How to leave the civil service?

[Yats17]

Hello, does anyone here have any experience they can share of how they managed to leave the civil service and transition smoothly into something else?

I've been in CS for 10 years, last 5+ years doing slightly random G7 jobs since having my first DS. Promotion since mat leave has proved impossible and I'm not sure I'm bothered now as money vs hassle doesn't seem worth it.

I'm now pregnant for the 3rd time (only 12 weeks) and really a) fed up of current role so not sure how I will get through for another 6 months and b) I had been ready to leave the CS before I first got pregnant as the CS just wasn't really for me. I initially promoted quickly, did crazy but interesting jobs so didnt mind it, but realised i wasnt really building anything.

But those kind of roles arent even really open to me now as I need stable hours and not too much extra brain usage given crazy family life.

I thought about going to work for a start up on a part time basis, and got a few good contacts, but then found I was pregnant.

If I try and do this post pregnancy, would it be a plan to ask for a secondment out? Or just take a career break for a couple of years and suck up financial loss as best possible? And give up on start up idea?

It doesn't help that we may imminently be shifted to another department which adds another layer of complexity.

Any experiences would be gratefully received!

I'm also in a small niche dept that has a voluntary exit scheme which has just been announced. Maybe we are in the same place? I'm currently on mat leave but feel free to PM if you want to share the name off the board and chat in more detail. Its a shame the vol scheme has fallen at the wrong time for you as that could have been an ideal way to give you a bit of extra time to find something.

Does your area work with any external consultants / contractors? As well as chatting to recruitment consultants, management consultants also obviously work with lots of different clients with similar interests and might be able to facilitate introductions to other organisations with similar aims or cultures.

I don't think there'll be any rules that say you can't have two jobs, as long as there's no conflict of interest.

If you can sell it to CS dept that a few years part time for them plus part time for someone else will widen your skills to bring back to where your heart is (CS, obvs ;) ) then they might well agree. Contract wise, I have always needed permission to take another job alongside (I've never done it, but a friend worked in a bar several evenings a week, so I know it can be done!). I don't think they'd approve another full on job that'd put you over full time between the two, but part time in both jobs should benefit everybody? They also retain your experienced brain to call on - it'll benefit the team to have your experience two days per week plus new blood for three days per week!

I am private sector and applied for a scs role in gco

I didnt understand the coded language about the pension when applying so was planning to withdraw my application when i realised it was 91-120k with a 5+3% pension that is not via salary sacrifice so you pay ni on it (ie absolute legal minimum).
I also didnt realise csc get no flexi...!?

So the two main draws of the job didnt exist in that role!!!
They then passed on my application anyway 🤣

My current job has 6m mat pay generous sick leave is more like 150-190k pa and pension is a 9+5

I've written them off as potential employers.
I'd suck it up for now and take the mat leave and start looking for jobs when baby is 6m or so....

A few years ago GCO staff were offered changes to pay scales in exchange for changing how their pension works. The union was against it at the time. Based on your post, I assume the proposal went ahead because those pension terms are very different to the main scheme. Generally most of us are in Alpha (maybe a few years in earlier schemes depending on how long service you have), which is a career average defined benefit scheme - https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/knowledge-centre/pension-schemes/alpha-scheme-guide/

@hotfirelog and @Yats17 I am thinking about the way to feedback to my DD (or maybe higher) my issue with the application system and its unfairness on parents/other carers who are time poor but wonder if there is any point. I predict 2 responses both of which seem fairly reasonable on the face of it: (1) the system is fair as 'if you really want x role / y role then you should put in the effort into the application' and (2) 'what would be a better/fairer alternative?' implying that there is none so we should keep the system as is. I think if I had some alternative ideas, so an answer to (2) that would help (1) seem less of a reasonable response . . . so my question to you (or anyone reading this thread really) is have you got any ideas? What could we change about the system to reduce the effort burden? One possible tweak (more than wholesale change) which would help to my mind would be no more competency examples application forms - all personal statement only, of a max 1000 words. I find these easier, albeit not 0 effort but I think pushing further may get rejected. Any other ideas or more radical suggestions? Also my suggestion only really tackles application forms, interview prep time is another issue - anything which could make that less daunting/burdensome?

Start ups are v risky, esp if you have a mortgage or young family. They are NOT flexible and often surrounded by young people without kids or founders who are work obsessed so not going to take kindly to a civil service mentality to flex.

Its ridiculous because the pay STILL isnt remotely competitive so they basically removed the only draw they had 🥴

I was only considering it as a step back for personal reasons / the kids and it was only upon applying i realised what a poor offering it was.
They are looking for people who broker hundred million plus contracts ie senior negotiators.... I imagine almost all people with the relevant commercial experience would be better in private sector which is a shame as the role itself was so interesting... but im not a trust fund baby and i got bills to pay also i seemingly couldnt crack the application black box so tbey wouldn't touch me with a barge pole 🤣🤣🤣

Ah that would be interesting. I don't think any of your ideas would be taken on tbh as to make that sort of xCS change usually requires strong political push or some sort of legal action. What I have found though is that more and more CS jobs now just ask for a cover letter, sometimes 1 or 2 behaviours, and that's it. That is also what i do when ad ertising roles! I frankly wouldn't bother applying for a job if it had more than that as it demonstrates a strong box ticking culture which I really don't have the patience for.

That is a very interesting idea! I just need to find the right opportunities to make that work. I cant see being able to go that PT in my current role given the responsibilities, bit possibly elsewhere. Though if they accept that business case for 2 roles due to advantage to the CS then surely I could try and make the same case for an outward secondment on the same grounds? Hmmmmm lots of good for thought!