How does a civil service job share work?

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 2023-05-02T16:31:37+00:00

I applied for a couple of civil service jobs (MoJ) and requested the roles as job share (I'm not available for full-time work currently). I wasn't really expecting to hear anything back but got an interview for one of them. I have absolutely no idea how it works for job share so googled and it seems that it's recommended to find someone to partner with for the job share before you apply and that if it's not possible to find someone before you apply, you should contact the hiring manager to find out if it is possible to apply without a job share partner. I've never worked for the civil service before and I've never done a job share so haven't done any of this and now I'm wondering if it's even worth me going to the interview or will they be expecting me to have already got someone to do a job share with? Does anyone have any experience with this? (I realise I probably should have looked into this beforehand but I genuinely didn't expect to get an interview and by the time I'd completed the application form, I was so keen to just get it submitted and forget about it as it was stressing me out)

HumourReplacementTherapy · 02/05/2023 19:13

What does the job spec say?
They usually give the working pattern options available in the spec.
Don't think about it necessarily in terms of job share - you want to work part time. Reality of that means if you do 3 days, nobody covers you on the other 2 and it's there for you to do when you're in again. Urgent matters might be covered by your manager.
Very much depends on the job though

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 02/05/2023 19:22

HumourReplacementTherapy · 02/05/2023 19:13

What does the job spec say?
They usually give the working pattern options available in the spec.
Don't think about it necessarily in terms of job share - you want to work part time. Reality of that means if you do 3 days, nobody covers you on the other 2 and it's there for you to do when you're in again. Urgent matters might be covered by your manager.
Very much depends on the job though

Under working pattern, it says "Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working, Other" and it says the standard working hours are 37 per week.

There wasn't an option of selecting part-time on the application, only requesting a job share, which is why I've gone with that, though obviously I don't care if it's a job share or part-time in reality, as long as it works with the hours that I'm available.

It's an admin job, if that helps.

OP posts:

ImSidneyFuckingPrescott · 02/05/2023 19:34

Cs is unusual in that generally you interview and are offered the role without discussing hours. It's only after you accept the role you can then enter into p/t discussions after you start the on-bording process. That's been my experience anyway. Might well be different in more senior roles.

Coming from previous companies if I've offered a candidate, you would generally discuss hours at interview or at least upon offering the role and they would make a decision from there rather than possibly accepting a role where the hours don't match your preferences.

Theelephantinthecastle · 02/05/2023 19:40

Usually in the civil service, if you are the best candidate, they will then advertise for a jobshare partner for you. If they don't get someone suitable, then you won't be able to do the role.

Or you can apply as a jobshare but I won't cover that as you're not.

The way it works if they do find you a jobshare partner is that one of you works Monday - Wednesday and the other Wednesday - Friday so that you have a day for handover.

The civil service is really good for flexibility do do the interview and then see where you are

ameliaandme · 03/05/2023 08:46

I've just had a provisional job offer for a civil service job and I was offered full time and I discussed with the person who rang me that I wanted part time, he asked roughly how many hours and any restrictions on which days, he said it wouldn't be a problem .

Nothing was discussed at interview, I think woth the civil service it's sorted out after interview.

Job was advertised the same as yours, full time, part time or job share.

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 03/05/2023 18:30

ImSidneyFuckingPrescott · 02/05/2023 19:34

Cs is unusual in that generally you interview and are offered the role without discussing hours. It's only after you accept the role you can then enter into p/t discussions after you start the on-bording process. That's been my experience anyway. Might well be different in more senior roles.

Coming from previous companies if I've offered a candidate, you would generally discuss hours at interview or at least upon offering the role and they would make a decision from there rather than possibly accepting a role where the hours don't match your preferences.

That's interesting. That seems like a strange way of doing things, though I suppose that is no surprise. I will have to do the interview and hope that if it goes well and I'm offered the role, they can work around the hours I want then!

I would much rather discuss hours at the interview stage (or before, preferably) as it seems pointless to go through all of that only to find that they can't do the hours I need or aren't willing to. In fact, I would like to have that discussion at the beginning of the interview so I don't bother wasting my time with an interview for a job that isn't suitable but that might be wishful thinking!

OP posts:

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 03/05/2023 18:33

Theelephantinthecastle · 02/05/2023 19:40

Usually in the civil service, if you are the best candidate, they will then advertise for a jobshare partner for you. If they don't get someone suitable, then you won't be able to do the role.

Or you can apply as a jobshare but I won't cover that as you're not.

The way it works if they do find you a jobshare partner is that one of you works Monday - Wednesday and the other Wednesday - Friday so that you have a day for handover.

The civil service is really good for flexibility do do the interview and then see where you are

It does seem like a weird way of doing things, to potentially find the ideal candidate but then have to give the job to someone else if a job share partner can't be found. It seems like a bit of a waste of time for everyone.

Is the only option the Monday - Wednesday/Wednesday - Friday, do you know? That's no good for me as I'm not available Mondays or Wednesdays (at least not in the mornings) due to other commitments so if that's the only way they work it, there's not much point going ahead.

The job does sound interesting so I'm happy to do the interview but don't want to waste everyone's time if it isn't something that could work for both myself and the employer anyway.

OP posts:

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 03/05/2023 18:38

ameliaandme · 03/05/2023 08:46

I've just had a provisional job offer for a civil service job and I was offered full time and I discussed with the person who rang me that I wanted part time, he asked roughly how many hours and any restrictions on which days, he said it wouldn't be a problem .

Nothing was discussed at interview, I think woth the civil service it's sorted out after interview.

Job was advertised the same as yours, full time, part time or job share.

That's good to know! I will have to just wait and see what happens, I suppose. It did panic me a bit reading that I should have had a job share partner lined up and I'm already very nervous about the interview, having never had a CS interview before, so appreciate hearing about other people's experiences!

OP posts:

MakesMeFeelSad · 03/05/2023 18:40

I work for the MoJ, It could depend on what branch/level etc you are going for

Where I am is really flexible. Didn't talk about hours until after I had been offered the job and all checks had been done then I asked if I could do 24 hours tues-thurs and they agreed

notsurewherenotsurewhy · 03/05/2023 18:55

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 03/05/2023 18:33

It does seem like a weird way of doing things, to potentially find the ideal candidate but then have to give the job to someone else if a job share partner can't be found. It seems like a bit of a waste of time for everyone.

Is the only option the Monday - Wednesday/Wednesday - Friday, do you know? That's no good for me as I'm not available Mondays or Wednesdays (at least not in the mornings) due to other commitments so if that's the only way they work it, there's not much point going ahead.

The job does sound interesting so I'm happy to do the interview but don't want to waste everyone's time if it isn't something that could work for both myself and the employer anyway.

Show quote history

I can't speak to the rules of how a CS jobshare has to be structured, but I have worked alongside a number of jobshares (all at DD or above, so lots of scope to impact on lots of people / workstreams) and I have to say, the only one which wasn't the M-W, W-F pattern was also the only one which didn't function very well.

In that one, the person who worked two non-consecutive days always felt quite out of the loop and absent to us, and the person who worked three days (no handover day) was tbh unpleasant to work with regardless of number of days. So there was no united front, no coherence, no balancing of each other's strengths - just a bit of a void and also a lot of strategic planning to eg minimise how much you had to engage or have difficult conversations with the unpleasant one.

None of that was caused by their working pattern, obviously, but I think the lack of join-up definitely stemmed from having no overlap, and the complete imbalance was exacerbated by one of them only working two days and in many ways signalling that her job came a long way down her priorities, which i can sympathise with (I'd love to be able to afford to work two days a week!) but didn't provide the value I wanted from a DD.

Theelephantinthecastle · 03/05/2023 19:20

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 03/05/2023 18:33

It does seem like a weird way of doing things, to potentially find the ideal candidate but then have to give the job to someone else if a job share partner can't be found. It seems like a bit of a waste of time for everyone.

Is the only option the Monday - Wednesday/Wednesday - Friday, do you know? That's no good for me as I'm not available Mondays or Wednesdays (at least not in the mornings) due to other commitments so if that's the only way they work it, there's not much point going ahead.

The job does sound interesting so I'm happy to do the interview but don't want to waste everyone's time if it isn't something that could work for both myself and the employer anyway.

Show quote history

It is a bit of a pain. I will be honest and say I am a bit oooooh noo when I run recruitment and the best candidate turns out to be a jobshare applicant. But I have worked with some great jobshares!

I haven't seen any jobshares that don't work in the M-W, W-F way but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

What hours would you be available?

I would definitely do the interview and then see where you are, lots of civil servants work part time, if they really like you, they are likely to be supportive

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 03/05/2023 19:23

MakesMeFeelSad · 03/05/2023 18:40

I work for the MoJ, It could depend on what branch/level etc you are going for

Where I am is really flexible. Didn't talk about hours until after I had been offered the job and all checks had been done then I asked if I could do 24 hours tues-thurs and they agreed

Hopefully they will be just as flexible as where you work then!

I have heard that the onboarding takes a long time - is that true or does it only take a long time at a more senior level (the role I'm going for is just admin)?

OP posts:

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 03/05/2023 19:26

notsurewherenotsurewhy · 03/05/2023 18:55

I can't speak to the rules of how a CS jobshare has to be structured, but I have worked alongside a number of jobshares (all at DD or above, so lots of scope to impact on lots of people / workstreams) and I have to say, the only one which wasn't the M-W, W-F pattern was also the only one which didn't function very well.

In that one, the person who worked two non-consecutive days always felt quite out of the loop and absent to us, and the person who worked three days (no handover day) was tbh unpleasant to work with regardless of number of days. So there was no united front, no coherence, no balancing of each other's strengths - just a bit of a void and also a lot of strategic planning to eg minimise how much you had to engage or have difficult conversations with the unpleasant one.

None of that was caused by their working pattern, obviously, but I think the lack of join-up definitely stemmed from having no overlap, and the complete imbalance was exacerbated by one of them only working two days and in many ways signalling that her job came a long way down her priorities, which i can sympathise with (I'd love to be able to afford to work two days a week!) but didn't provide the value I wanted from a DD.

Show quote history

Oh dear, that isn't filling me with much hope! I guess it does make sense that it wouldn't feel as though it flowed quite so well with having non-consecutive days.

OP posts:

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 03/05/2023 19:28

Theelephantinthecastle · 03/05/2023 19:20

It is a bit of a pain. I will be honest and say I am a bit oooooh noo when I run recruitment and the best candidate turns out to be a jobshare applicant. But I have worked with some great jobshares!

I haven't seen any jobshares that don't work in the M-W, W-F way but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

What hours would you be available?

I would definitely do the interview and then see where you are, lots of civil servants work part time, if they really like you, they are likely to be supportive

Show quote history

I completely understand why you would dislike it when the best candidate wants a jobshare - it must be so much more straightforward to hire someone full-time!

I would be available Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday so would be happy to do two or three days a week but I don't have any flexibility outside of those days due to other commitments.

I'll do the interview and see what happens.

OP posts:

MakesMeFeelSad · 03/05/2023 19:32

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 03/05/2023 19:23

Hopefully they will be just as flexible as where you work then!

I have heard that the onboarding takes a long time - is that true or does it only take a long time at a more senior level (the role I'm going for is just admin)?

Show quote history

It didn't take long for me , I work for the legal aid agency . I had my interview early oct Found out id been successful the next day and started on the 8th of November.

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 04/05/2023 11:57

MakesMeFeelSad · 03/05/2023 19:32

It didn't take long for me , I work for the legal aid agency . I had my interview early oct Found out id been successful the next day and started on the 8th of November.

Show quote history

That's useful to know, thank you! Maybe it's just the more senior level that takes a while then.

OP posts:

MakesMeFeelSad · 04/05/2023 18:19

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 04/05/2023 11:57

That's useful to know, thank you! Maybe it's just the more senior level that takes a while then.

Show quote history

Possibly, I know you read on here about people waiting 6 months +

PaperNests · 04/05/2023 18:27

This might be a silly question but why do you want job share and not part-time? In my experience job shares tend to be done by people in really senior roles where they need someone in that role to be present every day making decisions/signing things off etc., Whereas part-time is really normal in the civil service as everyone has flexi-time anyway. I've never heard of it being declined, you just tell them your hours and availability once you've got the job. Usually jobs are flexible so if the hours didn't suit one team then you'd just be placed in a different team, it wouldn't mean you couldn't do that work pattern.

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 04/05/2023 19:35

MakesMeFeelSad · 04/05/2023 18:19

Possibly, I know you read on here about people waiting 6 months +

Show quote history

I have read it can take 3 or 4 months, but no idea what level the role they were looking at was so who knows!

OP posts:

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 04/05/2023 19:38

PaperNests · 04/05/2023 18:27

This might be a silly question but why do you want job share and not part-time? In my experience job shares tend to be done by people in really senior roles where they need someone in that role to be present every day making decisions/signing things off etc., Whereas part-time is really normal in the civil service as everyone has flexi-time anyway. I've never heard of it being declined, you just tell them your hours and availability once you've got the job. Usually jobs are flexible so if the hours didn't suit one team then you'd just be placed in a different team, it wouldn't mean you couldn't do that work pattern.

As I said previously, I don't care whether it's job share or part-time, it makes no difference to me as long as they are happy with the hours/days that I can do. I have known people in admin/secretarial positions to do job shares (though obviously not in the MoJ as I've never worked for them before) so I don't think it's always a seniority thing, but I don't mind either way, I only mentioned job share because the option for part-time wasn't on the application, only job share was.

OP posts:

PaperNests · 04/05/2023 20:59

Ah I see, well don't worry about it then. Just mention you want part-time or job share after you get offered the job and sort it out from there. I doubt part-time would be a problem. Job share is harder to organise but if you don't mind if you have it or not then it's not something to worry about.

Original poster

GoGoGoFigureItOut · 05/05/2023 11:21

PaperNests · 04/05/2023 20:59

Ah I see, well don't worry about it then. Just mention you want part-time or job share after you get offered the job and sort it out from there. I doubt part-time would be a problem. Job share is harder to organise but if you don't mind if you have it or not then it's not something to worry about.

Thank you!

OP posts: