Torn Between a Government Job Offer and My Current NGO Role: Seeking Advice on Which Path to Choose

Hello, I'm a development sector professional with three years of work experience. Recently, I've switched my job and joined an NGO working in Delhi. Last week, I received a government job offer. I'm currently serving a two-month probation period, which will end on 31st August 2015. I'm unable to decide which one I should choose. Both are contractual jobs, and the contract will be renewed after one year based on my performance.

Though I'm enjoying my present job, there is always a great degree of uncertainty associated with it. I have heard many stories about employees being fired without notice. My family members and friends are insisting that I take the government job offer, but I fear that the nature of the job and work environment will not be as exciting and challenging as in the private sector. As a young professional, I need your advice. Which path should I take?

I waited for quite some time to receive a response to my query. Unfortunately, I didn't receive any response. So I thought that I should reply now, as my experience may help someone else who is facing a similar dilemma.

Advantages of a Government Contractual Job

I decided to take up the contractual government job. I'm about to complete a year at my present job. The advantage of working in a government job is that it brings great credibility and offers a platform to carry out one's work. This is especially true in the development sector, where one needs to work with multiple stakeholders to bring about a desired impact in the lives of the underprivileged. There is little work pressure, and one enjoys a stress-free life and can maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Challenges in a Government Contractual Job

On the other hand, the decision-making process is extremely slow, and even approvals of a small nature may take a lot of time. The process is manual, and one has to submit the request in a file, which moves through at least three to four levels before any decision is taken. This results in frequent delays, which hampers efficiency to a great extent. There are also huge sets of government protocols (most of which I found completely useless) that create complexity in even small matters.

Caution for Prospective Government Contractual Employees

One area of caution for anyone who is going to take up a government contractual job is that one may have to wait a minimum of three to four months to receive their first salary. So please keep this factor in mind before taking up a government contractual job.

Choosing Between Private and Government Sectors

Working in the private sector, particularly in NGOs and development organizations, can be both exciting and challenging. It offers valuable learning experiences and personal growth. However, it often comes with a heavy workload, leading to stress, burnout, and a distorted work-life balance.

On the other hand, a government job provides ample time to focus on personal well-being but may lack the excitement of a dynamic workplace. The decision between the two is indeed difficult. It's important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding on the private or government sector. Remember, there is no perfect workplace—it's a myth. If you find more than 5 out of 10 things you desire in your workplace, consider yourself very fortunate.

Regards

I found working in the private sector (NGOs/Development Organizations) to be exciting and challenging, which has provided me with useful learning and experience. However, having too much on my plate most of the time resulted in frequent stress, burnout, and a distorted work-life balance.

On the other hand, working in a government setup gives you ample time to focus on your personal well-being, but it doesn't offer an exciting workplace. So the choice is a difficult one. Weigh both the pros and cons and decide carefully before opting for the private or government sector. There is no perfect workplace; it's a myth. If one gets more than 5 out of 10 things one desires at their workplace, the person should consider themselves very fortunate.