Unable to progress in public sector job. Dejected and Frustrated

[Floogal]

For context, I am in my early 40s and work for the local authority as a cleaner ( I won't mention what authority or the capacity of the institution to prevent outing). I would like to advance to do the management program or even move onto doing administrative work. In the latest internal magazine there were a few articles written by some of the managers about career progression and training opportunities. And how the local authority supports anyone who wants to develop. Yet, I am worried my age, and the fact I am doing a post that many consider 'menial' will prejudice my chances.
However, the main hurdle is more practical. Due to the fact I am a cleaner (don't have any business being in the offices and simply don't have time most days), I have very restricted and sporadic access to the IT system. I am only really allowed on to do overtime claims. I haven't been able to check my emails for months at a time and getting onto the intranet is virtually impossible. How can employees (at the bottom) progress if they have virtually no access to the computers? I am feeling frustrated and dejected, so any advice will be appreciated. Also success stories would give me a boost

Is there a public website to apply? Go to to the library?

As I mentioned before I left a note in the staff suggestion box recommending fairer access to the IT system for cleaning and caring staff. Whether they take notice. Also my line manager would get pissy.

@TeenLifeMum but yes I still agree with you 😊

Join the union. They can help you in two ways:
-supporting you to access workplace training
-unions often provide free education/training opportunities to members

You should get some training opportunities through work.

OP, are you saying that completing the courses and workshops on this Intranet is the only way you can progress to another role (admin etc)?

Surely that can’t be the case as it would mean that applications would be restricted to just people within the council with access to it, which doesn’t make sense.

Someone upthread posted a link to a free Business Admin course and there are dozens of free or low cost similar courses online that you can attend to upskill in your own time. I can understand why your Line Manager wouldn’t be ok with you spending hours on a course when you should be working.

I may have misunderstood but I don’t understand why an inability to access the Intranet means you are blocked from retraining and applying for a role?

its not really progression though,
progression would be a leader in your cleaning area?
it is a different job you want.
but definitely ask for access to IT system and use the library to apply for jobs, go on the bank to get admin experience

Ask about shadowing someone in a department that you may be interested in.

Do this in your own time, even if it's just for an hour a month.

Gives you a chance to sell yourself and when jobs come up you will have some knowledge and experience for the application form .

Are you employed directly by the local authority? Not a brought in cleaning contractor?

If you are, and your LA is promoting progression opportunities, then speak to your line manager. Say that you are interested in progressing. Think of a plan of how you can access the intranet - come in early, stay late, come on day off, is there a networked laptop you could take home ? I do understand the need for a laptop/pc that can access your local authority's intranet.

This is my 20th year in a public sector role - most of the "progression" training I have done has been in my own time. Training in work time tends to be "operational".

Or look at some MOOCs which you can access externally.

Or apply for a completely different job within the LA? Do they do apprenticeships eg in customer service, facilities management, project management? Maybe on day release? What qualifications do you have to build on? In

I work in local government too. We've always had a 'development review.' It's changed its name frequently. But the purpose has always been to facilitate progression. That can just be progression within the role, the council or further afield. It's something all pay grades are supposed to have. The line manager is supposed to meet regularly (I think ours is 3 monthly) to discuss and review. I'd be shocked if your council didn't have something similar- ask your line manager, if you draw a blank try their manager or the departmental director.

As others have said Trade Unions offer lots of lifelong learning opportunities- particularly for women.

In terms of intranet access - can't you arrive for work earlier or leave later?

Regarding internal job opportunities- ours are all advertised online. My login is my non work email. My non work email is registered in my contact details with HR, so I'm down as an employee. Therefore I get to see the internal vacancies. Again I'd be surprised if your vacancies don't have a similar method of advertisement. I get an email every morning with new vacancies. If you see internal (or external) positions you fancy - contact the recruiting manager, ask for a discussion and to see if you can shadow. If nothing else it gets your name known.

I had a COMPLETE local government career change in my 40's. My age certainly wasn't any kind of barrier! Local government is known for largely employing older women too.

I should add. In order for me to change career then progress. I had to take a pay cut (to take on a lower paid job in the area I wanted to work in). I then had to go off and do voluntary work, in my field of work (not for the council) in my own time. Fortunately it was at a time when my son had just started school, so I was still working part time. I wouldn't be able to do it now as I work full time again!! My Service Manager has always acknowledged it's a big problem within our service. Although they are implementing changes within the department to allow progression, so going off to volunteer to gain experience won't be necessary. I guess what I'm trying to say is sometimes you have to be prepared to do these things in the pursuit of progression - short term sacrifices help toward better pay and better more satisfying work. It shouldn't be that way in my opinion!! Employers risk losing loyal/ decent staff to other employers. Eg I could have easily got work in the end at the place I volunteered at. The terms and conditions at the council favoured my circumstances though.

@LightSwerve I'm already in Unison 😊 but I'll contact them at break to see what they suggest

Platy- I've tried to jump into council roles (from teaching) but they tend to want the exact experience needed for the role- which you won't have without doing the exact role .... I'm still looking though!

Also in a local authority - some of our cleaners progressed to working on reception and then will be able to progress from there. I don't think they had done any courses to make the shift - just always been professional and friendly at work and made a good impression. Hopefully that gives you some encouragement

Apply even if you don't have all the experience/exact experience.
We tend to be expected to have a long wish list of essential/desirable skills, but in reality it's rare for someone to even meet all the essential criteria

If you are a good cleaner your manager may well get pissy, you need to sensibly build relationships elsewhere. Chat to other staff, if appropriate mention your interest in progression (but don't be pushy about it). I recruited someone from another team and her manager was really upset by it because she is such a good worker, but the reality is she would have moved out of the organisation if she hadn't had the chance to progress within it.

Oh that's interesting.

The one I went for interview for I even rang to say "I'm coming from teaching adults not from X area " and had a nice chat.

Then the interview feedback was that I didn't have direct experience of X area. bangs head. They'd wanted nursery workers that had worked up through family support I think.

Another one in my actual role (Adult tutor) for higher roles they tend to employ managers from elsewhere rather than teachers within as they prioritise management experience. Which I can't get...

I'm am looking to leap into something else completely (I'm good at excel/ms etc)

I think it's a bit of a case of perseverance (and getting experience through volunteering or similar if you can)

Eg. If you need management experience you could look at becoming a trustee of a charity (that's what I did, to build that area of my CV)

Ooh interesting. I thought most volunteering would be out because I'm working but yes hadn't thought of that.

Sorry didn't mean to derail ops thread.

I think it's good to discuss not being put off if you don't have all the essential criteria, and also how to build a CV outside of work. I recruit quite regularly and find men are far more likely to apply for a job they are very under qualified for.

Eg. Volunteering in a charity shop to get customer service experience, or helping a small charity /PTA or similar with admin etc.

On those occasions yes they were external recruitment, on website. We do sometimes only recruit internally though.

@FakeHoisinDuck don't worry about derailing, it is still relevant 😊

Local authority customer contact roles are often a good way to find out about how other services work and can be a "stepping stone" to a back-office role in one of them. As long as you enjoy working with customers, it's a good place to start, and there's usually a lot of training provided and no prior knowledge is assumed. As others have suggested, you could ask if there are any opportunities to shadow an operator to find out more.

UPDATE

@CormorantStrikesBack I have signed up to the course. Just waiting to do the numeracy and literacy tests. 🤞😊🤞😊🤞😊

Also yesterday I managed to get my work account sorted as I had been offline for months and had a glitch and was unable to get on. Still doesn't solve the issue of being 'allowed'.

Finally, I am meant to have a supervision with my supervisor/line manager any day now (I'm off today), so I tell her straight that I would like to progress. She is likely to be pissy about it and try and put me off (or guilt me for being disloyal - like other cleaners who became carers), but it's worth putting out there anyway.

Wahoooo well done!

Amazing, well done. I hope your manager is supportive but even if they’re not remember you can do this without them. Get the qualification and then look round to see what opportunities there are.