Public Service Commission imposes compulsory interviews on those changing careers

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has imposed compulsory interviews for personnel intending to change careers within the civil service, citing difficulties in establishing their readiness.

Formerly, civil servants were re-designated to jobs based on their application, but there were no interviews to determine their suitability for the new posts.

However, the PSC has implemented adjustments, such as mandatory interviews and time limits on how long an officer must serve before being able to pursue new career route within the civil service. The new regulations went into effect on May 1.

Job re-designation, according to the committee, will be confined to grades of employees seeking new positions.

“The commission has continued to receive numerous requests for re-designation, some of which have been considered and decision made.

However, it has been noted that in most of the requests, apart from possessing the basic academic and/or professional qualifications, there has been a challenge in determining the suitability of such officers for re-designation to positions in different job families/cadres,” PSC chief executive Simon Rotich said in a circular.

Re-designations resulting from government reorganisation, the cancellation or establishment of offices would be handled on a case-by-case basis, according to the statement.

Interested civil officials must submit an application to designated officers for academic and professional qualification screening.

After that, a verification report would be given to the line ministry for review and interviews.

“The Ministry or State Department responsible for the cadre, while undertaking analysis for re-designation, shall consider the authorised establishment in the entire civil service.

On re-designation, an employee can be deployed to a ministry or State Department where a vacancy exits” the PSC said.

The ministry or state agency responsible for the cadre will conduct and finalise suitability interviews for re-designation at grades CSG 12/JG ‘H’ and lower through HRMAC, and a report will be submitted to the commission.

The ministry or state department responsible for the cadre will conduct interviews for re-designation at grades CSG 11 / JG ‘J’ to CSG 8/JG ‘N’, with suggestions submitted to the PSC for consideration and conclusion.

PSC will conduct interviews for re-designation in grades CSG 7/JG ‘P’ and higher.

Interviews will be performed at the commission and at the line ministry or state department at least once a quarter.