To want to work in NHS/Government/Council

[Hotsausagedog]

I really want to work for the NHS or Council as where I live (rurally) they seem the best options due to pension contributions, flexitime, clear pay grades.
I have experience working in banking/finance, projects, property management and running a housing charity, but have been a bit out of the loop having not worked full time due to having children over the last decade. I’m happy to study towards qualifications to help me get a job but looking online I don’t really know where to begin- too many options! (Business admin, Agile, Prince2 etc)
Im 40 and really want to build a career again, ideally with clear progression.
How can I get in? Apply for everything going or study something specific first? Would I BU to contact HR or the exec to say I’m so keen and eager to build a career?!

Personally I'd apply for anything in your remit that you'd be interested in, get your foot in the door and then use their in house training and gaining experience to climb the internal ladder! You can always study alongside and it'll give you a little insight into how it all works and what they really want from a candidate/role.
Also means you're starting your earning and continuous service which will do you well, especially in NHS (though may be the same for LA, but I've no experience there!)
You'll also get appraisals where you can mention that you want a career and then work out how you can achieve that.

(Will caveat that this advice comes from a clinical side of the NHS. The other side may be different!)

Good luck!

I’d apply for anything going and try and get your foot in the door. Go for entry level roles with the aim of progressing once you’re in.

I wouldn’t bother with additional qualifications until you actually have a job, if you’re lucky they might find it for you anyway.

Now is probably a great time to apply as a lot of areas are still really struggling to recruit and there are plenty of vacancies. That may not be the case next year if the economic situation continues!

Are you in Scotland? Myjobscotland lists nearly all local authority vacancies.

I work for an LA as a surveyor, and plan to retire from there. Having worked in private sector, LA is much better with the benefits you mention, less pay than private but makes up for it in other ways.

There are a shortage of surveyors so if you are looking to get qualifications this is not a bad route to take 😁

@randomusername03

Is it building surveyors that a usually in demand for LA roles? Rather than valuation/general?

@randomusername03 sadly the other end of the country - literally! I would consider a surveyor but where would I begin qualifications wise?