Sarkari Naukri : One - Stop Source for Government Jobs in India and Worldwide : ARTICLES

Private jobs Vs. sarkari naukri : Take your pick

By PRERNA KATIYAR, (Source: Economic Times)

Once upon a time, if one got a government job, his life was made. The buck stopped there. There were no more reasons to worry.

But things have changed since then. A Government job is no longer a holy grail and given a choice, today's youth would like to opt for private jobs. As Ankur Talwar, a third year Engineering student of JSS academy, NOIDA, says: “I would definitely prefer a private job. I don't think any government job at the entry level will offer a salary that is necessary to sustain today's lifestyle.” Ankur reflects the preference of today's pros for more talent and performance-driven private jobs.

Who wants to be a babu?

Today, young people no longer yearn for the ‘ pakki sarkari naukari' from where he could expect to retire after 30 years of service along with his pension. This used to be the ambition of his father and his grandfather before him. While fixing marriages, boys with solid government jobs always got a preference.

However, the lifestyle and needs of people have seen a sea change in the last decade. At a time, when even the middle class prefer to go abroad for vacations, (so what if it is only next door countries like Singapore or Malaysia rather than the conventional Kullu-Manali.? ), a government jobs with its lower start-off salaries just don't seem happening enough.

The rise in expenses fuelled by a mall-multiplex culture has tilted people's preferences towards private jobs, which are considered better paying. Also, one expects to rise faster through the ranks in private organisations as promotions here are expected to be performance rather than seniority-based.

Government organisations are considered to be lacking in individual accountability. Unlike any private organisation, where there are set daily deliverables, maintaining status quo seem to be a norm for many of the government organisations. You don't have an actual target with a demarcated deadline to deliver.

“Not all offices are like that. How can you forget establishments like various labs of Ministry of Defence, Science and Technology and many others that have delivered such sophisticated technologies and devices that make life easy for all of us. And it's the manpower that give shape to these,” says Dr Prasoon Dutt, a senior government employee.

Though IAS jobs are still considered top-notch, not many manage to qualify for them. The best of student seem to shy away from government service. Professionals are even open to making a conscious career move from a government office to private firms. They don't want to remain part of a system that doesn't value them or where work-efficiency doesn't mater.

“I was working with a government office for the past two years and I felt that I was useless there. I was not even appreciated for the initiatives I made. Everyone was so complacent. Finally, I decided to quit and now I am happily working with an MNC in Bangalore. I feel self worth and you get noticed if you go the extra mile in any private form,” says Gautam Chaddha, a 26-year old engineer.

All's Not Rosy On Private Job Front

“One of the fallacies of government jobs are that while looking at the low salaries, people don't count the parks, which add to up to a lot more than an equivalent private job will offer,” says Satish Bhalla, a class one government officer.

“While the regular pay commissions make sure that salaries come up to the market level, it is the add-ons like a government accommodation in swank Delhi surroundings, free medical facilities etc that make a government job an uniquely well-paying option”, says Arjun Bhatnagar, who has been in the government for over 12 years.

Bhatnagar is right when he says that on a same-level private job, it was unlikely that he will be able to live in a two-bedroom apartment .in South Delhi. Most probably, he would have moved to fringes of Delhi by now.

When Bhalla's wife fell sick last year, the entire medical cost including that of a stay in a private room in AIIMS, was borne by the government which would have set him back by lakhs of rupees otherwise.

It is the features like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) facility, under which all dependent family members are covered for medical benefits, the Leave Travel Compensation (LTC), pension at the end of your service, or the housing facility that one gets by virtue of being a sarkari officer , that make the government job worthwhile.

Also, government jobs are considered to have a more or less fixed nine-to-five working hours. Add to it the fact that one can count on more gazetted holidays from Guru Purnima to Gandhi Jayanti by virtue of having a government job and you have a potent combination at hand.

However, everybody does not agree that a good life at government cost is ideal. “When you get paid in multiples by an MNC, you can easily afford all this on your own,” says Gautam Chaddha. “I still feel that there is a risk factor in private firms but when you do your work well, there should be no reason for any adverse action,” he quips.

Few people still consider that a government job is more secure as you don't fear much of job loss.

The Grass Is Not Always Greener...

But as times change, the general element of security, status and fixed hours, the main reasons that made a government job worthwhile, seem to fade away. Today's young pro is ready to take the risk, go the extra mile and stay late for work provided he gets noticed, gets paid for his extra work and is promised a faster climb up the ladder of success.

"I have worked as a government official for 26 years now, but I would never suggest any of my two sons to opt for the same when they will decide about their career. What will they do with the permanency factor when there is no incentive for good work. And after working for few years, you tend to develop a laid-back attitude," says Mahavir Chawdhary, who is again, a government official.

There is no dearth of faster promotion prospects in any private jobs. Chances are that if you do very well, you may even get a raise in six months, while working in a government office has its set procedure of promotions, where you get call for a promotion only after minimum three to four years of service.

Examples of people who are working in a government office for the 10 to 12 years of service without a raise or promotion are also not rare.

So when the private firms and MNCs are happily willing to pay them more, are take care of their talent, it's no surprise that the young pros prefer private jobs to government ones.....

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Private jobs Vs. sarkari naukri : Take your pick

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN LEADING GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNITS OF INDIA