Offered a job with the CPS but scared to take it

[PicklePalace]

I stupidly applied for a job as a casework assistant with the CPS and amazingly got it. This is a (just above!) minimum wage job and level entry so I doubt they’ll be expecting Barrister brain of Britain, but I’m already talking myself out of it!

I’m in my 50s and I’ve struggled with work all my life. Probably because I have ADHD and holding down a job is how it manifests itself although you’d never know - I present as highly organised and articulate

So I already feel like I’ve ’cheated’ my way into the job and just gave a really good interview … I mean, that was a piece of piss, they encouraged you to have notes and fed you the questions in advance!

I’m most concerned about the computer system - god, will I be expected to know spreadsheets?! Just looking at one scrambles my brain - wouldn’t have a clue what to do with them.

You don’t have to have qualifications for this job but still, I’m panicking and on the verge of turning it down tbh. I already work for the civil service but in a part time role which is field based and I manage that fine - although no idea how

it’s not imposter syndrome btw .. I’m not actually brilliant but just filled with self doubt. I am filled with self doubt because I am far from brilliant!

Not even sure what I’m asking? Does anyone work for the CPS? It’s a job collating information and preparing court bundles … what does that even mean? I can hardly email the hiring team and ask ‘ Hello! Can you tell me if I’ll need to look at a spreadsheet? Thanks!’ can I?

I haven't done this job but I have seen a few court bundles and I wouldn't expect there to be much need for spreadsheets - at least, not the type of spreadsheets that need to be set up to do calculations. Sometime people use spreadsheets in the same way as Word, essentially just as for keeping a list.

As far as I understand it, the job is to make sure all the information relevant to the case is compiled into one single file in a coherent way, so that it can be referred to by all parties when preparing the trial and conducting it. I think the main skill will be to be systematic and have attention to detail - there could be serious consequences if you miss documents out from the bundle.

I wouldn't rule yourself out due to panic. If you're capable of organising yourself, you're capable of doing this. It's a good strategy to play to your strengths, not an admission of failure, so if you know there's a real risk of you missing documents from the bundle, it's okay to say it's not for you.

If you don't try it, you'll never know if you can do it or not?

I’m a lawyer….youll be fine. Go for it. There are real benefits to having an employer like cps (pension, flexi etc) the work is interesting. You absolutely won’t need to know spreadsheets and anything you need to know, there will be training on. Well done - I hope you enjoy it!

I also believe I have ADHD (not diagnosed though). I too struggle at work. I was in my forties by the time it occurred to me that I might have ADHD and until then I just kind of struggled on. Over the past couple of years I've done a lot of reading about strategies and have trialled and sometimes adopted several which have helped me, not a miracle but managing better and hanging on to jobs. Just wondering what you have tried (if anything) and what's been effective so far.
The main ones that have worked for me:
-Routinery app (setting in a schedule for the day when I do certain tasks at certain times)
-A work planning spreadsheet I found on a Reddit ADHD strategies thread (so all the tasks I need to complete are in one place)
-near constant use of timers to complete particular tasks - I set a timer for everything - even responding to an email I will set one for 2 minutes.

Others haven't worked so well and we're all different but there are things you can try.

Omg that sounds amazing!

Just go for it

You need to work in an office i assume? Which is a shame I love organising paperwork but I would want to work late night early morning when my brain is most active

DD applied for a similar role last year and I thought it sounded fascinating, but was floored by the pay!
in the meantime she got offered a training role with the council assessing housing benefit.
similarly it starts as a training role and she’s been given great supervision so far.
her current job pays more than I suspect your role pays, based on when she applied.
But the benefits she gets are probably very similar, great pension, generous holidays and flexible working.
I understand why DD took the job she did but I still think your job is going to be infinitely more interesting.
good luck 💐

Well you've got this far, why not give it a go? Hopefully they will give you training; don't be shy about asking for clarification, or asking them to repeat something because you haven't got your head round it. Good luck.

@LayaM some useful tips there thank you. My ADHD affects my working life and my finances. Weirdly, I am very organised and a clean freak at home and have the exact opposite of a chaotic lifestyle.

@Theunamedcat. Only a day in the office - the rest working from home. So on th plus side, if I was tied up in knots with something, nobody would be around to witness this!

At most you might have a list of cases on a spreadsheet, something like that, but it won't be complex.

I have ADHD, also in my 50s. I was a probation officer for a long time so I did actually see a lot of CPS bundles. Would usually include case summary, Police interview, witness statements, previous convictions etc, the same documents really repeated for each case, so once you know what they are you'll be fine. Very interesting to read too sometimes!

1day in the office sounds perfect. Enough to get to know other people and check in, but then time spent at home going at your own pace. I left my role when I hit peri and just totally burnt out. At the time it was full time office and I just couldnt take it any more! Was offered a different wfh role that I jumped at. I have spreadsheets in this role but nothing more complicated that just clicking a few drop downs. I'm certainly no excel expert!

Good luck! But i'm sure you'll be absolutely fine 🙂

You really shouldn’t be discussing with strangers that you have got a job with the CPS have you signed your contract yet ? Please note the “official secrets act “ bit. Please private message me if you want to know anything , however I don’t work for them however a family member does.

Also it should be 40% in the office the rest at home

@Mandi26. Lol. Don’t go on the civil service sub Reddit forumwill you? You’ll have a heart attack. I have been offered a job off the back of a nationwide campaign … but please do go ahead and show me where I’ve broken the official secrets act 😅

and it isn’t 40% in the office for me incidentally…

I’ve recently started a similar role, 50s, undiagnosed ADHD and returning after a career break. I can’t work out how to PM you but feel free to get in touch.

Hello what a coincidence! I have just been offered the same job 😊 The brilliant thing about the CPS is that there are loads of "day in the life of" videos online. They know it's a very unique role and are keen to make people feel comfortable with what it might entail. From what I have seen, it is a very structured/ task orientated role that is quite time pressured. You will also be logging tasks completed, so that your manager can see that you are delivering. This isn't for some power trip, but because courts run to very tight schedules and late delivery of papers can mean a case isn't heard. The more investigation I did around the role, the keener I got TBH, as it sounded really interesting with lots of chances for progression. Unfortunately, despite being advertised as a full or part time role, it was decided by the hiring team that they couldn't accommodate my part time working request so that's that really.

lol have you see LinkedIn recently? Theres nothing wrong with saying you work for MOJ or one of its ALBs.

Is that an ADHD thing as those are the hours I’m most active and my DP is always having a go at me.
I am waiting for an assessment. 😬

🙄She’s allowed to say she’s got a job with the CPS. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that and saying she works for the CPS most certainly isn’t covered by the Official Secrets Act.

@Puppylucky. Well done on getting it! Ah, now I too have requested a different working pattern but have yet to hear back if they can accommodate it ( and incidentally , yes, you’re right, this was a role advertised as being full time, part time, flexible hours - the CS always indicate if part time could be considered)

Can I ask what pattern you requested?

@Overthinker1973 I may drop you a PM over the weekend if that’s OK? Thanks!

We have to advertise full, part, flexible and job share but the roles are critical and I'd only really be able to accept someone at 80%. If someone wants 60% (which is a common ask) who do you think will do the other 40%? In a group of similar people (eg a contact centre) it's not too hard but in a niche technical role it is impossible to find the other person. We aren't London with a large pool of people either.

@MummySleepDeprived. I’d not considered at all who would do the other 40% as that’s not my problem to do so. It may be better for roles to be advertised staying exactly what can be accommodated to save everyone time I suppose.? Food for thought anyway.

Although there was the woman who got sacked by HMRC before her first day because she did an "unboxing" video of her new starter pack (remote role).

So probably don't do anything like that.

I did this job but a good few years ago. Also ADHD but only recently diagnosed. It was interesting! Ended up qualifying as solicitor then left 😂 If you're already working in the CS you'll be absolutely fine. I don't remember spreadsheets, they had their own in house computer system which was OK. I'm the opposite of you, organised at work but totally chaotic at home 🤩