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Government Assistant Economist vs Private Sector

Hi,

I will soon graduate with an economics degree and am faced with two job offers. One of them is in the Private sector working in energy and the other is working as an Assistant Economist in the Civil service.

I am torn between which of the two roles to go for after graduating.

I understand that the civil service has much lower pay compared to the private sector, and I would likely be taking a significant long and short-term pay cut if I worked in the Civil service. However, I feel I may enjoy the work more in the Civil service, depending on which department I am based in.

I was hoping to get some of your views on this situation.

How have people found working as an Assistant Economist in the civil service?
What is it like working in the civil service more generally?
Do you feel like the cut in pay in the Civil service is worth it?