1.3 Public Service vs. Private Sector Work

A public service career is different from a regular job in the private sector because the main goal is not to make a profit. In the private sector, the focus is usually on generating income for the business and its owners or shareholders. Success is often measured in financial terms, such as revenue, profit margins, or return on investment.

In public service, the priority is to create benefits for the community, even if those efforts do not produce a financial gain. A city planner, for example, is judged by how well they improve neighborhoods, not by how much money the city makes. While public service organizations must still manage their budgets responsibly, their success is measured by the public value they create, such as safer streets or healthier residents.