5 myths or stereotypes about working in the Public Sector vs Private Sector

This is part 2 of a ‘career advice’ series I wrote, due to the frequency of such queries I receive through email. Part 1 was ‘Career Prospects for Psychology Graduates’, and you can read it here.

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A frequent question I receive is ‘so do I apply for public sector or private sector? Which is better?’. There is no simple answer to this, but I’ve heard many myths/stereotypes. My hope is that this post provide some extra information, and helps you make an enlightened decision in your career selection!

STEREOTYPE / MYTH: There is better work-life balance in public sector.

shameless stock image

This is one of the most commonly cited ‘advantages’ of public sector, but it’s not always true. While the Government does have family-friendly practices (e.g. telecommuting, blue skies Friday, etc), it is not uncommon to hear of people in the Public Service regularly working OT or even working weekends (usually more common in policy work).

I’ve also heard of many private sector firms (usually MNCs) with very good family-friendly practices, such as telecommuting, extra paternity leave, and so on. I know of people personally in the private sector who end work promptly at 530 or 6pm every day, and civil servants who are still checking emails at midnight.

TRUTH: Ultimately, it is the organisation and department that you are in that will determine your work-life culture, so if that is something that matters to you, do ask about it during the interview.

STEREOTYPE / MYTH: Public sector is more stable than private sector

There is some truth in this, as being fired / retrenched is almost unheard of in the Public Service (there is a long and slow process to even get rid of ‘underperformers’ such that line managers may feel a strong inertia to do so; sudden exits usually only happen due to disciplinary cases).

That said, it is not like the private sector is some super volatile Bitcoin-like ticking time bomb. There are large, stable MNCs where you can generally feel quite secure in. When organisations pivot in their business foci, they would try to relocate/move employees rather than retrench/fire them, as recruitment is a huge cost (unless downsizing is a priority). Of course, we will not discuss the obvious like instability of start-ups.

TRUTH: Don’t let fear of volatility keep you away from the private sector, especially if you’re aiming for a larger MNC or a relatively future-proof area.

STEREOTYPE / MYTH: There is more politics in private sector than public sector

Guy on the right looks ready to jujitsu the other guy though.

I have heard of scary backstabbing tales in banks, where veiled insults and behind-the-back snide comments are synonymous with daily work. However, I have also heard of passive aggressive clique-ish behaviour in the public sector. Even the milder form of politics – playing the job hierarchy – is prevalent in the Public Service, especially in uniformed organisations.

TRUTH: Where there are humans, there will be politics. Some industries may be slightly more notorious than others for having politics, and this is not restricted to the private sector, so do your research beforehand.

STEREOTYPE / MYTH: Progression is always slower in the public sector

If you read any salary.sg forums, you will see the typical cynical keyboard warriors parrot the idea that private sector is better because the sky’s the limit! You can progress as fast as you wish! Your pay will leapfrog your peers!

Well, progression is more structured and laid out in the Public Service. In the private sector, there will be industries/companies that reward high performers well, and progress can be fast. Conversely, progress can be absolutely stagnant in private if you don’t meet KPIs. Worse still, if you don’t get the right people to like you, you may not even get to progress at all!

TRUTH: Progression is not guaranteed in either sector. If you are truly good, do the right things, and get lucky, reward will come. That said, an equally good performer may indeed progress faster and pull a higher salary in the private sector than the public sector. Of course, that comes with the corresponding extra responsibilities and work stress.

STEREOTYPE / MYTH: There is more bureaucracy in public sector.

Is 'triplicate' even a word?

Everyone knows the government has red tape. A piece of work can go through 2-5 hands before being completed, and the end product may look nothing like the original draft. Procurement (buying something) can take months.

But is the private sector entirely free of this? I’ve heard of MNCs who also have many layers of approval for things, so it’s not like they are free of bureaucracy. That said, my observation is that the government definitely has more processes in place to ensure accountability, and this may turn off some people.

TRUTH: Private sector firms may grant more freedom and autonomy in your day to day work, though they will still have their reporting structures. Public sector agencies tend to have established processes to follow that can make things seem bureaucratic and deter some, but the structure may appeal to others too. I would say in general, this statement tends to be true more often than not.

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Have any more questions about the public vs private sector distinction? Want to discuss anything in general? Feel free to drop me an email at atqhteo[at]gmail[dot]com