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The SSC CGL exam can get you some of the best government jobs in India. Many candidates focus on salary, perks, and career growth, but your first posting is equally important. It gives you a real idea of the work, responsibilities, and lifestyle in a government job. In this article the details about to expect in your first posting for popular SSC CGL posts like AAO, ASO, Income Tax Inspector, Excise Inspector, Examiner, Preventive Officer, and more is provided.
What is the First Posting of Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)?
The first posting of an Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) is usually in the Indian Audit & Accounts Department (CAG) for SSC CGL Exam. Fresh AAOs are mostly posted in metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, or state capitals, as audit offices are located in major cities. The nature of work involves audit-related fieldwork, where officers inspect the accounts of government organizations, PSUs, and central/state government schemes. The job provides excellent learning opportunities in financial and auditing processes, although field audits may require frequent travel. The work environment is professional with regular office hours (9 to 5), making it a balanced posting with exposure and stability.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Department | Indian Audit & Accounts Department (CAG) |
| First Posting Location | Usually metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata) or state capitals |
| Nature of Work | Audit-related fieldwork, inspecting accounts of govt. bodies, PSUs, schemes |
| Experience | - Frequent travel during field audits
- 9 to 5 office timings
- Professional work culture
- Great exposure in auditing & finance |
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What is the First Posting of Assistant Section Officer (ASO)?
The first posting of an ASO is generally in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) or ministries like MEA, Railways, Defence, etc., with New Delhi being the primary location. The work mainly involves file handling, noting, drafting, preparing briefs, and assisting senior officers. ASOs in the MEA also get opportunities for foreign postings after 2-3 years. It is an office-centric job with fixed timings, providing exposure to policy-making, administrative functions, and networking opportunities that enhance career growth.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Department | Central Secretariat Service (CSS) / Ministries (MEA, Railways, etc.) |
| First Posting Location | New Delhi (almost all ASOs start here) |
| Nature of Work | File work, noting, drafting, preparing briefs, assisting senior officers |
| Experience | - Office-based with fixed timings
- Exposure to policy-making
- Foreign posting chance in MEA
- Growth in admin skills |
What is the First Posting of Income Tax Inspector?
The first posting of an Income Tax Inspector is in the Income Tax Department, usually in Tier-1 or Tier-2 cities, depending on vacancies and preferences. Inspectors handle both desk work (assessment of IT returns, handling files) and field work (raids, surveys, verifications). The role offers a balanced mix of office and field work, with direct public dealing giving inspectors strong recognition and local influence.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Department | Income Tax Department |
| First Posting Location | Tier-1 or Tier-2 cities (based on vacancies & preferences) |
| Nature of Work | Assessment work (desk) + Investigation (field) |
| Experience | - Mix of office + field duties
- Direct public dealing
- Local influence and recognition |
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What is the First Posting of Excise Inspector (CBIC – GST & Customs)?
The first posting of an Excise Inspector under CBIC is usually in industrial hubs, coastal cities, or state capitals. The job involves monitoring GST, Excise, and Customs compliance, including field verification and preventive checks. Initially, the role is a mix of desk-based clerical tasks and field duties, making it slightly more demanding than Income Tax Inspector due to preventive responsibilities.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Department | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) |
| First Posting Location | Coastal cities, industrial hubs, state capitals |
| Nature of Work | GST, Excise & Customs compliance, field verification, preventive checks |
| Experience | - Desk + field mix
- More demanding than IT Inspector
- Preventive responsibility |
What is the First Posting of Examiner (Customs)?
The first posting of an Examiner (Customs) is generally in ports, airports, and coastal areas. Examiners are responsible for verification of goods, baggage checks, and import-export clearances, as well as preventing smuggling. The role often involves shift duties (including nights), but it offers a dynamic work environment with exposure to international trade and customs operations.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Department | CBIC – Customs |
| First Posting Location | Ports, airports, coastal areas |
| Nature of Work | Verification of goods, import-export clearances, baggage checks, anti-smuggling |
| Experience | - Involves shift duties
- Exciting and dynamic
- Exposure to global trade |
What is the First Posting of Preventive Officer (PO – Customs)?
The first posting of a Preventive Officer (PO) is generally in coastal cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, or Kolkata, under the Customs Preventive Wing. The role involves preventing smuggling, monitoring ports and sea routes, patrolling, and surprise inspections. This is considered one of the most challenging first postings, as it includes night shifts, physical duties, and high responsibility, but also makes the job adventurous and unique.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Department | CBIC – Customs (Preventive Wing) |
| First Posting Location | Coastal cities (Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata) |
| Nature of Work | Anti-smuggling, patrolling, port monitoring, surprise inspections |
| Experience | - Odd duty hours
- Physically demanding
- Adventurous & high responsibility |
Comparison Table, SSC CGL First Posting Experience
After clearing SSC CGL, candidates are eager to know what their first posting will be like. The posting varies by department and role, ranging from office-based administrative jobs to field-intensive roles. Each post offers unique experiences in terms of work nature, location, and career exposure. The table below summarizes the first posting locations, work nature, and key experiences for popular SSC CGL Posts.
| Post (SSC CGL) | First Posting Location | Work Nature (First Posting) | Experience Highlights |
|---|
| AAO | State capitals, metros | Audit work, inspections | Frequent travel, 9-5 job |
| ASO (CSS/MEA) | Delhi (ministries) | File work, drafting, assisting | Office-centric, fixed hours |
| Income Tax Inspector | Cities, depending on cadre | Desk + field (assessments & raids) | Balanced, public dealing |
| Excise Inspector | Coastal/industrial hubs | GST, Excise checks, field + desk | Slightly demanding, active field role |
| Examiner | Ports, airports, coastal areas | Import/export clearances, customs duty | Shift duties, global exposure |
| Preventive Officer | Coastal cities | Smuggling prevention, patrol duty | Night shifts, adventurous work |
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