2 ms·
It depends what your motivation is. Personally, I'm proud to work for the UK Civil Service. I get to see how the work I do helps keep people safe. I don't hav
by edent 4y ago
It depends what your motivation is.
Personally, I'm proud to work for the UK Civil Service. I get to see how the work I do helps keep people safe. I don't have to care about the "mission" - or agree with every decision made by every team in every department - but I can look at the positive impact my team is having on the world.
I've also worked for the NHS. Again, a big organisation with a lot of flaws. But being able to "nudge the oil tanker in the right direction" feels great.
I once worked for my local council. That allowed me to contribute to my local community.
For me, it's about making the world better rather than making someone else richer.
- nhsboy 4y agoI too work for the UK govt in the NHS (as a developer), and often wonder if I'm being stupid working for half the pay of my other developer friends. Some of my developer friends work for hedge funds and investment banks and make quite literally 4x what I do. It's upsetting knowing that they will be able to buy a home in London and retire early for enriching some of the worst people on the planet, whilst I will likely have to leave London for somewhere cheaper soon, and will work until I'm 65+. (The NHS pension is quite generous to be fair.) I get to log off every day feeling good though, so it all seems worth it to me.
- Moissanite 4y agoI am on the other side of this equation - if I went from my current big tech role to an equivalent seniority level in the public sector, I'd be looking at a 50+% pay cut. I am not ready to make the leap yet because I fear the jealousy eating away at me - but at the same time I know it is more rational to aim for happiness now than push for an early retirement I might not get to see at all, or might not enjoy when I do get there.
- pjc50 4y agoThank you for your service, and for putting up with nonsense from the Minister.