Civil service job advice - help me decode this!

[User748937744]

I read the full thread about "how can I earn £50k pa part time after 15 years out of the workplace."

Someone wrote a really brilliant response saying how frustrating they found it when people say "I earn £X in a creative/consultancy role" but with no details.

Here comes my question... People often advise civil service jobs. I have tried and failed to find entry level civil service jobs locally (or remotely). I'm so confused. I have two degrees but have been a SAHP and now want to go back to work. I thought I'd look at entry level civil service jobs thinking maybe I could progress fast once I'm back into the workforce.

PLEASE can someone tell me what these jobs are and how you actually find them? I have looked and looked and I just don't know what job title I should be looking for. Help? Please and thank you!

It does always seem weird, but as the other reply said, the pay is for different reasons. Your example sounds like an operations type area, where the lower grades are not expected to be overly skilled or experienced, and the management grades are paid for their seniority of management and the stress of managing numerous people.

In corporate we’re paid for job responsibilities and skills/qualifications. I’m in one of the government professions (one recognised outside of government) and they have to have some kind of pay parity else they’d never get or keep the staff. The issue is the grade structure in and of itself is the same. Perhaps they need a corporate scale and an operational scale!

Yes I'm a G6 leading about 20 people, but that's a tiny team compared to what a G6 would be leading in Ops!

Have you looked at the fast stream or some of the apprenticeship schemes Op? They are still recruiting as far as I know. It's also worth noting that very few departments will let you be 100% remote now. Ours has a 60% office mandate and check; my last one was allegedly 60% but didn't really check.

Don't know if this is still the case but there used to be an exam for entry at EO level for anyone with A levels upwards. Assuming you got in, you'd learn/be trained on the job

I think there's an enormous need for back to work support for parents who have been out of the workforce for a while but who still have plenty of work left in them

Try the national careers service:
https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/common/help-and-advice

At Home office its AO or EO jobs and they do a big campaign every 6 months or so. You need to do some research into application style etc.

I’m a G7 and I have around 130 people under me. Mine is an operational role. I personally love it, never a dull day and i’ve done 25yrs in the civil service.

Our new DG started off as an AO in the dept he is now DG of, that’s the kind of thing that motivates people that you can progress up the ladder if you are keen and capable.

Have you got a Home Office department near you? They use recruitment agencies for temp posts, which often become permanent

Do you have experience in your degrees fields? If you've qualified years ago but been a sahp without working in these fields, there are always so many changes and updating of the job.

You could organise to do some voluntary work with a company and have access to training courses, so after a while will be seen as 'properly qualified' and current for roles? Xx

If you let us know your field and location we might be able to help with specifics. A lot of EO and HEO jobs about to open up in the east of England.

If you do find something you want to apply for and need help translating the ridiculous job adverts, shout. I think you need to be a civil servant before you can understand most of them!