Working in the civil service is known to be a good opening for many. However if you have been trying to get into this field to no avail, you probably need some guidance on what you should do in order to qualify for a post in the civil service. A job in the civil service comes with several benefits and is therefore found to be very attractive. Getting in is not always easy as they usually have a good group of people working for them, for a dynamic background. This article will provide you with some basic information that you need to know in order to set yourself apart from the rest by gaining a qualification by sitting for civil service examinations.
Although you may have several qualifications that you have worked with in previous companies and employers, you would find that to enter the civil services, you may have to take additional examinations which are known as the civil service examinations. This is in order to maintain a good level of education among all its employees. You would therefore need to do some careful research with regard to your area of interest, and check out what civil service examinations you would need to sit for. Civil service examinations are held in several centers across the country. You would be able to find out what civil service examinations you would need to sit for, from the specific government departments that you hope to be employed in.
You may be able to find education counselors who would be able to assist you with this task of finding out information and resources for your civil service examinations.
Paper based civil service examinations however are not as common today as they used to be. You may find that your employer would make you simply apply online for a specific post and the civil service examinations will merely be based on how good you are for the job by looking at the strength of your resume. It is best to however, have a few additional qualifications in order to be able to get promotions and higher salary.
It is important for you to find ways of looking for job opening in the civil service environment before you sit for your examinations or as soon as you get your results. You can do this by visiting the USAJOBS website, set up by the federal government, which is the best source around for job openings in the civil service. You could also call them to find out more information as they are open 24 hours a day. Feel free to contact them should you have any queries or doubts regarding what employers are looking for in addition to civil service examinations.
Joining the civil service is an ambition fostered by many. This is largely due to the prestige associated with government employment, the job security it promises and the attractive remuneration/retirement benefits that most such jobs have on offer. However, generally, prior to obtaining a placement in government service, the pre-requisites of a civil service examination have to be met.
A civil service examination is usually set for those who apply for federal government, state or local government agency positions. The need for such tests is rampant, if the position applied for, is in the Foreign Service, in customs or in the area of law enforcement. Similarly, a civil service examination is usually set for those applying for positions in the postal services, too.
Most individuals are under the impression that a civil service examination is set only for those applying for high-end job vacancies. Although this may hold true in most cases, in some instances, applicants for entry level jobs too, need to meet the standards set by specific examinations.
A civil service examination consists largely of background information, educational details and an apt classification of work experience gained, to date. However certain professions may require candidates to sit for a written test, too. Although the questions set in a written test may vary greatly depending on the position applied for, as a rule of thumb, writing skills, basic mathematical concepts, reading and comprehension skills will be subject to examination, for the most part.
The civil service examination is generally, the second step in the recruitment process. Applicants are first, short-listed based on their eligibility, and then prior to selection, they would be requested to take up the assigned civil service examination.
There is, indeed, a purpose in holding a civil service examination. For instance, this is mainly done, so that the best candidates for the job can be chosen, based on their own merits. Also, it is a method that ensures fair play to a large extent, where equal opportunities are provided to all suitable candidates.
A civil service examination, can generally, be classified under one of the three main categories listed below. These are pen-competitive examinations, promotional examinations and continuous recruitment examinations. To elaborate further, pen-competitive examinations are those that are open to all who meet the minimum eligibility criteria. On the other hand, promotional examinations are those which are open to employees already engaged in the civil service on a permanent basis, who wish to apply for higher level job vacancies. Continuous recruitment examinations are less common, as these are used only if the job is highly specialized in nature or where continuous recruitment is practiced.
Civil service jobs are indeed much in demand, today. So if you do have to face a civil service examination, it is worthwhile heeding the boy scouts’ motto “be prepared”.
This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse, you agree to our Privacy Policy