Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country, John F Kennedy once famously advised. If this inspires a great sense of patriotic duty in you then perhaps considering a career in the government sector would aid you in this honourable pursuit…

The civil service is the vast employer of thousands of people in Ireland today; these civil servants work in areas such as the health service, the local authorities and central government. It is traditionally respected as a secure and stable career choice.

If you not only wish to abide by the ethos of Kennedy but want to follow in his footsteps towards the world of leadership then be prepared for the difficult process involved. It is a demanding job that calls for extreme dedication and devotion and faces a strict stereotype that is usually not entirely positive.

Although these two professions come under the same umbrella they are exact extremes of each other and each one calls for specific characteristics and strengths. One common feature is the wide scope for progression and career development; ensuring that your country will do its bit for you back…