Newbie to the Civil Service

[TazMac]

I’ve just been offered a new role within the civil service. I’ve never worked in the public sector before. Just wondering if anyone had any tips?

Also are they still working from home? My role won’t be customer facing, in fact I’d say it’s one that could be done entirely from home. I’ve always done 2 days from home and 3 from the office in previous roles but I think it’s important to be in and meeting people when you first start.

It’s really impossible to answer your question without knowing which department/ areas within that department you’re talking about, and I’m not encouraging you to say here, but can you give an idea about what type of role (operations, policy)? Without the specifics any tips would have to be very generic and I’m sure quite obvious.

Most policy based roles in London are mostly working from home, but there’s starting to be noises about that changing slowly. I suspect it’ll be a hybrid approach.

I’ll be working in HR in the north (still a bit vague I guess).

Although I suppose there’s no point me going in to meet people, if no one is in!

Yes, I think virtual coffees will be more likely!

I work for one department and really dislike it but it’s well known (at least on Mumsnet!) for being strange!

The people are quite largely, awful. There is a real sense of self-importance and entitlement. If somebody has a problem with what you’ve said, they will email you back in a passive aggressive way and cc in your manager and their boss.

In my role, it’s really hard to get anything done as people push back and moan constantly.

WFH - almost everyone is WFH which as a newbie isn’t great for training. Although we can share screens etc via the IT we use. We are never going back to the office full time apparently.

Counting down to my mat leave and I’m not going back afterwards.

Well I work for a department and absolutely love it. The pay is poor but the flexibility and support is amazing especially in times like these. My employer has gone above and beyond so it really does depend on department. My colleagues are very supportive and we look out for one another and are a close team despite being based all over. The annual leave is great and the pension. Politics can be annoying (actual politics working with government ) but I've learnt to deal with it.

Civil servant for close to 11 years. Without being outing here, i love my department, the work is interesting and the people are amazing. Unless you're doing a front facing role it's very likely you'll be working from home for the foreseeable future.

To be honest not a lot of tips - just be open minded and flexible atm. everyone's a bit unsure of the current circs.

Oh and don't expect anything to happen instantly.

Any more specific questions happy to answer them

@cwtchesandprosecco

Yes I’ve just done some googling and apparently only about 10-15% are in the office. As you say, it will probably be a hybrid approach to going back gradually.

@FluffyKittensinabasket

Sounds awful, hope that isn’t the one I’m joining.

I'm not CS but in a goverment quango, and on CS terms and conditions - we deal with our ministry a lot. Ours have been brilliant - lots of flexible working and we won't be back in the office until January at the earliest. We have at least ten non-London offices - I'm in the North West. We've heard from colleagues at our ministry that they are the same, and the MoD have apparently been told not until next Summer.