22 Things Public Officers Should Know

Whether you’re new or an old-timer public officer, there’s always something to learn about the massive, diverse organisation that is the Singapore Public Service. Read this list for a snapshot of the resources that will help you thrive as a public officer.

For newbies

1. Public Service or Civil Service?

There are 150,000 public officers within the Singapore Public Service, which includes all 16 ministries and more than 50 statutory boards. Within the Public Service is the Civil Service, which comprise about 86,000 officers in the ministries.

Not included in the Civil Service: Officers in statutory boards; the Singapore Armed Forces; and nurses and doctors who work at public hospitals.

2. Know what different public agencies do

Many agencies work together on similar issues, but have different roles and responsibilities. A key example:

1. NParks and NEA:

   • Both agencies work on the environment around us. The National Parks Board focuses on parks, park connector networks and Singapore’s greenery, whereas the National Environmental Agency takes care of environmental cleanliness, pollution control, mosquito breeding, hawker centres and also shares weather updates.

3. Who’s who in the Singapore Public Service

There are 16 ministries, each led by a Permanent Secretary, and 64 statutory boards that each report to a parent ministry. Statutory boards operate autonomously to focus on a specific function, and are headed by Chief Executives or Managing Directors. The whole Public Service is led by the Head of Civil Service. For a full list of public agencies and leaders, check the Head of Civil Service Leo Yip has to say about the latest Public Sector Transformation, or PST.

10. Be on top of the trends affecting Singapore

Blockchain, bots, and new ways of working – in order to be prepared for the future and take advantage of the opportunities for innovation, public officers have to keep any eye on the major trends. Within the Public Service are futures units where strategic foresight officers research trends, but everyone should be reading widely. Start with Challenge articles.

11. To be a good leader, you have to define your values

As an organisation, the Singapore Public Service has values – Integrity, Service, Excellence – for all officers to uphold. Individual public officers have values of their own that guide the way they lead at work, such as having the courage to do the right thing and the humility to keep learning.

12. You’re in charge of your career

Linked to Public Sector Transformation, and to keep up with new challenges, every public officer has to keep learning and have their skills be tip-top. But before you dive into learning the next in-demand skill, first profile yourself and chart where you want to go in your career.

13. Procurement can seem complex to the uninitiated

The Public Service procures services and products from vendors, and the procurement process may not be intuitive to those unfamiliar with it. To ensure accountability for spending public money, there are several principles to abide by and pitfalls to avoid – always do your due diligence and never cut corners.

14. Move fast, but steadily

While the Public Service has to move with urgency to serve the public as best we can, be mindful that we are stewards of public resources, and changing mindsets and work cultures takes time. Be patient and thorough, and don’t be disheartened by setbacks.

Working with the Public and Private Sector

15. You’ll engage with all segments of people

Public officers have to engage and communicate with all sorts of citizens – young people, heritage enthusiasts, the silver generation and more – so different styles are required.

16. We love our mascots

We’ve got Kopi Lim the bear for anti-corruption, Jaga the hedgehog for cybersecurity, and Merli the Merlion to promote tourism. Yes, this is all part of engaging various publics by sharing messages in light-hearted yet memorable ways.

17. There will be plenty to learn from the private sector

From banks to theatre groups, there is plenty to learn from other organisations. Service delivery officers may also have opportunities to do work attachment stints with leading customer-centric companies to learn new skills and practices.

How to survive in the Public Service

18. Cope with Internet surfing separation

To beef up cybersecurity, the Public Service has an Internet surfing separation policy, which means only selected devices have access to the Internet. While some may find this frustrating, many public officers have found different ways to work with the system and even become more productive!

19. Know your Public Service jargon

It would take another list just for all the abbreviations and jargon you’ll find bandied about in the Public Service. Here are some to start you off:

• COS: Committee of Supply, a committee of parliamentary members that debates government expenditure for the coming financial year.

• WOGSO: Whole-of-government strategic outcomes. This describes goals on a national scale that require inter-ministry collaboration.

• Regulatory Sandbox: A "safe space" where certain regulatory requirements are relaxed so that organisations can experiment with and test innovative products, services or business models.

20. You will still have time for your personal passions

Be sure to make time for personal hobbies, whether it’s as common as football and photography, or more unusual, like clowning around, dressing up and collecting vinyls. Not only will they keep you sane at work, you never know when the things you do and practise for fun will come in useful for work too.

21. Going on a staycation? Use your public officer perks

Public officers can enjoy lower rates for Civil Service Club properties if they are members. This includes the beautiful Changi Cottage, a hideout of the late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

22. Inject a dose of humour into the work you do

Laughter means you’ve succeeded in stoking emotions, which makes important messages more memorable. Tackling difficult things with humour could also give a different perspective, as well as build camaraderie and reduce stress at work. It’s definitely an underrated skill to have.