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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Leave the civil service

53 replies

gonewiththegin · 25/01/2022 00:51

Just as the title suggests. I work as a civil servant and I hate my job. It does of course come with job security and a very flexible approach to working days and hours. However, I am utterly miserable and the thought of being back in the office has me looking elsewhere.

I have seen another job very similar to what I do now, its remote but slightly less annually. This would balance due to travel costs, coffee for the train etc. My DH is on board with the change and I am fairly confident I would be successful. There also seems to be a better change of further career progression short term whereas at my current level it would take some time.

OP posts:
Ablababla · 25/01/2022 00:56

I’m not seeing the reasons to stay?

Pepperama · 25/01/2022 01:02

Life is too short to be miserable but just be sure the new job isn’t do similar you’d be in a similar situation with less salary and security/pension etc

edwardcullensotherwoman · 25/01/2022 01:05

As someone who has seen the mental health of a loved one in rack and ruin because they stayed in the civil service for the "flexi time and job security", I would say go for it! My family member was utterly miserable but stayed because the money was good, flexible working was good and holidays were good, but they have eally suffered as a result.

Another family member was also utterly miserable in a civil service job and jumped ship as soon as they felt that way. They were happier almost immediately and now doing very well in the private sector. Good luck with the new job!

YouWereGr8InLittleMenstruators · 25/01/2022 01:30

Reading with interest, as someone who has been eyeing up jobs in the civil service but can't quite figure out how to make the jump (teacher).
PPs read like cautionary tales, so will watch this closely.
Bottom line is, please don't stay if your heart isn't in it and it's making you miserable. Take your capability, your expertise and your passion someplace where you can use it to make the difference you want to make, both for yourself and in the workplace.

devildeepbluesea · 25/01/2022 01:37

As someone who’s just come to the civil service, I’d say this: the service is huge and as well as job security, there is also the still great pension scheme. Before you leave, check out civil service jobs and see if a transfer is possible / desirable.

HippoRaine · 25/01/2022 01:41

I'm a huge fan of taking risks and leaving jobs for something completely different, I've recently spent four years completely retraining for an NHS allied health profession role and I'm in my forties. If your job doesn't do it for you, leave and try something new!

Original poster
gonewiththegin · 25/01/2022 01:50

I think it has definitely changed in recent years- previously it was seen as a job for life. Terms and conditions have recently changed and that was really the only thing keeping a lot of people. That was my main reason for posting, when I mentioned to an older relative they thought I was crazy to leave and I was doubting out judgement.

@YouWereGr8InLittleMenstruators please don’t let me put you off. There are a vast number of departments, most of which are rewarding and you are not constantly under watchful eye. Unfortunately I am in a business unit that is renowned for a high turnover of staff, ever increasing monitoring and expanding goal posts.

@devildeepbluesea the issue is everyone in the department jumps at the chance of a move and we all end up applying for the same jobs. I would have been happy with a level transfer on my current grade but these are routinely done by expression of interest and a much more skewed process.

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 25/01/2022 02:11

I was in the Civil Service for 27 years, the best things are the family friendly terms & conditions, flexible working & the pension. The pay is rubbish & I hated the job. I had to finish for health reasons, I don't miss it one bit.

Original poster
gonewiththegin · 25/01/2022 02:12

@HippoRaine That is very inspiring- thank you! Hope you are very happy in your new role.

OP posts:
Original poster
gonewiththegin · 25/01/2022 02:20

@Nat6999 Gosh that is a long time doing something you dislike. The pay really isn’t very good, I think that is a common misconception as well.

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 25/01/2022 02:42

Gonewiththegin I've recently been diagnosed with Autism & I wonder if that is one of the reasons I struggled so much with the job & was so unhappy there. I worked in a massive office & found it hard working with so many people. I was in HMRC, what department are you in?

Lucycantdance · 25/01/2022 08:21

I hated the civil service. Nothing would make me go back and the pay was crap. Get out while you can!

RealBecca · 25/01/2022 08:25

The civil service isn't one job or culture. Different departments and roles, even in the same section can be vastly different. So leave your job if you want to but know that there will be other posts which will be a better fit.

turkeyboots · 25/01/2022 08:30

My top tip as ex civil servant is to tell everyone you know that you are looking for something new. Makes a level transfer easier if they are get a recommendation that "gonewiththegin" is lovely and would fit in well.

Emotionalellie · 09/03/2022 10:59

What did you decide to do @gonewiththegin?

Fellow civil servant here and utterly fed up of it but it's such a gilded cage with the flexible working, pension etc. I know none of the terms and conditions are as good as they used to be but still seem better than many competitors. But is that worth being miserable during working hours?

Lazypuppy · 09/03/2022 11:02

I suppose it depends on department in civil service. I won't leave because of pension, flexibility, job security and the gretmaternity pay. But i do like the area i work in which makes a difference. After covid, i would never go to private sector

jcyclops · 09/03/2022 13:43

The golden handcuffs of a civil service job is the pension. On average, an equivalent private sector job will have a similar salary, but you would need to invest at least an extra 10% of your salary (above any standard pension contribution) to have a chance of matching a civil service pension payout. You may find a private sector job with holidays, flexibilty and other conditions that match the civil service, but you would be very lucky. Job security and job satisfaction can be equally good or equally bad in both sectors.

As someone else has suggested higher up the thread, the best solution may be to seek a different civil service role, otherwise you have to decide if your happiness is worth the cost of leaving.

OneGoodTurn · 09/03/2022 13:51

For anyone reading this thread who feels put off, please be reassured that there are many of us who are civil servants who are very fulfilled and happy at work - I’ve been in my department for 16 years now and still am enjoying it and feel well remunerated for what I do and the attendant T&Cs.

Life IS too short to be miserable though OP; have you looked to decide what you’d do with regard pensions if you moved to a different role and what impact that would have on your monthly position overall?

Rainallnight · 10/03/2022 07:51

I’ve recently resigned from the civil service (was SCS) and am so so so happy. Wish I’d done it years ago, but didn’t feel financially secure enough.

I passed by my old department yesterday and couldn’t believe how miserable I felt just looking at the building.

EmotionalEllie · 10/03/2022 08:25

@jcylcops I need to look at this more, as I've never had a pension with any other employer (I did work briefly in the private sector but was very young then).

@lazypuppy the maternity leave IS great and if I wanted more children I think that would tip the balance for me in favour of staying.

@onegoodturn it's a point worth making for sure! I know lots of civil servants who genuinely enjoy their work (as well as being happy with the T+Cs). It's definitely still the right option for some people.

I've been in for 14 years now and I've tried three departments, and more than one fuction. I'm relatively senior too (but not SCS). Some of the jobs I've done look like dream roles on paper but I just don't enjoy it and never really have. Don't know if it's grass is greener syndrome or if the CS just isn't for me.

@rainallnight congratulations! I dream of doing the same but it doesn't feel like the 'sensible' choice. Have you found another role? Or retired?

ShavingTheBadger · 10/03/2022 08:28

Have you tried looking on Civil Service Jobs for vacancies with Arms Length Bodies? Still CS Ts and Cs and pension but a wider group of people and a bit less bureaucracy.

Neolara · 10/03/2022 08:29

I lasted 6 months. Leaving was without doubt the best decision. I should have got out earlier. To be honest, it was clear at the end of week 1 that had made a terrible mistake by joining. If you have another viable option, I'd jump ship now. There is no point flogging a dead horse.

Bigoldhag · 10/03/2022 08:32

I’m CS and right now, I don’t think I would. But would totally look for a job in a different dept!

The pay freezing is infuriating, especially as the vast majority of us are not exactly high flyers, but the security and flexibility feels comforting in what feels like a very insecure time.

Iamanunsafebuilding · 10/03/2022 08:34

@ShavingTheBadger

Have you tried looking on Civil Service Jobs for vacancies with Arms Length Bodies? Still CS Ts and Cs and pension but a wider group of people and a bit less bureaucracy.
I work for an Arms Length Body and I am really happy, I'm in an Operations team so feel like I'm making a real difference to real people. We get the pension, annual leave, privilege days, mat leave etc...
Bigoldhag · 10/03/2022 08:36

Sorry, should be clear, overall I really like my dept - but if I wasn’t happy I would absolutely look elsewhere and am lucky my skills set/type of role is transferrable to virtually any dept. The lack if pay progression is my only gripe, but am lucky here in this area its still considered a decent wage.

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