Public Sector Careers Explained

By Author: Brice Whiles
Total Articles: 2
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Many people assume that public sector jobs are limited to posts in national and regional government ? but in reality the sector encompasses a huge range of professions, from medicine to management and from armed forces to administration. If you''re considering a career in the public sector then here are some of the options open to you.

Civil Service: Civil Service jobs tend to be competitive and highly sought-after; but if you have the right qualifications then the rewards can be manifold. The service''s popular fast track programme enables talented young graduates to speedily ascend the career ladder, while IT professionals, resource officers and administration assistants are continually in demand.

Local council: If you''re keen to get involved in the running of a regional community then a local council job could be a great option. With roles available in areas such as traffic and parking control, rubbish collection and environmental preservation, working for your local council can be a rewarding career path.

Healthcare: If you''re keen to embark on a career in health then the National Health Service offers ...
... an abundance of employment opportunities. In addition to doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners, the NHS employs a variety of support workers from administration staff to cleaning, maintenance and security people.

Teaching: If you''re a graduate with a good degree and a passion for inspiring and coaching students then teaching could be a rewarding career path. There are several plusses to becoming a teacher, including rigorous training, extended holidays and an excellent benefits package.

Emergency services: Emergency service employees don''t just work in the front line ? behind the firefighters, police officers and ambulance drivers are thousands of support workers providing an essential service. Less publicised roles include control room operators, programmers, clerks and human resources assistants.

Armed forces: The British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are prestigious employers, and all three are currently actively recruiting. If you''re keen to work on the front line then you will need to be physically fit and mentally resilient, but the forces also employ backup staff including chefs, communication specialists and welfare officers.

In addition to the range of jobs on offer, advantages attached to public sector employment include excellent benefits packages and competitive pay. Pensions in the sector also tend to be extremely generous, so employees can look forward to a long and secure retirement. Brice Whiles is a recruitment consultant and careers specialist. They recommend Guardian Jobs for thousands of job listings, including public sector jobs.