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Public to Private anyone?

5 replies

7lbminigoals · 19/01/2013 14:03

Hi All

I have several years' L&D experience in public sector (not civil service but education and health)
Am at a bit of crossroads in my life as i feel quite torn about my next steps career-wise.
I would like to go into consulting for one of the Big 4 but am concerned I would not be able to keep up with the pace of work.

OTOH, maybe i'd be mad leaving the Public Sector at this stage (late 30's) and would be better waiting until we as a family are more settled?
Have 3 kids under 10 if that makes any difference.

Really interested in people's opinions/experiences!

thanks

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Virgil · 19/01/2013 14:06

Bonkers if you have young children IMO. But it depends on whether you have good back up childcare etc

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7lbminigoals · 19/01/2013 14:33

emergency back-up only. and even then me and dh usually manage between us. I agree Virgil tho..... cant seem to settle myself tho!

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Virgil · 19/01/2013 15:38

If you're prepared to put your career before everything else to go and work for one of the big four then fine but I used to work for one, I don't know of many women who would chose it with small children unless they had a very good nanny or parents on tap to do the childcare. The culture change will be massive for you if you've been in the public sector and the pressures on your family will increase significantly.

Most of us are desperately trying to get out of these jobs not get into them...

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LaCiccolina · 19/01/2013 16:16

Skill wise u would be fine. If family is young I wouldn't recommend unless u want a very decent salary badly enough. A day at a bank is minimum 8-6 f/t. U would have a blackberry. U would be expected to answer/login in evenings/weekends as required.

A bank type environment would also mean many evening courses as markets shut/open globally. If training grads u would be expected on a lot of overtime between may and September which is main grad recruitment/training season.

It is tremendous fun. It would give u great experience but I'd actually suggest u work for a training firm that provides training to the big firms. This would actually be potentially more flexible in work approach. Most of them outsource a lot of stuff. To work directly might hours wise alone prove too much.

Good luck.

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7lbminigoals · 04/02/2013 15:36

Thanks all... reading other websites about what it's like to work in consultancy saying much the same thing has led me to say no way jose

Will keep my haed down and see what happens here.