Would you leave a Civil Service role to go into supply teaching?

[Freak0000]

I'm an Admin Officer (AO) on about £26.6k a year which I know is a pretty poor salary (I'm in the North West)

I actually like the job and I'm good at it, I'm applying for Executive Officer roles which are 30k so not even amazing but better. However it's very competitive, I applied for one in April and I'm still getting weekly emails to say applications are being reviewed!
I've had STAR coaching and all the rest of it, but I'm finding EO level is ridiculously competitive.
I'm approaching 40 and a colleague said something yesterday which made me feel bad, he asked what on earth I'm doing here as an AO, I could be doing so much better for myself.
It was a little rude even though he didn't mean badly by it.
I'm a qualified teacher, taught for 11 years but hell would freeze over before I go full time perm in a school again!
Unless I get super lucky and find a lovely supportive school then no. Very toxic workplace and job.
Thinking of going back on supply, even though I won't get the holiday pay, the weekly pay will still earn me more than I get now.
£160+ a day vs about £100 a day which I get atm.
If I don't like the school I can leave, I've never found there to be a shortage of work in my subject area.
Should I do it? I'm sick of being rejected for EO roles or waiting 7 months to know if I've even been shortlisted.

I've also been applying with the council for EHCP/SEND Caseworker type roles, didn't get shortlisted for the first one, waiting to hear on the 2nd one, I met all the person specification but I'm not hopeful...

I've got colleagues who have been trying for years to get to EO, even though they're probably more than capable of doing the job.

Secondary? Most secondariesbin my area are using supply cover supervisors because they don’t have the budget for supply teachers.

Don’t let this stupid prick make you feel bad. He’s projecting. And no I wouldn’t leave personally but I have never had a teaching job. You need to think is the job going to be worth it for YOU. Can you live without the holiday pay? Whilst you’re getting paid more is it financially worth it in the long term? Will you enjoy it? Will it make you happy most importantly? I would rather be in a low paying job with no stress and leaving my job when I finish at 5pm than earning more and having to do work in my own time and being miserable.

No and I say that having done both.

All I'm qualified to do is teaching/tutoring or basic admin stuff.
I can only afford to retain into something that pays a full-time wage.
Used to do overtime in my role but they've stopped most of it now so barely get any.
I do some tutoring however it can be unreliable work.

It’s tough to get roles in the CS right now, and fewer roles available so the campaigns there are tend to get inundated. I’m an SRO and tried to apply for a sideways move a few weeks ago and didn’t even get through the sift. Hold tight with the application you’re waiting on though - it may yet turn out good!

I really wouldn’t leave a permanent CS role though - the benefits and pension must at least partially compensate for the lower salary.

The wage you’re on is generally entry-ish admin roles for the LA. Once you’re in you’re able to manoeuvre around because a lot of LA roles are internal only, they’re also less of a regimented pain in the arse to apply for/interview etc. Maybe give that a punt? Your skills are transferable and the pension is still good.

I get the pension in mine, but I'm in a call centre department so no flexi or anything sadly..

No chance. No pension or summer pay.

There are lots of other LA roles, or look to supplement your income with tuition work - you could join an agency initially.

Thanks, I'll look at entry level LA roles.
That said, I saw a 25k admin role and they closed the vacancy early as too many applications!
I've found tutoring flaky but I could give it another shot..

I also don't finish until 5:15 which limits my tutoring somewhat, as a lot of parents want an earlier start.

Keep applying, you will get there. Look for mentoring schemes and internal progression schemes. Ask for a mentor within the organization, ask to shadow people, get involved in extra stuff like networks and take on responsibility, there will be opportunities if you hang in there and as they recruiter I know how long it takes - due to ridiculous processes - to shortlist. Often we have loads of people who apply but many of them don't say the basic things like yes I have English level five whatever you might need and so they get discounted before sift. Although it's a painter each application for each job, a lot of them will only sift on the lead behavior so make sure those ones are excellent. Good luck

It sounds impatient but I want to earn more sooner, I don't want to give it another few years to maybe get an interview or to wait 5-6 months for sifting each time, I don't have the patience anymore for the grand sum of 30k, but what choice do I have.

Any FE colleges with roles you could apply for locally?

I work in the civil service, I wouldn't leave it to go teaching as I'm not sure the pension would be much better. I eventually got my EO after being an AO for 10 years, had a sideways move to another government department within that time. Perhaps try it that way?

I know it sounds daft but I'd rather earn more and have a smaller pension than have a low income for years. I think the prospect of waiting a few years to get to EO is insane when I could be earning more in another department or private sector , even if the pension is worse.

Sounds like you've answered your own question OP! You don't want to to wait longer to get EO level and your not swayed by the benefits / pension etc.

Are you applying for EO roles just in your own Dept or also in others? If you want to get promoted, hopping between Depts can help. Also, the CS pay ranges differ between Depts. So for example, FCDO / HMT / CO have some of the lowest, MOD has some of the highest. So you could also potentially look at a sideways move into another Dept to get a bump at your current salary and then a higher potential EO salary later on as well.

If you decide you want to stay that is!

Are you able to train or do courses internally for better admin roles eg project management administrator, or minute taking for governance roles?
Also look on CS jobs for internal only vacancies in both the CS and Arms Length Bodies who sometimes pay more - e.g. some of the latter have a commercial or technical aspect so have better salaries even for admin staff.

Finally, do some research on pay ranges of different ministries - where I live (also NW) I’m considering applying for a similar role to mine if it comes up at the D of Transport in Leeds as it’s commutable if on 50/50 home/office working and they pay around the highest for my role. D of Ed on the other hand, is one of the lowest I’ve seen - same job, but a £10k difference just for an admin role.

I’d stay in the CS and apply like crazy. Let your LM know you want to progress and volunteer for lots. I am in the CS and now a G7. Sounds like you’re more than capable. You’ve got your teaching to draw experience from for the interviews / application forms. I have colleagues who skipped EO and went from EO to HEO, and one who went from EO to SEO. Once you’re in a team that does flexi you could tutor too.

Supply has changed a lot in the past year. I’ve been doing it for almost a decade There is less work than there used to be because of schools using cover supervisors and HLTAs. I used to recommend supply to everyone but now I say not to go in to it if you need the money to pay your bills as it’s just not as reliable as it once was.

Thanks everyone. I'm applying in other departments too, I will keep trying but will look at other options too. Not prepared to wait years for EO.

What about doing training in the civil service? You will have those transferrable skills.