Help! Civil service or private sector

[Mabelbabelle]

Hi,

I have two job offers, one in the private sector and one in the civil service.

The private sector one is much better paid, more senior and a permanent role. The people also seem lovely. There will be lots of pressure though, to bring in new clients, grow the business etc.

The Civil Service one means taking a pay cut (£20-30k/year) and is more junior. It's also only a 1 year fixed term position. I assume there would be less pressure in this role (I've been working in the CS for a while now as a contractor and it's much less stressful than my previous private sector jobs, but the new job is in a different department so things could be different). No idea about the people as the recruitment process has been much less personal and only one interview.

On paper the private sector one is clearly better. However, the CS one is in a really interesting - Covid related - area. It feels more meaningful and worthwhile than the private sector one.

The seniority/ responsibility (and pay) from the private sector job excites me and the work itself in the CS one excites me.

The other complication is that I accepted the private sector role (no contract yet though), before being offered the CS one (thought I had no chance of getting it). I would absolutely hate to let that employer down but I also need to do what's right for me in the longer term.

Ugh I'm just so torn. Can anyone give me their thoughts/ advice? I've made a list of pros and cons and they come out pretty equal!

Congrats on 2 job offers!!

It depends on what is more inportant to you. I would always chose a permanant position over a fixed term, because fixed term gives me anxiety. I also prefer to progress my career rather than take a side step or backwards step, so personally I would chose the private sector job.

I have worked in CS on high profile stuff and it is very busy and very stressful. A contractor friend moved to CS permanently and said he has never worked as hard in his life. Other private sector friends who made the move notice the level of responsibility in the CS is greater than private sector. So the CS job might be harder than you think. Others here will tell you about the things in the CS that are hugely irritating. One of the positives of CS is security but if I understand you correctly you are not getting that with this post.

I have been lucky over the years and have always worked in interesting areas where I have felt I have made a difference.

I think you will have to go with your gut.

My only real consideration would be the pension comparisons. If the skaary8of the private one is significantly higher, can you pay more into compensate for the lower pension?

Dh got a job in the CS and had to work his butt off - long hours and lower pay than private sector - so frustrating as I selfishly was looking forward to seeing him come home at a normal hour but the experience and connections enabled him to improve his career enormously when he left. His colleagues were a bit of a mixed bag too - lots of dead weight.

I don’t think you’re right to assume less pressure in the CS, especially in a COVID-related area. It is incredibly intense at the moment - as you would expect. Huge pressure, very long hours and changing goalposts. Offset by the fact you know you are making a real and meaningful difference.

DH is working in Covid related managerial CS role and is working far longer hours and under more pressure than at any time over his 25+ years in the CS. Evenings, weekends, long days etc. Constant “fire fighting”. He’s enjoying the challenge etc but it is having a huge impact on us as a family. So just don’t be lulled into a false sense of security!

I work in the civil service in a Covid team, I’m more middle management

Everyone is working their socks off. Senior staff are under intense pressure.
Even in you arent in a direct Covid role so many people have been seconded its left business as usual under pressure.
This will continue into the future as we move into recovery phases of work.

Go to private sector. Once youre in civil service , its very hard to get out later and you'll find your career is restricted to the civil service.

Imo, work in private sector for a couple of decades, earn as much as you can.

Then go into civil service for the last decade, and overpay into their defined benefit pension scheme.