To consider leaving the Civil Service?

[Softshock]

Well I have an upcoming interview, but if I don't get this one, then maybe will consider it.
I know people will say I'm stupid for wanting to leave and that I don't know how lucky I am and so on.
I'm an AO and earn less than 25k, I'm mid 30s, for a single adult living alone it's really not a lot to afford housing costs and so on.
I do overtime every week to earn more but they expect higher stats for it, and after tax it's not a significant difference.
I do really like the WFH and the pension is very good, but i just don't feel happy there anymore.

Besides there's only one person I'm close to, I have tried to make friends, invite people to things and bring in cakes etc. But whilst everyone's nice, I can tell they aren't overly interested in me.

The work they expect for an AO role is ridiculous, I was previously in an AA role and the jump is incredible. They're also now taking EO level decisions and allowing AOs to approve them.

I'd like something nearer 30,000, and I'm just ready to move on. I've only been there just under a year so hardly any time.
As I say I may do well in this interview and leave in a few months, I've already been rejected from 4 so far though. Has anybody left and not regretted it?

Not officially, I could ask someone I guess but don't want to burden them. I tried to outline how I met all the essential criteria but unfortunately it only scored a 1.

With your qualifications and your experience ( I’m assuming since you’re mid 30s) you should’ve definitely had a higher paid position. I work for civil service and on nearly twice what you earn. There are people in their 20s earning the same as me in my team.

As a single adult I just couldn’t survive on 25K in this day and age. And as someone who has went to uni I wouldn’t tolerate that since I basically pay a graduate tax in the form of the student loan every month!

I'm 33 and yes you're right. I took it as a way to get into the civil service and figured I could make up the difference with overtime.
I'm tempted to go for this tutoring role.

This ? wrap.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3494956?cid=2088&t=Project-Support-Officer

Thank you!

Didimum how does his pension compare?

promotions and movement were way too difficult

Some Departments are better at this than others, rather than it being a CS-wide problem.

So there's something wrong with your approach - CV and application writing is a specific skill, it needs to b learned. Get someone who has recently em successful to look I've your application form before you submit

Seniors have a responsibility to support junior staff in their career development, so sign up to an official mentor scheme.

Honestly if you take up all th help available you will climb more easily and hopefully be able to pick and choose the right role for you

That makes sense, it’s fine to stay in that position for a short while as a way to enter the CS, but if you continue to be unsuccessful in applying for the higher grades then yeah I feel it’s time to consider leaving but I do agree with pp about applying for mentorships etc. You probably have all
the skills they want, but you’re just not filling out the application form in the exact way they want!

I'm a HEO in the Civil Service and the 60% attendance and poor pay has pushed me out.

If I was an under G7 I’d also leave if forced to do 60% attendance. It’s ridiculous

Sorry if that sounded patronising - what I mean is, have faith in yourself, don't accept less than you deserve and keep trying, but make sure you learn from your setbacks

Best of luck

Why would you be burdening someone asking for help with applications? Sounds like your line manager isn’t up to much if they’re not coaching, developing you. At least reviewing your PS! Can you approach an HEO or SEO for help? I am happy enough in the CS but have a good team around me. There’s some really weak management out there and too many become managers with no skills.
I second what someone else said. The work can get easier in a way the higher up you rise. AO caseworker is not a great position.
If you got a 1 in your PS you’ve missed the brief in some way. Gone over your word count? Failed to provide what has been requested? Ask your LM who can help you. The answer should never be ‘nobody’.

Thankfully I’ve been able to avoid it due to reasonable adjustments that were in place even pre-covid, but if in the future I have to go in for 60% it would cost me another £240 per month in travel so I’d probably find a better paid job be it hybrid or remote.

I suspect once Labour comes in they’ll drop this whole thing as it seems more of a distraction for the pleasure of DM readers and a stealth way to cut the pesky civil service workforce.

I suspect once Labour comes in they’ll drop this whole thing as it seems more of a distraction for the pleasure of DM readers and a stealth way to cut the pesky civil service workforce.

That would make my role as leader a lot easier- a boost in morale. Fingers crossed!!

Have you considered applying for a graduate training programme within the CS? TSP at HMRC for example?

I was trying to hold out for that possibility but couldn't do it. Our department is being super aggressive about it, it's destroying an already fragile morale.

I will probably have to do the same level of office attendance in my new role, but without the threats of dismissal if I only manage 55%.

I get it OP, it’s crushing to put all that time into applications and then not even get interviews, but I wouldn’t leave the security of the CS when the economy is as it is. The CS is huge, there are so many opportunities, different types of jobs and departments. I’m really surprised about what you say about your colleagues - I’m surrounded by incredibly bright people who work their absolute socks off where I am in the CS, so I promise it’s not all bad!

You need to learn to play the game with applications though. I found the Interview Gold website invaluable for learning about what to put in a personal statement and as a starting point for writing competencies https://www.interviewgold.com/ and Jac Williams’ videos on YouTube for competencies. Once I’d learned what to do from there, I swallowed my pride and asked colleagues to look at examples and give feedback and eventually (after a lot of work) my applications are much better. I agree with PPs to look out for EOIs, both because the applications are usually shorter and because it can be a great way to gain experience both sideways and upwards.

I’d never advocate for staying in a role that makes you miserable, but I think that’s the beauty of the CS, you can stay within it and do something completely different.

Also if you enjoy Comms work look at the GCS cadre - really interesting and creative jobs across the CS and in my experience people climb quite quickly.

I'd consider the Fast Stream and look for jobs in Corporate rather than front line. I've sifted and interviewed HEO and SEO roles quite a lot and it comes across that people just want out of their current job rather than actually want the job on offer.

That sounds to me like you could do with a bit of mentoring. Is there anyone in your department who might read your application form and give you some feedback?

Keep applying for promotions! Also, does you dept have any interview training you could go on? There’s a knack to civil service interviews that you can learn.

The pension is worth more money wise than you think, so you have to factor that in to any decisions re taking a higher private sector salary.

That all said, nearly all CS jobs are very hard work, under paid compared to equivalent responsibility in private sector, and currently demoralising as the govt constantly tells us how awful we are. Plus you are begrudged the slightest “extra” like even tea and coffee whilst at work, and if you look at private sector roles there’s lots more looking after, expenses, paid for staff dos and outings, which can make a person feel appreciated. It’s hard not to feel like you’re begrudged a job in the CS sometimes!

Sorry I think there’s training on applications as well as interviews - plus mentoring is a good idea!

I’m a G7 now, and yes I’d like to go a bit further up the chain

I agree the 60% is nonsense. I think 40% is totally fine as there’s merit in spending time with colleagues, but 60% is punishing unless you have a short and easy commute.

The reason it’s so hard is that Covid lockdowns and everyone working from home created an “always on” culture that we didn’t have before. So now people expect 60% in the office plus logging on from home in the evening “as needed” (but it’s not needed really) - totally unmanageable if you have any sort of life outside work!

That sounds quite low paid. Unsure what department in, CS jobs in my area are also very low paid £22-26k being the average.
Local authorities seem to be higher paying if you did fancy a move. CS tried to sell me on the ' great pension ' but in my 30s I'm not really thinking too much about a pension and needed more cash and higher salary for the time being

Gulp, where do you live? As someone with no dependents/home comityments, I would be doing anything to get myself out of there!

If you left and went onto an administrative/office manager/PA/EA role you'd be on a lot more.

London would be £35-£60k depending on the sector.