Civil service jobs as a middle-aged person...experiences?!

[DidntHaveTheLatin]

I am at the early end of middle-age and there's considerable instability in my current org, where I work as an EA. (I've had similar roles elsewhere, sometimes with a focus on governance, sometimes more on HNW family office problem-solving, sometimes more on project management.)

I live fairly near a newish Home Office hub and have been looking into the options there, possibly for a Executive Officer. Does anyone have experience of moving into this kind of role well after graduating?! There used to be a lot of talk about the fast stream many years ago when I left uni, and I do know someone now quite high up in Visas and Immigration, but this wouldn't be that kind of role (although might be in that dept).

They run Xoom recruitment events and I've signe dip for one shortly, but would be interested to hear other people's experience, particularly in terms of the application process and how they then assign you based on your (perceived) competencies. Basically my ideal job would be researching something all morning and problem-solving all afternoon, but I don't know what that equates to 😂

I'm a middle-aged CS, probably older than you by the sound of it. I'm in my fourth department (had time out in other sectors before returning to CS) and IME there is a whole range of people working in EA positions, including older colleagues. Some are CS 'lifers', some have gained experience elsewhere first.

The CS is far from perfect but IME it's not particularly ageist. The application process is a skill in itself, however! We've moved away from competence-based recruitment to 'success profiles': Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

There is an unofficial sub-Reddit ("The UK Civil Service") which always has posts about applying, and there can be good advice to be found there.

Good luck if you decide to apply.

Thanks so much@MiddleSaged - I love a sub-Reddit! When you talk about "EA positions", is that the "Executive Officer" roles, as the CS call them? My understanding is that this is more akin to a project management/account manager than an Exec Assistant role, is that right?

EA = Executive assistant / PA / business manager. Usually EO (Executive Officer) or HEO (Higher Exec Officer) grades.

EOs can fulfil a range of roles, it will vary depending on department. It’s the first supervisory grade so some will be line managers, some project support officers, or casework officers, business support officers, exec assistants as above or more…it’s a versatile grade, more generalist than specialist.

Jaded Civil Servant of 32 years here!

I don't think the Civil Service is particularly ageist!

I would want to know what the role was I think particularly in the Home Office in the current climate!

I've worked in 2 different Government Departments & they are very different, with different cultures & very different expectations of what they expect at each grade!

Go to the event with an open mind & see what the vibe is would be my advice!

The current recruitment system is awful with more & more hoops to jump through but as I said I'm jaded! 🤣

I've written at least two responses and don't know where they've gone 😳 so apologies for any double-posting!

Thanks a lot @shoeawsome and @MiddleSaged , much appreciated. Agree that the HO might not seem like a particularly attractive place to work at the moment if one is left-leaning (which I am).

Keen to hear from any other CSs (jaded or otherwise!) particularly if they've made the switch from public sector and corporate and feel like they've found their niche in the CS.

I know you said you were keen to hear from others but just to add, one of my main reasons for returning to the CS at 47 (at EO, now HEO) was because they are one of the most family-friendly employers IME. I have the best work-life balance I've ever had; I can log off at the end of the day and not think about work until the next morning, and I work a non-standard pattern which helps me manage my commitments to ageing / disabled relatives. Of course that's not true of all roles in all departments all of the time (I worked for Public Health England through the pandemic...that was not a 9-5 job 😄), but in my experience it's broadly true. So if that's something that's important to you, it can be a good move.

@MiddleSaged by wanting to hear from others I definitely didn't want to discourage you or Shoeawsome from contributing again!

Thank you - that's really good to hear re work/life balance and family-conscious culture though, thank you - definitely something that's important to me (although noted re caveat about different depts/offices).

The Reddit you recommended is fascinating, btw! Lots of interesting takes/experiences.

I'm mid application for a new higher grade job, same department. They want 4 behaviours on the application form plus a CV plus 250 words on your experience plus another 4 behaviours at interview!

I'm at the point of throwing in the towel! 🤣

The Civil Service is great for training & development too (trying not to be too negative) and once you are in there are so many opportunities so I do recommend it!

I'm jaded really as a left leaning person myself, fed up of being slagged off by the Daily Mail, fed up of dancing to the tune of this incompetent Govt. We currently have very restricted recruitment after a recruitment freeze that was to fund my Military Colleagues pay rise!

I don't begrudge them the money one single bit but I begrudge the fact that people leaving aren't replaced and the work gets shared out again!

I have worked with some amazing people in my 32 years, most of my closest friends are people I have met during my career so that's a plus!

@DidntHaveTheLatin I started an EO level job with the HO aged 50. I was a teacher before and really wanted a change. HO appealed due to its flexible working, family-friendly policies as mentioned above.

I'm also left wing, my younger self would be horrified...but here we are...

I applied during one of the big recruitment campaigns last year. Very different to any recruitment process I've been through before. No CV, no education/qualification history, just all 'success profiles' based. In my opinion, you've really got to learn how to play the game when it comes to success profiles. But there's a lot of information out there, the sub Reddit is really informative, plus YouTube videos etc.

I now work part-time, term-time only which is exactly what I wanted.

Good luck with it.