Many parents recommend their offspring, who are just a little bit disoriented to the professional possibilities shortly before leaving school Application at the public service. The career path has many advantages, but also disadvantages.

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Official career - why is she interesting?

Quite a few parents wish for their children a secure job in a civil service relationship. Civil servants are still a group of people who on the one hand faces a certain malice. On the other hand, it reacts with envy when officials identify themselves (outside the authorities). Where does this ambivalence come from?

Civil servants are not employees, but a special professional group. Anchored in the public service (öD), they take on the one hand special Tasks true. On the other hand, officials are also subject to special requirements and Regulate, which in some cases distinguish them very clearly from employees in the public sector.

Responsibilities for civil servants

The Term and, by the way, the function of the civil service is not a modern invention. There have already been representatives of the state with special tasks and powers in antiquity. And even then, what applied to the professional civil servants still applies today: the state as the employer takes on special care - often even for life.

Professionals similar to today's picture are in the 18. or in 19. Century emerged. Until then, it was not rare in Germany representatives of the nobility, who served the state (often but also their own interests). In 19. In the 19th century, the position of the civil servant as a servant of the state was finally established by law. Since then, civil servants have become an important professional group that uses federal and state governments to perform and perform sovereign tasks.

What makes officials?

What exactly does the civil servant status mean? Officials can be defined differently - by the

Point of view.

In general, however, civil servants are bound by a certain framework within which the civil servant relationship moves. They are in a service and loyalty relationship with their employer. The latter is not limited to the federal government.

Use of officials?

Officials are today from:

used. These bodies may include foundations, universities or professional chambers.

Civil servants are used today in very different areas. In general, they are to be found as officials in public authorities, but also in law enforcement (keyword police) or in prison. Police is a large area where officials are deployed. Here the state expects a special loyalty.

Especially at the state level, civil servants can also appear as teachers within schools. But also in private law Companys an official may be appointed - provided that there is a corresponding assignment (secondment). Crucial for this is, inter alia, § 20 civil servant status law. This was necessary, among other things, through the privatization of various state-owned enterprises.

Career and career opportunities for civil servants

In principle, civil servants are divided into four categories, which are:

Service.

Incidentally, soldiers and judges are also civil servants, but each form their own professional groups in the civil service.

Instead of entering directly through a Vocational Training in the state or the classic civil service career, there are also opportunities for lateral entrants from other areas. So are Currently, IT specialists are in high demand and have the option of having a secure civil service post in an authority.

4 benefits for civil servants

Officials are subject to a loyalty to the employer, which brings some restrictions - such as the issue of right to strike. Why engage in this restriction? The civil servant status has some advantages. However, before these are used, there are some hurdles to overcome. Background: In order to be appointed to the post of civil servant, both are

to prove. Eligibility means that candidates meet certain requirements relating to Education (degree) and career exams.

  1. Appointment for life: Civil servants receive in training the term civil servant on revocation, then they are officials on probation. If all requirements are met, an appointment as a civil servant (BaL) can be made. This is literally literal. From such a civil service relationship can only be eliminated by death, misconduct in the sense of a final conviction, the loss of citizenship or at their own request. Thus an official in this position is de facto non-terminable. Of course, a loss of official status can also result in a serious offense (such as corruption).
  2. Health care: Officials are in the service of the state / public administration and refrain from employee-specific rights. This special relationship of loyalty is honored on the one hand with advantages such as the appointment for life. On the other hand, the employer also takes special care in case of illness. The so-called aid reimburses medical expenses (generally up to half of the costs incurred). Therefore, the official only has to hedge the remaining costs. There are special tariffs for private health insurance (PKV). However, this medical expenses care is a double-edged sword, as there is no family insurance in private health insurance. Even if young people are entitled to a subsidy, civil servants should think very carefully about which way to go in the end.
  3. Finances in old age: A very big advantage compared to employees is the position in old age. Instead of a pension, civil servants receive a retirement pension. The remuneration depends on the gross income of the last two years of service and is usually around 70 percent. Thus, officials achieve a much higher economic performance in old age.
  4. Better position for financing: The fact that civil servants hold a certain special position also has an effect on everyday life. For example, public servants are given credit when it comes to granting loans - due to the comfortable situation with regard to income and termination status. The lower job security risk ensures that loans can be given on very favorable terms. Whether aged or financially, civil servant status can bring many benefits. However, more attention should be paid to dubious offers here. Because special loans for civil servants actually do not exist, Relevant keywords are used to deliver lurid advertisements. Also, officials should look for a trusted partner when looking for a loan.

4 disadvantages of civil servant status

In Germany there are currently (2018) according to German Civil Servants Association around 1,84 million civil servants. 1,84 million who found themselves on the sunny side. The benefits of civil servant status are not different Hand to assign. Anyone who is interested in training and starting a career in the civil service after school or as a career changer should not ignore the disadvantages.

There are some points that every contender should consider clear must be. Because the care of the employer is only available in exchange for the special loyalty relationship. What is meant by this context?

  1. Image problem:  The public administration is slow, inefficient and makes mistakes. The image of the officials is not the best. This point just needs to be clear. Parts of the population consider the civil servants' status a waste of money and would even like to abolish the public administration in this form.
  2. Stress / strain: Everybody starts his friday at the age of one - this saying is often used for the work ethic of civil servants. However, this does not mean that officials are not exposed to stressful situations. On the contrary, analyzes of health insurance companies indicate that civil servants are exposed to high levels of burdens and often retire due to invalidity.
  3. Less employee rights:  Employees may resign from work to emphasize their demand. Officials can not rely on this right. Just recently the Federal Constitutional Court has confirmed this strike ban (a fundamental right of employees).
  4. Transfers without consent:  In companies and the administration, employees have some say when it comes to transfers. Officers can be seconded by the employer without being able to influence it. Especially with regard to a change of service, this can definitely lead to a considerable additional effort - keyword commuter.

Conclusion: weigh the pros and cons of civil servant status

Public administrations would be inconceivable without them. The Rede is from officials. Due to their special position in relation to their employer, they have claims that an employee can only dream of. This works with the Health insurance going on and ending in retirement provision. Seeking appointment as a civil servant for life can be rewarding.

But it must also be clear at this point that the official is subject to some restrictions with this step. The right to strike for this group of people recently heard before the Constitutional Court is just one of the many issues that need to be addressed here. Also, the possibility of being simply transferred, must play a role in the considerations.