Career confusion - do I stay or try something new?

[Helpwithmycareer]

Feeling unsure about where to go/how to progress in my career and would really appreciate some perspectives and experiences.

I'm band 7 in the NHS - top end of the payscale after 6 years in the same role. I don't hate my job but it is simultaneously boring and stressful, upper management is ineffective, the unit has serious 'culture' issues and there is a colleague I absolutely can't stand. Perks are obviously the good pay, pension, security, as well as a lot of autonomy, flexibility in my hours and the ability to work from home. Youngest DC is 8yo and currently only needs to go to afterschool club 2 x week - I can pick up some days and DH is usually off 1 or 2 days midweek.

As in a lot of trusts, opportunities to progress are thin on the ground the last couple of years - I've applied for two band 8 roles but haven't gotten an interview for either. I think that the slightly niche role I'm in now is hindering my chances of getting a higher management position, feedback from both applications has basically been that I don't have enough team management experience (despite years managing teams before I joined the NHS).

Should I keep applying and hope something comes along eventually (but feel like the longer I stay in this position the more that 'lack' will go against me) or would it make sense to apply for different band 7 roles?

Have seen a band 7 role advertised that on paper is objectively 'worse' than my current job (less wfh possibility, stricter hours of work) but I think it may give me more scope to work with when trying to move up.

DH and DSis think I'm mad to consider it, think I should enjoy my current flexibility and just wait it out but I'm worried that I'm letting my career stagnate and that I'll end up trapped 😅

Hard to say without understanding a bit more. What sort of role are you in and what sort of role are you looking to move into? Competition is very stiff at the moment so don't be put off that you haven't succeeded yet. Equally if you think you would benefit from a different role then why not - the pay difference between top of a 7 and bottom of an 8a isn't huge.

Thank you, I know two applications isn’t much, it's disheartening not to be offered an interview though, as well as feeling like there's nothing I can do to plug the gap they've highlighted. It's probably relevant to mention that I came into the NHS at band 6 and was promoted to this role after 18 months, so I'm not really used to a slow pace of progression.

I'm in a senior technical role - I don't have any line management responsibilities, just project management. The other job is sort of adjacent to what I do now but more 'hands on', so it means being onsite a lot more.

You're right of course in that band 8a isn't much of an increase on band 7 pay wise, I'm not sure why I feel the need to move up really 😅 Having moved over from the private sector, where there was a real expectation to climb the career ladder and keep progressing has influenced my attitude I imagine. DSis argues that I moved to NHS for a better work-life balance after kids and that now is the time to enjoy that... I will probably be working for another 30 years after all (sadly!)

If your current role is slightly niche and you've been in it that long, chances are the bigwigs might be thinking you are more use to them if they keep you where you are. One of the disadvantages of being good at your job is that they start viewing you as an indispensable part of the furniture. Not great when it comes to wanting to move upwards in the same organisation. No experience of the NHS, but I've seen it happen elsewhere.

With 30 years to go, I’d not be too ambitious at this point. I’ve seen colleagues on the brink of burn out then backtrack to just earn enough to enjoy life as your DSis advises.

Progression in the nhs is so bad right now and we’re expecting another recruitment freeze in my large trust. I could have written your post as I’m in the same position, although band 7 since 2018 - 2 different trusts with the second being much larger, but in a way I actually lost some autonomy with an extra layer of management in the larger trust.

I’m holding out, keeping an eye out but awaiting my dc end of schooling - 3 years but just need to get through this year’s GCSEs. It’s hard going through.

Maybe you're right, I am an ambitious person though and it's probably my pride being hurt as well.

I had thought it would be better to get up the ranks earlier while I am still fairly young and driven and then have the option to drop down or go part time when I'm in my 50s/60s.. with the pension being a career average now doesn't it make sense to get to a higher salary earlier?

I see your POV. Only you can decide.

If you are even thinking let alone applying it’s time to move on rather than stick. For now, could you move on the same band to a different department to widen the “niche” as it were?

Do you definitely want to stay in the NHS OP? As others have said the job market is tough anyway but progression in the NHS (especially that jump from 7 to 8a) has always been difficult.

I don't think you're unusual in having a Band 7 job which doesn't give you all the necessary stills for an 8a role. Many of my colleagues are in the same position. Also, people management in the NHS can be hellish as it's so difficult to get rid of people. Anyway, if it were me and your skill set allowed I would be pursuing opportunities outside of the NHS for progression.

Reading your responses it sounds to me like you do need to move on. You'd be frustrated and bored staying where you are.
You could keep applying for the 8a roles but give it a deadline after which if you hadn't had success, you could consider a sideways move for experience. I also agree with looking outwards, I've been mostly NHS for 20 years but I'm soon to leave (for the second time), for a range of reasons, it's not the place it used to be.

The move from 7 to 8a is notoriously hard. I've never really understood why the team management thing is such an issue, maybe because we have no money for training. Have you looked at leadership academy courses, I think there is one that certainly used to be free (it could well be too junior though, I can't recall), but anything management / leadership related can be helpful. Good luck!

No I don't really want to stay in the NHS! I'm trying to be sensible though, the private sector in my industry is notoriously insecure and only getting worse in recent years. It's also ultra competitive, a boys club with an expectation to work long hours at senior level... all the reasons I left to work for the NHS.

Unfortunately my husband's industry is also facing challenges and he's been considering pivoting which will involve some retraining and loss of seniority, so for the moment we feel it's important that I keep my very secure permanent job.

But thank you all, it's reassuring to hear that going from band 7 to 8a isn't just a me problem!

Looking at leadership training is a good idea, it will have to be free though - literally got turned down this week for a technical training course because of funding 😥