Friends,
I am working in a major PSU (Power Generation). But recently due to change of my department I am getting very less time for Civil Services preparation. It is getting more difficult because I am posted in shift duty operation.
I gave my first attempt this year but have not qualified even the prelims(though I was expecting 230-235 marks). I am 2009 pass out and now left with 3 attempts and 3 years.
I am planning to quit my job and shift to delhi for full time preparation. I will appear for both Engineering Services (Missed last year because of very less marks in interview) and Civil Services exam. Though IAS is my dream, I am appearing in Engg. Services just for back up plan.
I also dont have financial constraint as I have saved enough to sustain my preparation and also my elder brother is a software engineer.
Please give your sincere advice.
Comments
Hello buddy !
Your current situation is quite similar to mine except i worked for a major player in process industry.
Like you i was facing the same difficulty of shift duties which was coupled with frequent transfers too as i had 4 transfers in my career spanning 3 yrs.
After my 4th transfer i decided that enough is enough .I had been thinking of leaving my job earlier too but this time i decides that either like most people i continue to cling on to safety or security of a job or i can go out and syart working towards my dream sincerely and singlemindedly.
So after much deliberation and discussion with my parents (though they didnt agree till i finally resigned) i quit my job a month back.Now i am in notice period till jan 23rd and after then i am a free bird .
My brother is a website designer and my both parents are in govt jobs and their retirement is not due for another 3-4 yrs.This factor too alowes me to think swriously about resigning coupled by the fact that i resented my job and had no reason to keep doing it.
Either you start working for your dreams or you continue working for those who are working towards their own.
All in all you are already one attempt short .So just go ahead and have the courage to follow your dreams.I know many (or rather everyone)will advise you to not leave a job ,the secirity it offers and threaten you with all kind of threats of an uncertain future but thats a risk you should be willing to take if you want to be successfull and chart your way to glory and your dream.
All the Best .
After spending 4.5 years in IT industry and giving 2 attempts while in job, I finally decided to leave the job 6 months ago and right now I am preparing for 2014 (my last attempt) in a room cut off from rest of the world.
I am facing the same situation and getting nightmares a lot everyday and try avoiding people's,parent's,relatives advices I am determined to go for IAS for which I think I am made for.
Just rememebr, don't look back once enter into the arena and make yourself stonehearted.
Bhai, consider everything before leaving job. Keep in mind your age, stage of preparation, prospectus of marriage, the sector you work in. People only consider financial situation while taking such decisions. But life is much more than that.
Since you mentioned that you have 3 years left, I assume that you are 27 years old. You work in power sector so I assume that you branch is not CS/IT which provides maximum number of private sector jobs to engineers. Again all PSUs have maximum age limit of around 26 - 29 years. So consider the worst case scenario. If you leave the job now and attempt for 2014 and in 2015 you are unable to find your name in the merit list, then what? You know the success rate in the first attempt. Some people clear it but they don't get IAS/IPS/IRS.
So am I suggesting you not to pursue your dream? Hell no. But IMHO you should be more creative and determined while studying. PSU hi toh hai mat kar jyada kaam. Anyways Sarkari Naukaris are known for kursi tod traditions. Take study leave for 1-2 years. If not possible then take 1 - 2 months leave before examination. Don't find excuses for not studying. Be determined and study.
Take inspiration from Tripti Bhatt
http://mrunal.org/2013/06/toppers-interview-tripti-bhatt-air-165cse-2012-working-professional-ntpc-first-attempt-public-administration-sociology.html/comment-page-1
Regarding IES, since you have cracked the written part last year it should not be big deal for you to crack it again in one month this year. Lekin dekh le bhai, do nawo me sawari job ke sath toh mushkil hi hai.
Again it is your call to take. I have just provided my opinion.
If you are a boy and have no jack on the top , life even in PSU is torturous. You'll be posted in the most dreadful places where you cannot even get a proper 2G internet connection. (Yes , such places exist and Some PSUs have them in plenty).
But at the end of the day what matters is , in which PSU you are, what role you are playing, where are you posted and are your seniors supportive? Like take the case of tripti bhatt as mentioned by @bulla . She was in NTPC but was posted at Noida. You yourself know that in HQ of a power generation company the work pressure is not much and nobody can force any work on girls. While boys have to suffer everywhere. Moreover she got weekend off (not like you,who is expected to come to site/project even on sunday/emergency),Resources were not a problem either,you get broadband easily in noida and study material is at an arm's distance. She also attended coaching classes there while being in job.
Am not underestimating her hard work because then every girl in NTPC noida office should have been able to clear IAS. What I am saying is that she had an advantage amongst the guys who are preparing with job. For her the conditions were a little favourable. Even for you, if you would had been posted to NTPC Noida office then you wouldn't have arrived to such a situation where you think of leaving your job.
Conditions are seriously tough in Site jobs of PSU for those who want to do anything apart from work. Not many people will understand this except those who have suffered or whose friends have suffered. So my final advice to you would be , leave that damn job and give it your best shot. There is no point in dilly dallying.
All the best !!!
@Arpit : wanna say something here??
I agree totally with you mate !
Its the conditions that you are in that forces one to take that ultimate decision.Though i was not working in a PSU still i worked for a cement company in shift duties .Like PSUs the cement companies too have locations carefully chosen so as to punish guys like us who want to do something beyond the normal .
Moreover then location its the seniors also that play a great role .If they are supportive then well and good but if not then preparation becomes really tough.
The most cruel trend is that you can be called at any time of the day ,even at night sometimes and occassionally on your rest day too.
So if that is indeed the case with you @KKS then please leave it as soon as possible.Delaying a decision only means your loss and nothing else .
All the best !!