Nowadays, young people have more freedom than ever to choose where and how they work. The working week can, but does not have to, last from eight to five Monday to Friday.
In order to make choices that suit you best, you need to start thinking quite early about what you want to do and which field of study it requires.
In the era of information abundance it also requires good self-regulation – the ability to set goals and manage your time. There may be more freedom and flexibility, but the responsibility of working is still the same. Everyone has the opportunity to find a job they like in a suitable sector.
- The common goal of institutions and organisations in the public sector is to make our country a better place to live. They deal with policies that affect people’s daily life and livelihood: education, housing, social and environmental policies. Such as schools and medical institutions.
- The private sector, i.e. the business or for-profit sector, includes companies whose purpose is to earn a profit through their operation. This includes privately owned companies that manufacture products or sell goods and services, thus making money.
The third sector, i.e. the non-profit sector, civil society or independent sector, deals with social issues and topics not aimed at making a profit or exercising power.
Nowadays, there are no rigid boundaries between these three major sectors. For example, you can work in several places and combine the private, public and third sector. You can spend part of your time doing web development for a company and commit the rest to working for a non-governmental organisation to change the world. Or you can work in a ministry or local government during the day, but spend your evenings and weekends volunteering for a citizens’ initiative or developing a business idea.
Written based on the source of the Estonian History and Civics Teachers’ Association and the source of Good Citizen.
The article was written by Kaie Pranno, chief expert of the youth information portal Teeviit.
