Applying for civil service jobs as a mature applicant

[Greenfairydust]

I wonder if anyone could share tips or advice about applying for civil service jobs.

I have had a career in the third sector and I have reached a senior manager level but I have lost interest in my current role. Also, I work with people with complex needs in the homelessness sector and I have been feeling increasingly unsafe. I have the same issues with several charities now: being expected to work in conditions where I am concerned about safeguarding. I think I am getting too old for frontline work & I can't see myself continuing to work in the sector until retirement.

So my plan is to start applying for civil service roles. My background includes team and project management, marketing, communications and running frontline services.

Any suggestions as to what suitable roles/areas in the civil service I might be suited to? would being an older applicant (late 40s) be an issue?

I am based in the South East and the ideal role would offer flexible/hybrid working.

Would be great to hear from people who have made a similar move later in the career.

Others will be better placed to talk about current recruitment in the political chaos but in a rush so wanted to mention:

1. some non-exclusive Civil Service job type 'approaches' - project and delivery management; general management and/or using your experience of third sector and homelessness in policy jobs - lots of departments will require this latter slice - DWP, levelling up, education, MoJ.... There is craft to competence based recruitment.
2. could also apply for interim roles in parallel while applying for perm roles. CV will need recasting more based on skills and projects delivered and more demand on the project management side, Jobsboards and agencies are the approach but higher end pay is better. Doesn't suit everyone's mindset as some need permanent security. Prince2 then MSP are ammunition there.
3. Consultancies bidding for the policy development work relating to 1) are a possible though niche area.

Good luck.

Interviewing for the civil service especially at a senior level is a very specific skill. Make sure you thoroughly familiarise yourself with the success profiles, behaviours, technical and strengths dictionary.
MOJ possibly but a lot of the times you would be suitable for will sort within the probation service and it's gone back to having to be a qualified PO (very bespoke qualification) to hold management roles. You might want to consider partnerships roles which are exempt. Housing support for probation was subcontracted to various providers including Nacro, interventions alliance and st Mungo's. In the South East it is failing badly. DWP have done localised initiatives around homelessness and complex needs cases that might work for you.
Alternatively consider local government roles, pension and packages are usually similar and following COVID homelessness support there is political pressure to do more in non COVID times. Any experience with policy creation/development and standing up new initiatives, will be helpful.

Thank you for the responses so far.

I will look at local government jobs as well.

I have worked with many different issues while in the third sector: disability, heath and social care, mental health, international development and employability. So I don't want to limit myself to homelessness/housing.

I have done some policy work around health, disability and social care too.

Honestly don’t limit yourself, look at all vacancies in CS jobs and look at the criteria.

Tailor CV to each job.

Be totally methodical in your application too- go through each esssential and desirable competency in turn with a clear brief explanation of how you meet it. They score applications in a very strict mathematical way so make it easy for them to tick everything off. Not too much waffle/chat/"narrative" just focus on what's directly relevant plus a summary of why you're interested with a clear strong reason- could get your passion in in the summary bit but don't go on too much - a few sentences is enough.
Sounds like you've got loads of experience for lots of sectors. Good luck!

The skills you've listed are a good fit for the Environment Agency, particularly Project Management (are you PRINCE2 qualified?), team management and running frontline services. Not strictly civil service, but part of the Defra "family", very flexible, still has a decent pension, and the dreaded competency based interviews.