To want to ditch the public sector

[Housing101]

I have NC.

My job is within the housing department at a local authority. I work with those who are going in to temporary accommodation. And people applying for council housing.

I have been there for 5 years. Had some small promotions. But there are not really any more senior roles I would want to apply for in this LA. I desperately want to be more ambitious and further my career somehow.

How can I do this? What steps should I be taking? Is it possible to shift to the private sector in some capacity? I need help.
Any advice would be appreciated.

And I am sorry to those in turbulent situations with their own careers at the moment. I left my first career industry of choice after the last recession virtually collapsed it (I had worked very hard). This is round two for me.

I'm thinking of leaving the public sector myself due to political reasons... eg poor treatment of SEN.

You could try private lettings??

But beware the private sector. Ime, less annual leave, longer hours, no tolerance of sickness absence, easier to be fired for non performance and plenty of folk who are very unPC. But its easier to earn money and to be promoted if you're good.

I jumped ship, and it was the very best move I could make - but my advice.

1. make a proper plan, list all your skills and think carefully about what kind of job you want to be doing and what really fires your enthusiasm.

2. tempting as it may be, do not go purely for the money - the majority of jobs for your skill set you will already be vastly underpaid, so make sure you match on skills, qualifications and experience.

3. take your time to find the right role, and if you get it wrong try a different one - public sector is pretty unique in its challenges.

4. be mindful of the differences in sectors and public Vs private - notably private isn't worried about throwing money at a problem to ensure results, however I found that rigor was lacking in private and the amount of gossip, backstabbing and politicking is ironically much higher especially as bonuses are at stake.

Just be aware also that you may be tempted to laugh at what some people consider work, and some twisted ideas about what the public sector does.

Agree with what @something2say about annual leave, sickness and low performers - and I'd add that private sector does treat employees "poorer" in general, so it's not uncommon to be restructured at the drop of a hat, none of the consultation or supervision.

Honestly? I think you'd be an idiot. I get why working in Housing is perhaps not great - I know alot of Housing departments, and I wouldn't want to work for one of them. But you must have transferable skills, and there is nowhere better at recognising and developing them than the public sector. Actually, that's not entirely true - parts of the Third Sector do too, but you will seldom get the terms and security there. There are growth areas in the public sector. Currently, disadvantages communities, employment and commissioning are huge. There are vast promotions for the right people in many areas. Regeneration will be the thing within 12 months - its cyclical and growth occurs when there are deep economic crises. Not that I can imagine a deep economic crisis any time soon.

If you are ambitious, then sector doesn't matter - there is a price to pay. You'll work more hours than you are paid for. And you'll need to be able to look outside your immediate area, if not relocate for the right job. Its crap, but reality - comfort and aspiration don't often mix.

And if you can invest in anything, I'd look at Prince2. I can't get enough of them.

How about working for an HA instead. Lots of community investment / tenancy sustainment / tenant support / lettings work these days.

Thank you for your ideas. I suppose I could look out for HA vacancies, though a lot of my current team are ex-HA or leave to go to HA. I'm worried it would be too similar / also not great

Ive worked in the voluntary sector for 35 years. Very insecure, very low paid, only got pensions recently. Statutory sick / annual leave only. Id love to work in local Authority and have some of the security that comes with it. Stay where you are and look for internal ways of changing what you do.

Could you work for Shelter or Crisis?

Check out the jobs in your area in Inside Housing. For me the joy of moving to HA was not having the random (and frequently bonkers) demands of members and being able to focus fully on clients. Also, far better funded in my experience so easier to provide a better service which is very rewarding. On a personal level, the benefits package is easy better.

I work for an LA too.

If you're feeling a bit stagnant could you talk to your HR team? Do you have a development officer? Could you go on a leadership course?

I've come from an HA and much prefer LA. I'm upper middle management level- quite a niche area of LA work- and have a lot of Cllr. contact which can sometimes be challenging- but I wouldn't go back!

I've jumped up the LA ladder by moving between LAs. I agree that promotion within LAs can be challenging- so sometimes a move somewhere else is the way to go to jump up.

Good luck with whatever you go for!

I've worked mainly in the private sector. When I then went into the public sector, I couldn't cope because I was so used to slogging my guts out and found the lack of challenge and lack of work volume totally demoralising. I soon returned to the private sector.

I'm only saying this because it could be a major struggle for you to switch from the public to private sector. It will probably be a huge culture shock.

The private sector is great as you have more autonomy and are able to improve systems and prioritise your own workload rather than be bogged down by bureaucracy and systems that micromanage you.

Is there anything else you are interested in?
What qualifications do you have?
If you want something quite different then you probably need to get some different qualifications.

I used to work in housing, absolutely hated it and found working for the public sector so mind numbingly inefficient and my manager was perhaps the thickest woman on the planet.
Did a masters to retrain as a quantity surveyor, I wouldn’t say more stress, but a different type of stress! Literally double the salary also.

I did 7 yrs private; earned money, was knackered, no life.

Then transferred to third sector; wham with the global social issues, six weeks of leave, no long hours but needed extra shifts to make ends meet. But felt I belonged and was making a difference.

One year out back in corporate and the CE stood in front of my desk saying 'Profit, profit, profit is all I care about' and the MD said 'Don't be stupid, of COURSE you can put a price on life.'

I do mental health these days. Good and simple.

@something2say

Simple? I work in MH and wouldn’t call it that. The charity I work for is abysmal too.

I think I need a bit of corp in my life. I’ve decided I don’t really care that much about other people, and I’d rather just line my own pocket.

Sick of the shit pay!!

Can you not move to a different sector of the LA or a neighbouring one? You don't have to stay in housing, surely lots of the skills are transferrable to different parts of the council? How about civil service, or an Ombudsman scheme? Something where there's different work and more opportunity for promotion but usually similar public sector benefits. Civilian staff for police/ambulance/NHS is also an option.

If I wanted to change career completely (which I sometimes think about), I'd go into IT. There are so many courses around to teach different programming skills (often completely free) particularly for women as they want more women in the sector, and it's an area that's only going to grow. You don't have to be an IT genius either as long as you have a logical mind you can learn the programming bits (and there are different pathways), the most important thing is interpersonal skills, which you've almost definitely got from working in housing!

What about a move into a different part of housing (i.e development team, asset management, etc)?

I think it would be a mistake to generalise that public sector = sluggish and crap and private = innovative etc. there are rubbish jobs in all sectors and high pressure jobs in both. Voluntary sector seems to be quite renowned for poor behaviour, bad conditions etc but can also have some amazingly rewarding jobs.

If you’re local would you consider a national-level role in housing? Would be something different without having too big a shift.

Friend moved out of housing and got a much better paid civil role with the police

Really don't think anyone who works front line in housing has it easy. Non front line roles maybe but if you work in housing either in the anti social behaviour team or homeless tsam then stress is a real issue. I left and now work in a solicitors but more with the new build side.
Stay in the local authority but look at other roles? Policy for example

Honest opinion! I wouldn’t move, private sector is a lot tougher than public.

Much worse pension contributions, more instability, frequent restructures, less protected by unions.

Obvs your call, but I’d look for roles in the same sector