Public service is about putting the needs of others before your own and working to help people in difficult situations. It requires a healthy dose of empathy, the ability to understand and be sensitive to the experiences, thoughts and feelings of those you serve. This empathy is necessary to find solutions that improve their circumstances. It also helps you break through the red tape and bureaucracy that can hinder progress when you’re trying to make things happen for your clients or their communities.
Integrity is a fundamental value that should be present in any employee of the public sector. This principle is central to a person’s ability to be trusted in a position of leadership, as it is the foundation of all good government. It means being truthful, trustworthy and morally upright at all times. It requires a strong commitment to uphold the public’s trust in government, even when that involves being a whistleblower or making an ethical disclosure.
When working in public service, learning how to work with a team is key to finding the best solutions for problems. These jobs often involve serving a diverse population with differing cultural and economic backgrounds, so collaborating with coworkers to come up with effective solutions is much more efficient than working alone. Public servants also have a strong sense of selflessness, meaning they are willing to set aside their own interests for the benefit of the public. Examples of this include the Indian Administrative Services officer who stood up against illegal sand mining activities for the sake of ethics and her community.