do both things. I am suggesting this only due to the fixed income in a government job. With your efforts, you can increase your post there also. The same applies to private jobs too.

Dear Seniors and Friends, I have been in the field of HR for the last 2 and 1/2 years and obtained an MBA from a Government University. After working for this duration, I am still surviving on a mediocre salary (20,000 p.m). Even worse, I am still searching for meaningful responsibilities and measurable contributions to corporate goals. No offense, but this is why we are observing a high attrition rate in the HR field for beginners and freshers.

In my opinion, PSU Jobs vs. Private Sector

PSU jobs are better as they offer a defined job role with some level of job security in your career. Additionally, in terms of future prospects, there will be numerous opportunities awaiting you as internal promotions and exams are common practices in most PSUs. If I were in your position, I would consider taking the PSU offer for its long-term benefits.

Regards, Samrat Banerjee
Area HR
Eureka Forbes Ltd.

I agree with Harpreet Walia, a Human Resource Professional, and advise you to consider joining a government job. I would advise you to appear for internal exams for promotions. You are a qualified person, and you will succeed. You can also be elevated to Grade 1 after passing the internal exams.

Benefits of a Government Job

A government job is better, as currently, it offers better cash in hand, job security, and medical benefits for you and your family. With time, you can also get quick promotions by passing internal exams.

In private firms, you often have to request increments and promotions. Only reputed firms provide good pay scales and care for their employees. In the government sector, your medical expenses are covered, there are sufficient holidays and leaves, you receive LTC, and other benefits that may not be reflected in your pay package.

After clearing internal exams, you can reach Grade 1 and enjoy more benefits.

Regards,
AK MATHUR

Please accept the government job. It is less well-paid, but job security is guaranteed. Nowadays, many people are pursuing their MBAs. Eventually, MBAs will be working for Rs. 5000. Kindly consider taking this government job. In the long term, you will benefit from it. Since you don't have any technical qualifications, do not miss this opportunity.

I do not know about your family's financial background, but I suggest you take up a government job. It's not a bad or low-profile choice, and you can pursue a better career while working. Many people who secure government jobs do not stick to the same role; they often prepare for competitive exams, especially in public sector HR jobs. You can apply for an extended leave to prove yourself.

All the best.

I agree with some who say that you should take the job offering Rs. 15,000, which you are getting, and then spend a good tenure with them. It's nice to see that you want to complete at least 2 years with your current organization, but looking at the current situation, I would suggest taking the offer. Please do not get into a government job. It might give you stability but won't give you the chance to use your skills and the educational qualifications that you have mentioned. You could be an asset to any organization if you apply your skills.

Cheers, mate :)

Hi Dhinesh, this is my kind advice for you: just try to secure a government job. It's not a big problem; you can aim for a career in HR by leveraging your qualifications through promotions.

Regards,
Gandhi T.L.

I have the same experience as you. I was working as an Assistant Grade-11 in a governmental department in Islamabad. I resigned from it as there were little chances of promotion (133 persons ahead of me in the seniority list). I did my MBA in Marketing alongside the job. Now I am in an NGO.

To me, government service is dull and lacks creativity, has little freedom, though it is safe. But I like the thrill of working in a private job. You can pick up the best available job and place and can go abroad at liberty.

You better decide, keeping in view your domestic situation and your mental state of affairs.

Best of luck.

I share my opinion in this regard that first, you should prioritize securing the government job opportunity. Afterwards, you can take the "On Job Promotion Examination," which will allow you to be placed in a better grade within one or two years.

Compared to government jobs, private sector jobs are less secure, whereas a government job provides security for you and your family.

For example, you can now secure a government job because your father was in a government job. Suppose your father had been working in the private sector, consider the difference!

Please don't miss this opportunity!

Regards

Comparison of Government and Private Jobs

Government Job: Your job is secure up to the age of 58 years, whether you perform or not. You do not need to work hard to get any promotion or increment. You will receive your promotions and increments automatically whenever you become eligible. However, your salary may not be sufficient after marriage, potentially leading to daily conflicts between you and your spouse. Even if you wish, you may not be able to afford costly articles or gifts for your relatives, friends, spouse, or children. You will have plenty of time to visit your friends and relatives if you are straightforward and have a policy not to accept any gifts or bribes. (I have worked in the Central Government for 19 years and 3 months.)

Private Company Job: You have to struggle hard and be sincere in your job to secure it. You must work hard to get promotions and increments; they will not come automatically based on seniority. If you prove your efficiency, you will surely receive a high pay package, and deserving candidates may have their salary fixed at the maximum level. You need not struggle in day-to-day survival due to financial constraints. If you are loyal to your company and straightforward in completing tasks, you will be recognized, and you won't have to worry about expenses with a high pay package. However, you will have less time to meet your friends and relatives. (I have been working in a Private Company for the last 6 years and 6 months.)

I have outlined the pros and cons of Government and Private jobs. Please evaluate them and make your own decision. Wishing you all the success, dear.

I also have 6 years of experience in the HR field, but I still prefer a government job over a private sector HR job because of job security. In a government job, you can develop an interest in the work, and with your extraordinary qualifications, you will definitely advance to higher positions. Even in terms of salary, a government job offers better pay compared to the current salary offered by X hotel.

All the best, and think wisely. My suggestion is to choose the government job.

Regards,
Gowtam
HR

Not fully agreeing with you, I mean, at least I have been working in an autonomous society, i.e., a government organization for the past 5 years, and I am really working hard every day with lots of work. Only a few government departments have very minimal workloads, and not all government jobs provide opportunities to take bribes, which is widely misunderstood - that every government job offers bribe opportunities.

Dear Dinesh, as per my advice, you must join a clerk job. It's better for you because the private sector is not easy now. I think you have seen that, so please make a decision in favor of your family. Otherwise, everything depends on you and what you should do. But positively think about your career and family. The government sector has lots of openings you can try alongside your job; it's easy for you.

Wishing you all the best in your career.

Thank you,

Regards

I am working in a 5-star hotel as a Senior HR Assistant, earning a salary of Rs. 7000 per month. I am 26 years old (D.O.B 11-07-1986).

My father was working as an A.P. Govt. School Teacher. Unfortunately, he passed away on 27-09-2011, due to ill health while he was in service.

Andhra Pradesh Govt. is offering me a government job as a Clerk (10+2 Qualification) (Group IV) in some government office. The salary would be Rs. 12000 to Rs. 17000.

I got an offer at X hotel as an HR Executive with a salary of Rs. 15,000. The reason I rejected it is that I have been working at my current job since Feb-2010, and I would like to complete at least 2 years of service.

My qualification is MBA (HRM), and I have 3 years of experience in the HR field. In March 2011, my company is going to increase my salary, but it won't reach Rs. 10,000. Maybe I will also get a promotion.

I have completed M.A. in History, M.Phil in Management, and I am currently pursuing MSc in Psychology through distance mode.

My wish is to thrive in the HR field; I love this profession. I am quite good at Statutory and Staff Welfare.

I do not wish to work in the government sector because if I choose a government job, I may have to be in a remote area, and due to job security, I may become idle.

If I ignore this job, there is no one else in my family to take this offer (my mother is aged), and I am the only option.

Dear seniors, please do suggest which one I should prefer: a government job (clerk) or a private job (HR).

My simple and short opinion is to go with your passion, i.e., with the HR profession, and leave all the things behind because "agar-erado mai chamak ho to samundar mai se bhi rasta nikal aata hai".

Regards,
Lalit Kumar
HR Generalist

I will definitely suggest you carry on with your HR profession rather than the said government job.

Regards,

First, ask your mother. Listen to your family because whatever step you are going to take will ultimately affect your family. Each and every person in this world is working and doing jobs only to secure their family's future.

If you are thinking that you can sustain in this HR field where competition is always there, and you are 200% confident in yourself, then go ahead. If you have a little bit of doubt in your mind, then opt for a government job.

My best wishes!

Regards,
Amitav Nanda