Thinking if leaving the civil service and retraining, would love some similar stories/thoughts

[Hotgoose]

Hi,

I’ve been a civil servant for 10 years and am
in my late 30s. However, I’m really not enjoying my job at the moment and haven’t for a long time, it’s not so much the role but rather the line management but it’s making me disillusioned with the CS.
I’d love to retrain to work in nurseries but would really struggle to afford the pay cut (I’ve a young family and am the higher earner at 35k) and would have to completely retrain (I’ve an English degree so no relevant child care experience)

I’m also a bit worried about giving up a civil service pension.

But the thought of working here another 30 years is just.:.ugh! i used to really enjoy my job but lately, following role changes and poor line management just not anymore.

I’d really appreciate peoples thoughts on;

changing career in 30s/40s
any careers that might be a good fit for an ex civil servant

thanks so much!

What is your skill set? Degree? Area of the UK?
Quite a few ex teachers joining the CS so it’s not all rosy over there.

Not the same as nursery work but what about children's social care if you're interested in working with children and families? You would need to retrain to be a social worker, but the salary would match what you're currently earning and good progression opportunities for the future.

There are plenty of other jobs in the civil service. Why not look for a new role in another department? It would be like a fresh start but while still keeping your pension and the flexibility that civil service jobs normally have. Sorry don't have any advice on the nursery idea.

Sorry, further details; archaeology degree and north east.
skill set; well other than hospitality work and volunteering ive worked in the civil service for a long time, mostly in operations and then in a safeguarding role so skills wise I don’t think I’ve a lot really.

I was thinking this, it’s a bit slim pickings where I am unfortunately

Have you looked at similar roles in your or neighbouring local authority’s?

Or a different role in a different team in CS?

GoldenTobes
There are plenty of other jobs in the civil service. Why not look for a new role in another department? It would be like a fresh start but while still keeping your pension and the flexibility that civil service jobs normally have. Sorry don't have any advice on the nursery idea.

I was thinking this, it’s a bit slim pickings where I am unfortunately

Yes that's true, depending on where you are it might take a while for something suitable to come up. What about looking at your local authority vacancies. They often have similar work conditions to civil service but you can't take your pension unfortunately.