Staying in a job too long

[Stressmess]

I am guilty of staying in a job for too long, this is in the Civil Service. I was placed in a Dept and area which certainly isn't my dream but I learned the job and am good at it. I have the benefits of reducing my hours, taking term time and pretty much working from home with only going in to the office occasionally.

It seemed that most people on the team done the same thing, got in and just stayed but things have changed for the worse. I was passed over for a promotion which I was sure I would get. We have lost three good members of staff who haven't been replaced. This included a very knowledgeable, experienced and helpful manager to be replaced by one that is beyond woeful.

I am finding that I am getting extra work dumped on me with no consultation or appreciation for taking it on.

I feel like I have pigeonholed myself in to an area and have lost confidence in my abilities. I feel that I am seen as solid and dependable but yet get passed over for promotion. I get saying to my DH that I would like to leave and work elsewhere but he keeps putting me off as it fits in well with the kids.

Has anyone else been in this situation and made the leap?

It sounds like you are being taken for granted both at work and at home!

Can you start applying for other roles in the civil service?

I would definitely look for other roles in the Civil Service, not least of all, if you've been in a government dept for many years, you'll have amassed a significant pension, so why consider leaving before at least trying to identify another role elsewhere. You'll have lots of transferable skills and you'd do well to consider the job security as being a significant plus.

so in short, I wouldn't advise you to "make the leap" unless to another CS role.

what are you good at? What work conditions would you like that enable you to perform at your best? What profession could you move into instead of what you're currently doing?

I made a similar leap (but LA) after being turned down for promotion, deteriorating culture etc and leapt from the frying pan to the fire into a truly dire situation working for a friend that I had to carefully navigate my way out of. By a stroke of luck, I managed to get out of that into a similar role as before for a different LA. I had all the benefits from before but a much better culture, more defined role, better management and pay. I am glad I made the leap but I wish I hadn't been so rash...I could have done without the dreadful situation in between even if it gave me some perspective. I wish I'd stuck with my subject matter and was open to the fact that a similar job in a different org would make a world of difference...being familiar with my subject has felt like a real leg-up in managing family life...and it's worked well for my team too as I've 'hit the ground running' as annoying as that phrase is. So if you make the leap, my advice is don't be rash or work for a friend, do your research into where you're leaping to!

I was never in the CS but I worked for a charity for 11 years, too long in retrospect. I was so unhappy at the end. If ONLY I'd known that a) around the corner to the left was a place I later worked at that was happier, more fulfilling and only a five minute drive away. I stayed at the charity thinking I needed the money but half of what money I earned was spent on petrol getting there. Then b) there was one of the best places I ever worked at around the corner to the right. I LOVED it there and easily earned what I needed. I stayed at the charity for 11 years not realising what else was out there. I wish I'd left when I started getting itchy feet because yes, it degrades your progress in the end and there were two options right on my doorstep that I never knew existed.

If the maths and the timings for your life work out, jump. x

I'd look for an internal move.

Yeah I’d say consider an internal (preferably upwards) move to another department in the first instance and also look wider outside the CS too for the longer term.

Definitely try internal Civil Service roles, go for both level and promotion.