Working in the Public Sector
✳ Employment in the Public Sector:
Securing a position in the public sector is often a slow process, so it will be important to expect a long application period. The reason why securing a job in the public sector takes a long time is because these are highly sought after positions. This is because the government is able to offer robust benefits and reliable long-term employment, with a strong set of rights and privileges for employees, which are less common in the private sector.
Applying for jobs in the public sector is often a multi-step process which involves tests called civil service exams, which identify what your skills are and which part of the civil sector you will be best suited to work in.
Civil Service Exams, Also Called Professional Career Opportunities/PCO Exams:
These are the examinations for positions in the public workforce which most individuals who work or want to work within the state or federal government, in any position, must take. For different job openings in the state government, there are different examinations.
They are commonly referred to as the PCO exams, and are used by the government to fill entry level positions across a range of disciplines, including: human resources and training, service regulation and compliance, corrections and criminal justice, environment, natural and physical sciences, accounting, auditing and finance, health and human services, communications, marketing and public relations, transportation, administrative operations, economics, research and statistics.
◈ By entering an entry level position through a PCO exam, it will be possible to pursue a progressive career path from that initial position, meaning through incremental advancement as you develop skills and experience.
◈ Advanced positions in the public sector are often only available to those who already hold public sector positions, meaning that PCO exams and the entry level positions they enable you to access are also the way to reach for higher level positions later in your career.
◈ The exams which are open in any given month or season reflect those positions which the government needs to fill, so it is important to keep up with these lists, as they are apt to change.
Once You Have Taken a PCO Exam:
◈ Most of the positions accessed through this exam result in two year training cycles during which the trainee acquires the necessary skills to perform the position independently.
◈ It will take 90 to 120 days after taking a civil service exam to find out your results and what job openings are available to you based on your performance.
◈ It may be necessary to study for the PCO exam if there are certain public sector positions that you are interested in accessing.
◈ There are online materials to study for the many types of civil service exams
Note: The reason why the process for entering the government workforce is so slow and complex is because these are very steady, very well-paying jobs with meritocratic systems of advancement. These jobs are hard to access, but also hard to lose, due to legislation regulating employee rights in the government.
There are also some positions in the public sector which do not require a PCO exam, including: Child protective services specialist, dental hygienist, Dietitian, licensed master social worker, medical assistant, physician assistant, recreation therapist, among others.
Internships in the Public Sector: If you are interested in investigating a path in the public sector/civil service, which would likely involved a PCO exam and a relatively long application process, you may want to start with an internship, which does not require any examination, and would enable you to experience the roles and work environment you are interested in.