Page 7 | I’m terrible at my job, AIBU to try and get in to the civil service?

Zebedee999 · 07/01/2026 13:20

overthinkersanonnymus · 07/01/2026 12:17

I work in finance admin and although I’m extremely organised and proactive, numbers are not my strong point. I also have no pension to speak of so I feel like I need to concentrate on finding a role that won’t give me searing maths anxiety and has decent benefits.

from what I’ve heard it’s quite difficult to get in to, but if I can, what departments would be best to get apply to so I can get my foot in the door?

Your best bet is to look at what offices there are around you. In some places its MoD, others it DfT etc then focus on jobs at those places. Roles are quite varied, don't rule yourself out of most roles as they are usually quite broad in nature and give good training.

Some people here are saying that the CS is shedding jobs. It is in some roles/areas but is always recruiting for natural wastage etc.

Benefits in the CS are off the scale, 6 months full sick pay!!! Unbelievable to those of us in the private sector. Same with much more paid holiday than the private sector and excellent pensions and early retirement age too. Also the CS are immune from the pressures to "pay your way".

Good luck.

ThatCyanCat · 07/01/2026 13:16

Sameshitedifferentdaze · 07/01/2026 12:47

Yes and entirely predictable and tedious.

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Well, that does suggest everyone was thinking it.

pocketpairs · 07/01/2026 13:14

Try the council or civil service, most of these jobs are easy with flexi time and great pensions.

EnterFunnyNameHere · 07/01/2026 13:10

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 07/01/2026 12:45

OP, on another thread (which gave her this brilliant idea)

”I’m am definitely going to try and get in to the CS after reading these posts. I don’t want a high pressure, money making (for someone else) job. I want to be finished by 10am!!”

Tax payers want and deserve hard workers. As an ex-civil servant I certainly wasn’t “done by 10am” and often worked till midnight depending on what was happening. (Was senior, but still.). You may be happy to tread water, but I’m bloody well not paying for it!

Well said @AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/work/5470678-private-to-public-sector-struggling-to-adjust?reply=149653166

With that attitude OP, i don't think we want you as a civil servant!

Private to public sector - struggling to adjust | Mumsnet

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had been in a similar situation or could offer any advice. ive worked in a career in the private sector my entire li...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/work/5470678-private-to-public-sector-struggling-to-adjust?reply=149653166

FrenchandSaunders · 07/01/2026 13:01

Ponoka7 · 07/01/2026 12:33

We've just bought a shared ownership from a HA that's now often in the Liverpool Echo (their housing is just on the border of Liverpool), tbf, I think incompetence is on the person specification.

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Nothing to do with the Civil Service ... HAs are independent and work alongside the council, which is local Govt, not central.

KateShugakIsALegend · 07/01/2026 12:57

Ponoka7 · 07/01/2026 12:33

We've just bought a shared ownership from a HA that's now often in the Liverpool Echo (their housing is just on the border of Liverpool), tbf, I think incompetence is on the person specification.

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Housing Associations are different from the civil service.

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 07/01/2026 12:52

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 07/01/2026 12:45

OP, on another thread (which gave her this brilliant idea)

”I’m am definitely going to try and get in to the CS after reading these posts. I don’t want a high pressure, money making (for someone else) job. I want to be finished by 10am!!”

Tax payers want and deserve hard workers. As an ex-civil servant I certainly wasn’t “done by 10am” and often worked till midnight depending on what was happening. (Was senior, but still.). You may be happy to tread water, but I’m bloody well not paying for it!

I'm in the public sector too. No one I know or work with is 'finished by 10am'.

Catza · 07/01/2026 12:51

overthinkersanonnymus · 07/01/2026 12:46

I’m not incompetent in the slightest, but finance is not my strong point and I’d rather do something I am good at.

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So what are you good at? Maybe start there and it will give you some ideas on what "department" you may want to apply to.

Original poster

overthinkersanonnymus · 07/01/2026 12:49

What on earth is going on here 😂 how is this goady??

I like the idea of civil service as there is opportunity to progress in departments if you excel, excellent benefits such as pension contributions which I don’t get in the private sector, and I’d actually be working for a purpose rather than just making someone else rich.

OP posts:

ChubbyPuffling · 07/01/2026 12:48

I was in the civil service for 20 years, I was GOOD at my job for about 4 of them. I was an IT tech (then IT manager) in an ever changing environment... went from computers the size of a car to hand held... ever training, ever playing catch up.
There are many types of job, in many different departments. There are varying levels of competence through all of them. You are rarely expected to hit the ground running, training on the job is usually expected and varies in quality.
So long as you are prepared for loads of paperwork/computer based admin, go for it. The civil service is both getting rid of staff and employing... depends where you are.

(Now retired on a decent "gold plated" pension, and would do it again just for that to be honest - I am a plodder, not a flyer.)

Sameshitedifferentdaze · 07/01/2026 12:47

BadgernTheGarden · 07/01/2026 12:36

Easy shot.

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Yes and entirely predictable and tedious.

Original poster

overthinkersanonnymus · 07/01/2026 12:46

InveterateWineDrinker · 07/01/2026 12:27

If you're so incompetent you've even noticed it yourself, I suspect you'd fit in very well in the Civil Service.

Edited

I’m not incompetent in the slightest, but finance is not my strong point and I’d rather do something I am good at.

OP posts:

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 07/01/2026 12:45

OP, on another thread (which gave her this brilliant idea)

”I’m am definitely going to try and get in to the CS after reading these posts. I don’t want a high pressure, money making (for someone else) job. I want to be finished by 10am!!”

Tax payers want and deserve hard workers. As an ex-civil servant I certainly wasn’t “done by 10am” and often worked till midnight depending on what was happening. (Was senior, but still.). You may be happy to tread water, but I’m bloody well not paying for it!

surreygirly · 07/01/2026 12:42

50Balesofgrey · 07/01/2026 12:29

Don't be so rude

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But factual

feathermucker · 07/01/2026 12:41

If you’re terrible with numbers, how is your logic and problem solving as these are skills that would be required.

WallaceinAnderland · 07/01/2026 12:39

Why work in finance if you're bad with numbers?

HoskinsChoice · 07/01/2026 12:39

This reply has been deleted

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JacquesHarlow · 07/01/2026 12:37

@overthinkersanonnymus If you're so terrible at your job, why are you specifically applying to the Civil Service?

You haven't explained why you're targeting this specific organisation.

I think you're goading people on here and I doubt I'll ever get an answer, but - this is what I think is the key question here.

YABU.

BadgernTheGarden · 07/01/2026 12:36

InveterateWineDrinker · 07/01/2026 12:27

If you're so incompetent you've even noticed it yourself, I suspect you'd fit in very well in the Civil Service.

Edited

Easy shot.

MyDogHumpsThings · 07/01/2026 12:35

Extremely spiteful answers.

Choose a non-numerate profession. I wouldn’t imagine the department would make much difference if you sole concern is numeracy.

HoskinsChoice · 07/01/2026 12:35

InveterateWineDrinker · 07/01/2026 12:27

If you're so incompetent you've even noticed it yourself, I suspect you'd fit in very well in the Civil Service.

Edited

😂😂😂 That was my first thought but you're very brave to actually say it. Maybe run and hide for a while.

KateShugakIsALegend · 07/01/2026 12:35

This reply has been deleted

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BadgernTheGarden · 07/01/2026 12:34

overthinkersanonnymus · 07/01/2026 12:17

I work in finance admin and although I’m extremely organised and proactive, numbers are not my strong point. I also have no pension to speak of so I feel like I need to concentrate on finding a role that won’t give me searing maths anxiety and has decent benefits.

from what I’ve heard it’s quite difficult to get in to, but if I can, what departments would be best to get apply to so I can get my foot in the door?

I thought public facing employment and benefit jobs are the least favourite. But I expect hugely stressful and probably involve some level of maths. Civil Service is really not a soft option and as you say very competitive.

Ponoka7 · 07/01/2026 12:33

50Balesofgrey · 07/01/2026 12:30

Don't be so rude

We've just bought a shared ownership from a HA that's now often in the Liverpool Echo (their housing is just on the border of Liverpool), tbf, I think incompetence is on the person specification.

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 07/01/2026 12:33

The CS is cutting tens of thousands of roles. I can’t imagine it will be any easier “getting in” now!