Did she do this so I don't take the job?

[Isaac143]

I have been offered a job with the civil service, all checks completed and just been waiting for a call back to discuss hours. I got a call today saying that they will be offering me different post, I asked for details and I was given a very brief answer of 'it's just an average admin job, most of the time you'll be sat in front of a computer, doing things like ordering stationary'. She didnt really highlight the job in a positive way at all, just kept mentioning all the negatives such as no parking late days ect. She then paused after waiting for me to give her an answer. I then said I need time to think, she told me to let her know by today.

What are your thoughts?

My dh worked civil service for years and ao jobs are pretty much all the same however the original was described to you.

As pp said, it is pretty easy/standard to move sideways and quick to be promoted up.

@2bazookas it's the same grade so pay will be the same if it's the same department, and it will be flexi time at that grade.

If you don’t have a job now, I’d definitely accept it. If you have a job that you look, I’d want to see the job description.

What job did you want? Fraud is likely to be loads better than a lot of roles in DWP

Ifs easier to move sideways when in anyway. It does seem odd, but I'd take it to be honest.

Worth it to get your foot in the door with the civil service tbh

[quote Isaac143]@Thehop
Within DWP, CFCD AO grade.[/quote]
So basic admin grade, these roles are usually easily transferable on a ‘level transfer’. I would seriously consider it but say you need a definitive job description. You refer to ‘late days’ so ask her for confirmation of expected hours. Are flexible working hours on offer?

Take it I have been there a year nearly the pay the conditions everything are unbelievable compared to private sector

OP what is the title of original job and what is the title of offered post? If you really aren't keen on the one offered it's possible you could ask to stay on the reserve/wait list for another post in the future. It sounds like a big recruitment and they're trying to fill multiple posts from one recruitment exercise. Where (roughly) in the UK are you? Regardless, the person who contacted you sounds like a moron.

There is a lot of shifting around going on at the moment. People are being redeployed depending on need - you may not end up staying too long in either role.

Plenty of opportunities to move up/side ways in the civil service. I’d take the job and look to move on to a different Dept after a year

Regarding "late" days - inside the CS this doesn't always mean what it does outside. When I was in DWP late meant staying until 17:00 (16:30 on Fridays) whereas in the Home Office late is being online until 16:00. In both cases this was on a rota basis and is currently about one night a month. This is worked within the flexi system and most people are in work by 08:00 but there are enough later starters to make the whole 'late' stays moot.

I’d take it, if you’re not in a job you love right now!

AO roles in the civil service have conditions that are way better than private roles

You can always ask for clarification of hours and expectations?

Thank you all.
Glad I posted this, I was going to decline it but you've definitely given me a better perspective and will now be asking for job clarification

@Dontwatchfootball

Take it and move once you are in - it is so difficult to get into the civil service but once in you will have more flexibility. And who knows what was going on with her, and whether she was downplaying the job for some reason.

Is it really difficult to get in to the civil service? I’m dying to change career and some of the jobs look so interesting.

I work in civil service HR team. Had you already received your formal contract before this conversation? If so, I would call them and ask to speak to HR dept. Not acceptable. It's true that once you have a job it can be easy to move around but they can't force you to take a different role to the one offered

I work in the Civil Service and the person that offers you the job won't actually know anything about it usually. They won't have an agenda.
It is weird that you have been offered a different job but perhaps the first one has been filled and you were second on the list. As you've passed a trawl for AO you can be offered a similar job without them having to run interviews again.
To be honest I would go for it.
Once you're in you can always look around for opportunities. I went in as an AA and within a year had gone for and got a promotion to EO. I'm now HEO and looking to train for the next grade.
I work from home 3 days a week now and the flexi hours are amazing. I can save up extra hours and take a flexi day about once a month with no issues.

[quote Lookingoutside]@Dontwatchfootball

Take it and move once you are in - it is so difficult to get into the civil service but once in you will have more flexibility. And who knows what was going on with her, and whether she was downplaying the job for some reason.

Is it really difficult to get in to the civil service? I’m dying to change career and some of the jobs look so interesting.[/quote]
I have certainly had friends who have struggled - maybe it depends on the job but there is a lot of hurdles to clear, more than with other jobs I have come across.

Civil service can be difficult to get into. Conditions are good. Job offers very very rarely are what they say in the tin. I never knew what my job was until I’d been there a few weeks. Even moving sideways and upwards is never what it’s sold as. Take the job. I’m so very dubious of people who say I started as an AA and then was EO and now I’m an SEO and soon I’ll be doing boris’ job. There is a lot of nepotism and favouritism in the civil service. An awful lot of ‘if your face fits’. However cannot really be beaten on holidays, sick leave and pay, maternity leave, pension etc. You’d be daft not to accept it. Expect a HELL OF A LOT of politics and red tape and job role changing month after month, week after week. Management meetings and conferences will ask for your opinions etc but don’t really care what you think. When they make a decision they will force it through no matter what you ( the workers) think. The union are close to useless. Make sure that you ALWAYS ALWAYS read the relevant parts of the ‘handbook/ terms and conditions’ in the intranet if you EVER find yourself in warm water. If you join the union and cross the picket line on a strike day you will be treated like shite from otherwise seemingly sensible and mature colleagues. Never make the mistake of thinking your job is ‘safe’ and therefore becoming in any way complacent. Don’t always believe when you are told you could easily be trained and promoted ... lots of things are said but in reality mean nothing. Accept the job, enjoy it, you will meet lots of interesting and lovely people. Just be prepared for things to change frequently and without much notice.

@ThanksIGotItInMorrisons
Thanks for being so frank.
Urgh...the nepotism and work politics is the reason I decided to look for a new job, I was sick of it in my current place. I know i got this job based on my own merit, and for me that is such an accomplishment as interview situations are a nightmare for me. I dont see myself wanting to move anytime soon so would actually want to be happy doing this job for a good few years, but the way it was described to me on the phone I really dont think it would, I think I'd be more miserable than in my current place.

Anyway I've asked for definitive job description, so just waiting for reply

Anyway I've asked for definitive job description, so just waiting for reply

which is the wise thing to do..

good luck 🌸

I'd take it then you've got your foot in the door

CS is also good at developing people, and thee is always scope to take on new duties, projects etc if you’re ambitious, and with training if needed. It’s overall a good place to be, a good employer with systems to help and support staff. Why not try it, nothing to stop you looking elsewhere- and once in, you get access to internal roles too. Though I’d be annoyed if people wanted to leave after less than a year! Sounds like you aren’t happy in your current job, so a change is at least a positive move by you.

And another viewpoint to Thanksigotitatmorrisons @Isaac143 is that I had an EO join my team a couple of years ago- he moved from DWP ops in Newcastle to a policy role in a different dept, and did great. Moved on promotion to another dept about 6 months ago after a development programme and I have no doubt will be SEO in 12 months time. He moved because he wanted to, but could have stayed. Politics and red tape are in every place, I’d say there are protections for fairness and diversity reasons (not red tape so much!) in CS compared to others. But if you don’t want it, don’t take it. When I advertise roles, I get over 100 applicants- and more at the mo, so someone else will really want that role. I’d prefer someone who is more enthusiastic tbh, even if less ‘able’ (ie may have scored a bit lower than you in interview)

Recent arrival to civil service here - take it! Really common to move jobs/roles, much more than i had realised, great acreer opportunities and once in, you're in! So much more flexible etc then other admin/office jobs. Deffo ask about comparable tasks etc though, no need to look like a pushover