to leave a job i love to become civil servant

[zobey]

Started a job in june that i love but very target driven. Its very strick with targets and is at a claims managment company for ppi. Just been offered a civil servant position to start the end of September. Im thinking of jumping over for job security and it is more money (just)and slightly better hours for me (no more 8pm finishes i have a 3 year old dd) what would you do and aibu to be considering this jump.

What's the aibu?

You'll soon get sick of things being "target driven". Go for the other job, far less stressful.

Ah just seen you love the job.
Stressful though. Long hours.

I'd jumop!

To be considering leaving a job i enjoy to go to a new one.

You seriously think that the Civil Service isn't target driven?

Nowhere near the same level of job security in the civil service as in the past, and there are plenty of targets, bureaucracy and frustrating things too. But if the role appeals (and presumably it did because you have applied for it) and you've been offered it, what would make you turn it down?

Id rather do that than work for some PPI establishment any day.

Go for it, it's a slightly better family friendly environment. Plus the holiday allowance is good.

Dont do it.

You don't get much more target driven than the public sector!

As already said, civil service is target driven - but the hours suit your situation better so go for it.

What contract are the CS offering - if it's FTA you only have job security for the duration of the contract and then it's bye!

The new CS terms and conditions for new starters are no longer as generous - psid long term sick leave is tagged to length of service, privilege leave has been cut back, pension is based on a salary average, no lump sum etc

As others have said CS is target driven (especially if you are in a customer facing/operational role) and poor performers/ those with high sickness/absence can be aggressively managed out.

Not sure what department you are thinking of joining? It might make a difference - some are very dysfunctional in terms of the levels of bureaucracy involved some are great. Some also have to make up to 60% spending cuts this year and I'd expect to see mass redundancies before too long.

My civil service dh and friends regularly leave work past 8pm. It's not the cushy number presented in the media

I would say though that if you want job satufaction, variety and opportunities then the Civil Service will beat a poi company hands down!

I'd jump.

Its a fixed term contract 18 months in the universal credit department.

Delivering UC (in an office in a town)or working on the strategy/implementation in the corporate centre (mostly London)?
If you are going to be a the pointed end of UC and delivering it you need to google and see what UC processors and managers who have "whistle blown" have to say. Read the budget speech - which benefit and processors will be implementing the CTC changes??????!!!

Google the Guardian, The Despatches programme, google leaked UC memos etc ........read them, watch the Despatches prog if you can - then make an informed choice.

I'm a civil servant - please don't think you're going to have job security in civil service - that's absolutely a thing of the past. I've only been in current job a year and already been through restructure (I.e. Redundancy and redeployment) due to government savings. also I really struggled going from private to public sector - the red tape around every single little tiny thing is beyond frustrating, very set in its ways, lots of notmyjobbers, it is expected of you that you put in extra often long hours, and the pay compared to an equivalent job in private sector is actually not that good. Last year there was a 0.75 % cost of living pay increase, this year we are getting nothing, and that's the only way I can expect to move through my salary grade, at this rate it will take me to retirement to reach the top of my pay band - good pension though. Just think carefully before you do.

go for it.
i'd grab it with both hands.
you'll find the public sector more child friendly than the private, in my humble experience.

I left the CS in 2011, through redundancy. It was one of the best things I've done. It was so bad an atmosphere, I was bullied and left because of that (applied for redundancy in one of many redundancy programmes) although officially my reason for leaving was something uncontroversial.)

On the other hand, hours, etc were good for people with families.

I'm still in the public sector, but it's a nice job, good atmosphere, reasonable pay, in fact a lot of fun.

I'd take it just for the excellent pension.

The pension is shit now despite paying huge lumps in each month

CS used to be great. I now wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Don't do it.

I think you need to look at this from a career perspective if it's a FTA. Will you be learning skills that enable you to move within the civil service or elsewhere in 18th months time? You will have to consider that UC will be through the implementation stage by then.

CS pension isn't shit, the gold plate's just a lot thinner than it used to be. 18 months' worth of it is neither here nor there though. For that and other reasons I'd be dubious about fixed term contracts.