Thousands of vacancies open up for civil servant posts<\/p>\n
John Afrizal and Dwianto Iman Nugroho, The Jakarta Post\/Jambi\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
Imron looked worried while queuing at a counter at Jambi post
\noffice, his right hand holding a brown envelope filled with
\nvarious documents for a job application as a civil servant.<\/p>\n
Although the closing date is Nov. 6, the economics graduate
\nfrom a state university in Jambi did not want to be late in
\nposting the application.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not too hopeful, but I will try,\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
It cost him Rp 50,000 for the application requirements. He had
\nto renew his identity card, obtain a Job Seeker (KTPK) card,
\ncertification for his school certificate and four photographs.<\/p>\n
Many applicants are pessimistic about getting a job as a civil
\nservant because it is now difficult due to stiff competition. The
\nlast time the government opened such vacancies was in 2000.<\/p>\n
According to data at Jambi Manpower Demography and Statistics
\nOffice unemployment figures have continued to rise over the
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Throughout 2003 and 2004, at least 14,000 job seekers have
\nregistered at the office. Some 2,367 have bachelor degrees and 22
\nhave a master's degree. The rest are elementary school and
\ndiploma graduates.<\/p>\n
However, only 340 had found work; 59 elementary school
\ngraduates, 74 junior high school students, 205 senior high school
\nstudents and 2 bachelor degrees graduates.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, spokesman for the Jambi administration, Haroen
\nSa'ad, said that there were only 2,843 vacancies for civil
\nservants available at the moment.<\/p>\n
\"They will be employed to replace 476 officials who have
\nretired over the last three years,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the administration also needed 1,200 teachers,
\n559 health workers and 702 technical workers who had diplomas and
\na bachelor's degree.<\/p>\n
The number of vacancies available is much lower than job
\napplicants, which could hit tens of thousands, making it stiff
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
The stiff competition is evidence that the work is still
\npopular, especially in rural areas and outside Java island.<\/p>\n
People still have high expectations of becoming a civil
\nservant, because a civil servant in a uniform is someone who
\nothers look up to, a replacement for nobility, or like holding
\nthe title of raden or kemas.<\/p>\n
Becoming a civil servant also guarantees financial security
\ncompared to the private sector. In people's mind, despite the low
\nincome, civil servants are guaranteed by the state. Have you ever
\nheard of a state that went bankrupt?<\/p>\n
But, the assumption has gone in big cities such as Surabaya.<\/p>\n
They rarely apply for civil servant posts due to the low
\nincome, and they pursue positions in prestigious companies, which
\noffer them a higher income.<\/p>\n
Basri, a private employee in Surabaya, recalled that he
\napplied for a civil servant's position after he was dismissed
\nfrom a private company.<\/p>\n
Nining, another Surabaya resident, said that she chose to
\napply with the public service despite the low income. She said
\nthat it would be better for her to work as a civil servant rather
\nthan stay at home. \"It can help our household financially,\" said
\nNining whose husband is employed at a private company in
\nSurabaya.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thousands-of-vacancies-open-up-for-civil-servant-posts-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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