The desire to help others is a compelling reason to pursue a career in public service. At its most basic level, public service includes a wide range of jobs within the government (local, state and federal), universities, non-government organizations (NGOs) and charities. But it also includes many different professions in the fields of health, education, environment and even social change.
Essentially, public services are those considered by society to be so essential that they should be provided for everyone without charge and that they may be protected by rules that go beyond those usually applied to economic goods. They are often regarded as fundamental human rights, such as the right to clean air or water. The term can also apply to sectors that are natural monopolies and therefore have an important role to play in local communities, such as hospitals, fire departments, libraries and food banks.
In the past, it was common for graduates to imagine that they would embark on a lifetime of career stability in the government. But today’s graduate students are less inclined to sign up for 30-year careers in a civil service that was built around the old merit system, and are instead seeking out opportunities in the private sector and nonprofit agencies.
As a result, government recruiters are struggling to find ways to attract them and provide them with challenging work that is consistent with their values. They are also trying to rebuild a career development function that was decimated by downsizing. But most importantly, they need to show young people that they care about the issues that are their focus—equity, sustainability, reliable research, child development, etc.