What is my next step?

[Roundandback]

I've been in my current role for 5 years and there are lots of positives to it including working conditions, the team I work in and my day-to-day role. However, it is really fine for a change but the stumbling block is I just don't know what to do or how to go about finding another suitable role!

My organisation is pretty niche - closest comparator would be the civil service - and my skill set is transferable but any similar level roles in other organisations require both the skill set and sector specific knowledge. I've been in my current organisation for 13 years and previously was in HE and 3rd sector.

There are unlikely to be opportunities for progression internally and I'm currently exploring how to get additional experience (such as sitting on boards etc).

If you've changed sector mid-way through your career how did you do it? I can't afford to take a salary cut.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!

If you're already in an org similar to civil service (arms length body? Local govt?) then why not look at the CS? I've changed professions 3 times within my CS career.

Personally I look at skills and knowledge as entirely separate for a lot of roles (barring things like being a solicitor) so I'd not be put off by applying for, say, a leadership role in a new sector because I've got a tonne of leadership experience and I can learn about the new sector. In fact I've just done exactly that!

What sort of level job/salary are you on/looking for?

Thanks for your reply @youveturnedupwelldone! A sideways move would be grade 6 (or thereabouts) and I would be happy with that if it opened up more opportunities long term.

Do you enjoy the civil service? I could also potentially look at a secondment - a few of my colleagues have done that, primarily to the cabinet office and they rarely come back!