Where do I go from here? So lost

[Blahblah254]

My career has stalled big time. I don’t know whether it’s to do with having a 2.5 year old; before that I had a great trajectory.

I went to Oxbridge, got a good MSc, joined the civil service. Was progressing quickly in an interesting area, until I was posted into a more corporate/less interesting role, then went on Mat leave. Since then things have gone to shit.

I’ve applied for several jobs in the last year and haven’t got any of them. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even get jobs at the same level as I am. What on Earth is going on? Where do I go from here?

I feel like I want to leave but I’ve been in the organisation so long (14 years) I just don’t know what transferable skills I have. My confidence is on the floor.

Anyone else been in a similar position? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

Can you see a careers advisor/executive coach? Sounds as though you would benefit from a bit of guidance. Do you want to stay in the civil service?

Thanks so much for your reply. I’m not sure about staying in the civil service - the pension would be good, but I’m getting so sick about the lack of money and progression opportunities that I’m beginning to think about the private sector.

Do you have any advice about how to find a good career coach please?

Are you applying internal or external?
Ive found internal public sector progress is largely reliant on having good supportive managers.
If you have poor management you need to go external (IME!)

Agree with this. Can also empathise with your situation particularly the lack of progression. I have asked for opportunities to lead on projects but am brushed off with excuses, yet how can we progress if we can't give examples of work we've done outside of the business as usual tasks?

Am also losing confidence in my abilities - do they not trust I could do the work and that's why they won't let me lead on projects? I wish they'd say if that was the case! I've applied to other ALBs for positions at lower levels than mine and been rejected, presumably because my STAR examples are crap. But it's bloody hard to find examples when what I'm doing is just standard casework while others are given more interesting work. Frustrating. I suspect we should both be asking for honest feedback on our work/skills and what we need to do to progress (and what opportunities there are within our teams). Good luck.

I’ve been in a similar situation and invested in a careers coast - has made a huge difference and helped put focus in my life

Thanks so much. I could honestly have written this! It’s so frustrating isn’t it? I too feel that my confidence is rock bottom, which of course won’t help when preparing for interviews. I’m sorry you’re in the same boat.

Definitely agree with the PP’s comment about poor management - my manager is lovely but quite useless. I’ve only applied for internal roles so far, just don’t feel confident enough to look elsewhere.

Is there anyone you could please recommend? Via DM if you prefer?

My manager is great and actively trying to find me things to take on, but opportunities to upskill to the next level are few and far between and our department management seem unwilling to delegate. We are also spread very thin with too much work and endless firefighting. My manager is as frustrated as I am, and I know I'm not alone among colleagues at my level in feeling like this. Another colleague who feels similarly has suggested I develop my role into what I want it to be, which I am doing by training myself in areas I find interesting, but it's the opportunities to put that into real-life context (and therefore STAR-able examples) that are lacking.

I have said to senior colleagues outside my department that I am keen to take on more responsibility if the chance arises. I think a career coach is a good idea; you could also look into mentoring schemes at work. Also, your examples don't have to be from your employment; they can be from your personal life or studies.

Civil service recruitment is a game all of its own. Can be deeply frustrating I completely understand.

If you're not getting anywhere with jobs at the same level I'd say you're experiencing a bit of being "stuck" - usually this comes from within, it is so deeply frustrating when you're in that situation - it's easy to get in a place where previous failure makes future failure an inevitability. I mentor a lot within the CS and come across this a lot.

I'd recommend you find yourself a mentor. Your department probably has a mentoring network (or even better a coaching network!) that you can access, or if you know someone you look up to and think would be a good mentor then approach them directly. Getting the right person is key, so don't just settle for what you're given - make sure they have something to offer you and aren't just there to make themselves feel good! If you need help with applying for jobs make sure they participate in recruitment regularly and recently. For instance, I volunteer myself for recruitment panels partly to make myself useful to mentees who need help with the recruitment process.

I think it's easy to turn away from the civil service because you're having difficulty with the STAR format/other aspect of the recruitment process but I'd suggest that's not the actual problem here and doesn't mean you would have more luck in the private sector.

DM me if you'd like a bit of help @Blahblah254