Civil Service. What do I need to know?

[Ceebeegee]

I'm taking a career change and have been offered a position in the civil service.
I have only ever worked for SME's before.
What's the civil service like in general? I'm aware that it will probably be very different to private SME's but just how different?

For content, I'm early 50's. and I am taking an entry-level position after a career break looking after my elderly parents.

It's difficult to give a meaningful answer to this as the CS is huge, and there is significant variety both between different departments and within individual departments. If you can give more information you might get better feedback? I have been in the CS for 12 years and overall I think it's a good place to work. I enjoy my role, i like that there are opportunities to move around and do different things and i have had the benefit of my department paying for me to gain an externally recognised professional qualification. Flexible working and peñsion benefits are good. I like most of my colleagues, have made genuine friendships here and socialise regularly with colleagues.
On the negative side, bureaucracy is a pain and there is a lack of investment in IT systems.

I have never worked in an SME but I think it will be very different. It depends a bit on which bit of the CS, but my experience is that there are set procedures that need to be followed for a lot of things. It is also quite hierarchical. I quite like that in a way as it is very clear what the chain of command is, but when I started I remember being told how confident I was in meetings with senior people and I just thought I'm 50 and these guys look like reception parents!

Lots of red tape, lots of criticism and confusion.

You have to be impartial too.

I’ve seen the most calm/balanced people go of with stress. I treat one 2 ones as grining exercises. No support from older team leaders. Worked for some strange people in my time in private sector but this is poles apart and where I’ve never wanted to use my holiday allowance to it’s entirety within 8 months.

Zero benefits for anyone in a temporary capacity.

I agree with a pp there are differences between and within departments. There are also differences based on Location e.g. London vs Regional.

The CS is a good employer and once you are in there are opportunities to progress and move between departments. There are some good benefits. It can be hierarchical and bureaucratic but that can make it easier to navigate.