Does a big salary put you off?

Ilivetosleep · 24/04/2024 18:41

70k in the civil service sounds amazing!

It depends on the stability of the private company your will work for?

bctf123 · 24/04/2024 18:45

Everything once seemed daunting- my wise words

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/04/2024 18:46

I still apply for them, but it appears that I never match their vision of what the successful candidate should be white male, wealthy, so I go into them thinking it's worth a punt, rather than 'This is my big and only chance'.

FinallyHere · 24/04/2024 20:45

It's been documented that the higher the salary, the less likely it is for women who are well qualified for the job to actually apply. Ken do not react in this way.

Go for it.

There is one caveat, and that if that it might be very difficult to compare the different kinds of pension provided for the two different roles.

Other than that have at it. All the best.

dreamfield · 24/04/2024 20:48

Have you done any research on the culture of this organisation? It might put your mind at rest or confirm if it's not the right fit. Either way it'll help you make a decision you can have confidence in.

Otherwise, I'd expect a salary bump moving to private sector. Pension will be less.

HappiestSleeping · 24/04/2024 20:50

kloresg · 24/04/2024 17:10

Stupid sounding question, but if you see a really high salary do you assume you couldn't do that job? I am a civil servant earning £70k, I've seen a job in the private sector with a salary of £120,000 that I fit the job spec for and want to apply for, but really struggling to get past the feeling that it is out of my league, talking myself down, and worry how stressful it must be to garner that salary and would I even be capable etc etc.

Anyone made this jump successfully and it has been within their ability?!

Yes. It's the way I have managed my biggest pay hikes. I used to feel the same way you do, but in the land of the blind, the one eyed man (or woman) is king (or queen).

Edited to add that I was actually able to accompish more and perform better as I finally had the authority that went with the responsibility, so could actually get shit done.

GreatGateauxsby · 24/04/2024 20:54

I want to go from private to civil service in the next 5 years…
Based on what I’m aiming for I’d say yes totally within reach/ reasonable.

although I will say you may find the change in pace going into private sector a bit of a shock to the system

Original poster

kloresg · 24/04/2024 20:57

Thanks all. It's a well known British financial institution so stability isn't the issue perse, and the overall package is very good, even the pension is pretty generous by private sector standards. Not too sure how to gauge the culture, though their hybrid working, and generous and transparent package feels a good start (hate it when salaries aren't disclosed).

It's more the imposter syndrome element of it, an assumption the private sector is more cut throat and will I have the stamina for it? Will they have a to take a lb of flesh for that kind of salary. What are interviews in the private sector like (if I even got that far) would I be laughed out the door. The assumption everyone thinks civil servants are lazy, slow, woke folk!

Sorry thought dump there!

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Original poster

kloresg · 24/04/2024 20:59

although I will say you may find the change in pace going into private sector a bit of a shock to the system

Yes this is the kind of thing I mean, I hear this a lot. I am so, so bored in my current role, I know I'm capable of more, but what if I bite off more than I can chew!

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Rolson77 · 24/04/2024 21:00

I feel the same but am on 35k and keep seeing 50k jobs I'm qualified for bit will never get...

Tristar15 · 24/04/2024 21:03

I went from 55K to 80K, saw a 100K job recently and wondered if I was ‘worthy’ of it. Didn’t apply. If you’re qualified then go for it!

coxesorangepippin · 24/04/2024 21:03

Go for it op

platypusweek · 24/04/2024 21:03

You'll be absolutely fine. The culture might be different but in my experience, people really respect civil service backgrounds. Higher salary does not correlate very highly to how hard the work is, more with how experienced and competent people seem (and yes, I mean seem!).
Approach it with an air of confidence. Don't let a high salary put you off.

Sagarmatha · 24/04/2024 21:07

Do it!!

You're bored where you are. What do you have to lose?

HundredMilesAnHour · 24/04/2024 21:07

an assumption the private sector is more cut throat and will I have the stamina for it

Yes, the private sector, and Financial Services in particular can be brutal. It will either be aggressively brutal in your face or more likely (in these woke times), discreetly brutal behind your back. You will be judged quickly so you'd better measure up. The cliche "hit the ground running" will be referred to and expected. You will be expected to put in whatever hours are necessary and you will earn every penny of that bigger salary.

But if you have the experience and want to be stretched and find out what you're really made of, you should go for it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Original poster

kloresg · 24/04/2024 21:07

Thanks all. The role was due to end last week and I chickened out, but found out it was extended a week today so took that as a sign it was worth a punt. Need to actually pull a proper CV together....

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YeahComeOnThen · 24/04/2024 21:09

kloresg · 24/04/2024 20:59

although I will say you may find the change in pace going into private sector a bit of a shock to the system

Yes this is the kind of thing I mean, I hear this a lot. I am so, so bored in my current role, I know I'm capable of more, but what if I bite off more than I can chew!

@kloresg

even if you do, you can spit it back out again!!

(& knowing the public sector walk straight back into a job!!)

Have more self belief - if you have all the right credentials you're doing well, many applying won't even have them all!

At the very least, go for the interview, what gave you got to lose??

literally 'man up!'

Original poster

kloresg · 24/04/2024 21:12

@YeahComeOnThen I know you're right, I believe in everything you say and say it myself on here and to women in my life, but find it harder to apply to myself! The doubt seeps in...oh but I've only been doing X long, and only know X much. I saw a meme the other day that said "may you have the confidence of a mediocre white man" and it did make me smile. It's true.

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Original poster

kloresg · 24/04/2024 21:17

I suppose the fear is I'm in a bloody cushty role right now. Earning well, good pension, pretty much entirely WFH and work flexibly, no line management responsibility atm. The dream. But I'm bored, have very little impact right now and am more ambitious than this. But if I leave it's going to be nigh on impossible to get something this comfortable again if it goes belly up, grass is greener and all that, and what if I regret leaving what is essentially a unicorn job.

But I AM going to apply. I'm just posting my internal monologue!

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Original poster

kloresg · 24/04/2024 21:18

Oh and just that crushing fear of making a total arse of myself, at whatever stage I may, or may not, get to.

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MaseratiIsYellow · 24/04/2024 21:20

kloresg · 24/04/2024 21:17

I suppose the fear is I'm in a bloody cushty role right now. Earning well, good pension, pretty much entirely WFH and work flexibly, no line management responsibility atm. The dream. But I'm bored, have very little impact right now and am more ambitious than this. But if I leave it's going to be nigh on impossible to get something this comfortable again if it goes belly up, grass is greener and all that, and what if I regret leaving what is essentially a unicorn job.

But I AM going to apply. I'm just posting my internal monologue!

But is comfort what you want OP?
I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I work in FS and it's tough. Of course, layoffs, redundancies etc occur semi-regularly in the private sector (I think CS only has hiring freezes and doesn't cut staff)? But also, while it's flexible, expect to work as much as needed, to get the job done.

There are points in your career where you're happy to take it easy, and points where you're not. Only you know where your mind is.

If you have decided that ambition is paramount, then go in with the confidence of a 'mediocre white man' as people do it. Also, if you managed to actually accomplish things with the amount of bureaucracy in the CS, also understaffing and underfunding well you can do anything anywhere really!

HappiestSleeping · 24/04/2024 21:22

kloresg · 24/04/2024 20:57

Thanks all. It's a well known British financial institution so stability isn't the issue perse, and the overall package is very good, even the pension is pretty generous by private sector standards. Not too sure how to gauge the culture, though their hybrid working, and generous and transparent package feels a good start (hate it when salaries aren't disclosed).

It's more the imposter syndrome element of it, an assumption the private sector is more cut throat and will I have the stamina for it? Will they have a to take a lb of flesh for that kind of salary. What are interviews in the private sector like (if I even got that far) would I be laughed out the door. The assumption everyone thinks civil servants are lazy, slow, woke folk!

Sorry thought dump there!

Will they have a to take a lb of flesh for that kind of salary

Yes, undoubtedly, but you will be rewarded for it.

What are interviews in the private sector like

Hopefully a bit more straight forward. Understand your skill set, and how it applies to the job you are applying for. They have a limited time to get the information from you, and it's up to you to show it, not up to them to go looking. Be succinct with your answers, and answer the question they actually ask. Have evidence of when you did what you say you can do, and above all, do not bullshit. They will smell it a mile away (at least, I can when interviewing).

As for your CV, make sure that it doesn't read like a job description. It needs to show what you actually did. What wouldn't have happened without you. You are your own best advocate. We all know that we are part of a team etc, but they are interested in what your part in it was and how you moved things forward.

If it is a company that has a large US presence, you may well get ridiculous questions like "if you were an animal, what animal would you be?" I love those questions as they're so easy to answer. Also have a good one lined up for "what is your biggest weakness?" and "why do you want this job?"

Original poster

kloresg · 24/04/2024 21:24

There are points in your career where you're happy to take it easy, and points where you're not. Only you know where your mind is.

Yes this is part of it too, I keep telling myself to hang fire until next year when my youngest child starts high school (so not tied to a school run, or as many school events as primary school does!) I've spent almost all of my career with children as I had them young, we've made it work, but I'm raring to go, I think I can do more, but scared of rocking what is a very stable boat currently (DH in a very challenging career that takes him away for long periods).

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Original poster

kloresg · 24/04/2024 21:25

@HappiestSleeping thank you really helpful

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MoodyMardyMargaret · 24/04/2024 21:30

Go for it OP. I went from senior corporate to senior public sector. I work just as hard for my current salary which is £40k less than I used to earn. Went from final salary pension scheme corporate to defined benefit in the public sector. It was a lifestyle choice, however, I find the bureaucracy stifling and will be reinstating my commute and returning to the corporate world in 2024.