Once again I am taking the plunge into the unknown. I will be risking life and limb inquiring into a phenomenon that is becoming more and more common in our world at present.The world of public servants who retire. What happens to them? What if any influence do they have once they resign their jobs? What will the world be like when their successors ascend the stairways of power.
Just reading the Canberra Times on a Saturday morning can instill hope into the chest of any aspiring young person in the public service today. Jobs at the Senior Executive Service are going begging. As more and more senior public servants from the era of the baby boomers are reaching the age at which they want to retire so they leave behind vacancies that need to be filled either from outside the traditions of the service or from people who have been in the service (in some cases) just long enough to know how to recognise an opportunity when they see it.
With unemployment once again at levels that have not been seen since the 1970's young people have untold opportunities to run the country. The question is whether they will run it wisely or run it into the ground?
I have recently overheard discussions between older colleagues who lament the impetuous youth of today. In other locations colleagues of the same vintage have meaningful discussions about the energy of young people and the new slants that they bring to age old problems.
I suspect that one of the most fundamental changes in our society is taking place over the next few years as the old guard gives way to the new and as old political realities for the old guard - the Cold War, Communism vs Capitalism give way to the new realities of Global Warming, Global Markets and the rapid rise of China and India to positions of world power.
I want to be able to find a place in which those who ran the country's public services can express their feelings about what is happening now and what they predict is likely to happen in the future, short term, medium range and in the longer term.
If there are any readers out there who have some views on this topic then I would appreciate their communications. Let's really explore what the world is like as the old guard gives way to the new and let's explore what happens to those who have led the charge up to now for the last thirty years.
2 comments:
I would love to know how you go about forging a career in the public service.
An interesting post.
I guess the steps are simple:
1. Make up your mind that you WANT to work in the public service in the first place
2. Make up your mind whether you want to work for the state or the Commonwealth governments
3. Find a job that you think you can DO
4. Apply for the job and get it
5. When you have started in the job LEARN what you have to do
6. Do what you are required to do and do it well!
7. Look at what other jobs are around in the public service that you are interested in - and YES you can and should consider other departments or agencies
8. Map out for yourself a career path that considers varying what it is that you do over time so that you have a large repetoire of skills and experience. ie learn what is available and where and how your interests and skills can be matched to what is available.
9. Try and ensure that you gain experience and a high level of skill in writing, policy development and implementation, supervision of staff, communications skills and above all else, LEARN even though it might be boring as hell, how to read, interpret and implement legislation.
10. Meet people who are above you in the hierarchy and learn how to respond to THEIR needs quickly and efficiently so that when they call upon you to do something it is delivered in a timely fashion and to a high quality.
Assuming you can follow these ten simple steps you can carve out a career anywhere.
Post a Comment