Public Management And Administration Careers

Are you wondering what it’s like to work in the public sector?

Careers in public management and public administration are multi-disciplinary in nature, and can be found in government departments, in parastatals, in non-profit organisations, in educational institutions, and even in some organisations within the private sector. Some of the areas of specialisation within the field of public management and administration include:

Accounting and Financial Services
Administration
Human Resource Management
Knowledge Management
Strategic Leadership

What Skills Do I Need To Pursue A Career In Public Management And Administration?

This will depend on the area of specialisation that you want to go into – for example: if you want to go into human resource management within the public sector, you will need to have relevant knowledge of HR practices, as well as communication skills, interpersonal skills, organisational skills, negotiation skills, and dispute resolution skills. However, there are also some general skills and characteristics that will help you if you want to get ahead in the field of public administration or management:

Written and verbal communication skills
Problem solving skills
Time management skills
Sound knowledge of government processes
Strong focus on service delivery
Ability to work in a team

What Type Of Work Will I Be Required To Do?

This will also depend on your chosen area of specialisation. In general, however, public sector employees (civil servants) are responsible for developing and implementing public policy, managing public resources, and delivering public services.

Here are a few examples of the different job roles that you may be able to perform in the public sector (depending on your skills and qualifications):

Admin Assistant
Bid Administrator
Budget Analyst
Case Manager
Committee Secretary
Communications Officer
Contract Administrator

Customs and Excise Officer
Environmental Health Officer
Executive Secretary
Human Resource Administrator
IT Manager
Legal Administrator
Policy Analyst

Procurement Manager
Public Relations Officer
Quality Assurance Administrator
Researcher
Risk Manager
Tax Administrator

To view more detailed information regarding the type of work that you may be required to do, click on the following link: Government and Public Administration Job Descriptions.

What Training Do I Need?

There are no general minimum training requirements for entry into the public management and administration field – the training that you need will depend on the job role that you want to perform.

Going back to the previous example: if you want to work as a human resource manager in the public sector, you will either need a qualification in HR, or a qualification in public administration specialising in HR. Also bear in mind that a general background in public administration will always be to your advantage when applying for a job in the public sector. To obtain this general background, you can study a course in public administration.

Oxbridge Academy Offer The Following Courses In Public Administration Via Distance Learning:

Short Learning Programmes

These non-credit-bearing skills development courses introduce you to public administration and public management and equip you with some of the fundamental knowledge and skills you need to work in this sector.

National Qualifications (N4 – N6)

These N4 – N6 courses lead to formal qualifications that are registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). By studying an N4 – N6 course, you can acquire the knowledge and develop the skills you need to work in various departments within the public sector.

Public Management

Public Management – Accounting

Management Assistant – Public Administration

Browse Public Sector Management Courses

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