Is the Iron Rice Bowl Losing Its Appeal? 30-Year-Old Civil Servant Considers Quitting a Stress-Free Post for One Key Reason

A 30-year-old female civil servant recently posted on Dcard under the title 'Really Want to Quit,' sharing that despite working in a stress-free public sector 'cool post,' she feels her civil service career is too predictable and is considering resigning to become a full-time exam candidate. The post went viral, sparking intense discussion, with commenters split into two camps—many advising her to stay, while others encouraged her to switch paths while young.

Why does this 30-year-old civil servant want to leave her 'cool post'? The original poster explained that her current position has no drawbacks and zero stress. She earned this role after moving through difficult postings, so she fully understands the value of a good government job. However, she admits she has lost interest in continuing as a civil servant, feeling that public service offers a 'clearly visible future' and believing her abilities can achieve more. She now wants to take exams for more competitive and challenging roles.

She also described her dilemma. Currently, she is preparing for exams while working, but after work, she still handles official duties and commutes, which drains her energy and makes studying exhausting. If she quits to become a full-time candidate, she worries about the pressure of being 30—if she fails exams for one or two years, the stress would be immense.

How are netizens reacting? Many comments urged her not to leave, bluntly stating, 'If it's a good post, just stay,' and warning that stepping out of the comfort zone '99.99% leads to suffering.' Others shared stories of colleagues who left good posts with ambition, only to regret it later.

Some suggested that if she truly wants to quit, she should first save enough to cover '3 to 5 years of living expenses' before resigning, using that time as a part-time candidate to build a solid foundation. Others argued that her job should serve as 'financial stability for life,' allowing her to use her free time to pursue dreams without rushing to give up security.

Not all comments were discouraging. Some emphasized that life is short and encouraged her to chase her dreams now. Others noted it's natural for young people to want to change careers early. A few even proposed a third path: using her low-stress job to pursue further education, such as an in-service master's degree or developing a second specialty, suggesting that quitting isn't the only solution.

Can civil servants return to public service after resignation? Some comments mentioned the possibility, but the actual rules are more complex. According to the Public Service Protection and Training Commission, once a civil servant resigns, their status ceases to exist, the position is not retained, and they cannot invoke reinstatement under Article 10 of the Civil Service Protection Act. If they wish to return later, it's considered 're-employment,' subject to the hiring agency's willingness.

Per the Executive Yuan's Personnel Administration Bureau guidelines on re-employment after resignation, the process follows external vacancy filling procedures and requires approval from the agency's selection committee. Non-current employees must also not be in a restricted transfer period to qualify. However, prior service years that were officially recognized can still count toward promotion eligibility and may be combined if related benefits were not withdrawn. Civil servants considering resignation for exam prep must evaluate not only their study progress and financial readiness but also these re-employment conditions.