How do I move from private to public sector?

[cupcakeandtea]

I'm 16 weeks pregnant and currently work in the media in marketing/press relations. Although I used to love my job, it's changed beyond all recognition and I'm desperate to leave. It doesn't help that I also loathe my boss who is manipulative and only promotes his 'favourites.'

I'm due to go on mat leave next spring and I get a fairly decent package and will probably take at least 9 months off. Before I fell pregnant I'd applied for jobs in my local council (a London borough) and at FE colleges but each time I got pipped to the post by someone who has public sector experience.

it frustrates me that I've got 10 years marketing/journalism experience yet I can't get further than the interview. Have any Mumsnetters got some advice for me?

I'm planning to do some voluntary work to add to my CV so that may help I hope!

cupcake I've never worked in the public sector so can't really advise you about applying for jobs there, but I am curious as to why you want to move to the public sector particularly, rather than just a new job?

Hi Flowery - good question. Mainly because it's more family friendly, the job is more portable and because at least I'll feel I'm actually doing some good.

Luckily, someone contacted me yesterday who is interested in using my skills for a children's campaign so it's a start...

I was going to suggest voluntary sector. Often less precious about wanting people with sector experience, so easier to get into from private sector, plus if you want to feel you're doing some good, you can't get better than that! Plus lots of charities are much more family friendly than private sector.

cupcake I did this, moved from advertising/ media to charity then LEA. What worked for me, was applying for temp jobs - they are much more likely to take a risk if they know you're going to go after 6 months/ a year, than for a perm. position.

And I agree, charity seems easier than public sector (not sure if that is just personal experience or a Universal Truth).

I was in the insurance industry for 15 years before I worked for a charity, only similarites was it was the same accounts package. I move when DS was 8 months mainly because I wanted to work p/t and agree that charities are far more flexible about working hours etc

Don't try to move jobs before you go on maternity leave though. A lot of public sector employers (but not all by any means) offer good maternity leave provision but you need to have worked there for long enough to qualify, you're unlikely now to be able to get in the length of service to get more than SMP.

And when you do job hunt, choose your employer - eg some local councils have good schemes still, but others really don't. I've heard of one London council the other day which is intending to slash all its terms and conditions to minimum levels.

agree that NGO sector could be the way to go. they are generally very keen on people with private sector experience. it can be a culture shock though - and sometimes it just doesn't work out - private sector workers tend to value their independence and sometimes find the collaborative approach tough. (as do many insiders). re voluntary work - i would be careful and probably avoid big name organisations - they do work in a very professional way (albeit different from the private sector) and voluntary work is often not suitable for people with considerable experience - very often there are two types of voluntary work - photocopying and maybe the odd bit of something interesting for the recent graduate with hardly any work experience who is trying to get their foot on the ladder, or real top-end generally specialist and subject-specific strategic advisory roles - which tend to go to academics or people with a lot of same sector experience - there's little in the middle. (big caveat is that that is based on my experience with one big name in particular but I strongly suspect from contact with other big names that it's similar elsewhere). small or possibly medium-sized organisations are more likely to give someone like yourself interesting voluntary work.

Thanks very much for all your comments and advice - I've taken it all on board and I'll let you know how I get on.

I'm staying put until I go off on mat leave as my current employer's mat package is very good. Hopfeully if I'm not too knackered I an spend my year on mat leave to do some voluntary work in the sector I'm interested in!

cupcake go and look at the Media Trust - hmm not very good at links but does this work?
www.mediatrust.org
it's a charity that allows small voluntary organisations that dont have their own inhouse pr/press people to use for free the skills of professional prs/journalists/meejah types. it would enable you to put on your CV that you have voluntary sector experience and understand voluntary sector culture, and potentially get you some referees as a result.
would also give you a chance to see if you LIKE aforesaid culture (drives a lot of people who've come in from private sector mad).
you can volunteer for as many or as few projects as you like so could fit in with your existing job - it can just be advice down the phone or whatever or a few hours here and there. i did a couple while on maternity leave so you could also do this. plus you feel like you are doing some good while embroidering your cv