Working for the Civil Service
Discussion
I work in Engineering at the moment, however quite often there are vacancies within the Civil Service (Primarily Home/Foreign Office) which pique my interest.
While I can appreciate it being a very different environment to work in that a private sector company, I've little idea on the ins & outs. Pay is naturally lower and slower to develop, however I'd rather be doing something I enjoyed, even if it does mean taking a sizeable salary drop.
Does anyone have any experience working within the CS?
While I can appreciate it being a very different environment to work in that a private sector company, I've little idea on the ins & outs. Pay is naturally lower and slower to develop, however I'd rather be doing something I enjoyed, even if it does mean taking a sizeable salary drop.
Does anyone have any experience working within the CS?
I was sponsored through uni and then worked for a government agency for years, and have since done a fair bit of work for their successor as a contractor.
Pay is definitely not as good as the private sector, but the pensions used to make some of that up, however I doubt they're as good these days. I got a pretty significant pay rise when I moved to the private sector though
Work wise it really does depend on the department and managers. There are undoubtedly a lot of people just sitting around collecting their pay cheque and doing bugger all for it, but there are also a lot of people working really hard doing interesting stuff. I spent several years doing fairly cutting edge stuff on gas turbine combustion, including some time on secondment to Rolls Royce.
Pay is definitely not as good as the private sector, but the pensions used to make some of that up, however I doubt they're as good these days. I got a pretty significant pay rise when I moved to the private sector though
Work wise it really does depend on the department and managers. There are undoubtedly a lot of people just sitting around collecting their pay cheque and doing bugger all for it, but there are also a lot of people working really hard doing interesting stuff. I spent several years doing fairly cutting edge stuff on gas turbine combustion, including some time on secondment to Rolls Royce.
I’ve spent the majority of my career in the Civil Service, working in the two largest Departments at varying levels of seniority - What would you like to know?
As another poster mentioned, the package (aside from the salary) is exceptional IMO. It’s a very secure job too and they will invest a lot in your training (at least in my experience), it also gives you the option to chop and change roles and Departments fairly easily/frequently (within reason) if you wish, which you can’t do anywhere else.
As another poster mentioned, the package (aside from the salary) is exceptional IMO. It’s a very secure job too and they will invest a lot in your training (at least in my experience), it also gives you the option to chop and change roles and Departments fairly easily/frequently (within reason) if you wish, which you can’t do anywhere else.
appletonn said:
Interesting thread from my perspective. Just wondering where are the best sources for civil service/public sector vacancies in your experience?
Local government jobs or jobs in transport (for that part) are pretty good. Otherwise set up email alert for every local council to you with key words for your line of work.appletonn said:
Interesting thread from my perspective. Just wondering where are the best sources for civil service/public sector vacancies in your experience?
https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgiJobsgopublic.com
You can also search councils individually, and NHS Jobs if you're desperate!
Thanks for the responses all.
Seems to be very dependent on department whether people love it or hate it.
The problem I seem to have is a lot of my experience and qualifications naturally relate to Engineering, so aren't all too relevant to a lot of the jobs I am looking at. A lot of investigative and data management/analysis type work.
Food for thought. Cheers
Seems to be very dependent on department whether people love it or hate it.
The problem I seem to have is a lot of my experience and qualifications naturally relate to Engineering, so aren't all too relevant to a lot of the jobs I am looking at. A lot of investigative and data management/analysis type work.
Food for thought. Cheers
Sycamore said:
The problem I seem to have is a lot of my experience and qualifications naturally relate to Engineering, so aren't all too relevant to a lot of the jobs I am looking at.
There are policy and consultant roles in places like National Infrastructure Commission, Department of Transport, Department of International Trade, BIS, and others where they have people working on engineering matters. Sometimes they recruit external consultants for project work if technical expertise is required. If you want to work in the Civil Service, keep looking.
I'm not sure if its the same across all branches of civil service, but certainly in the area I used to work in (DERA/DSTL) they've moved over the last 10-15 years from doing science and engineering, to managing projects where the science and engineering is contracted out to industry. So if you're looking to get in to project management it may well be worth a look (decent project managers who actually understand the science/engineering are pretty rare in my experience), but if you want to continue with engineering your options might be a bit more limited.
One plus point is that it's virtually impossible to get the sack from the Civil Service.
That said, I did manage it after months of complete ineptitude and disregard for working hours and security policies.
I should point out that this was 32 years ago and I've pulled up at least one of my socks since.
That said, I did manage it after months of complete ineptitude and disregard for working hours and security policies.
I should point out that this was 32 years ago and I've pulled up at least one of my socks since.
MYOB said:
There are policy and consultant roles in places like National Infrastructure Commission, Department of Transport, Department of International Trade, BIS, and others where they have people working on engineering matters. Sometimes they recruit external consultants for project work if technical expertise is required.
If you want to work in the Civil Service, keep looking.
Yeah... if you've got anything you can label as expertise, you may find being an external consultant to a department, either as an individual or via a larger company, a route that gets you more interesting work, better pay and without the pension trap.If you want to work in the Civil Service, keep looking.
95JO said:
I’ve spent the majority of my career in the Civil Service, working in the two largest Departments at varying levels of seniority - What would you like to know?
As another poster mentioned, the package (aside from the salary) is exceptional IMO. It’s a very secure job too and they will invest a lot in your training (at least in my experience), it also gives you the option to chop and change roles and Departments fairly easily/frequently (within reason) if you wish, which you can’t do anywhere else.
How senior ?As another poster mentioned, the package (aside from the salary) is exceptional IMO. It’s a very secure job too and they will invest a lot in your training (at least in my experience), it also gives you the option to chop and change roles and Departments fairly easily/frequently (within reason) if you wish, which you can’t do anywhere else.
I spent 5 years in the ONS and 4 years in the Home Office.
I didn't experience the same as you.
The package was reduced whenever the Cabinet Office got the chance. I ended up on 2 different pension schemes, neither the final salary scheme, I missed that. Both departments, especially the HO culled a lot of staff while I was there. A lot of really good colleagues went, the only people who seemed immune were SCS (why I ask your grade).
Moving on lateral transfer from/to the same job between departments was not easy, I underwent a 2.5 hour interview. But I worked in quite a technical area in IT and at a reasonably senior level.
The department I worked in didn't have the money to fund training for more than about 10% of the team, so training was prioritised. I don't think anybody had a lot invested in their training.
Russ T Bolt said:
How senior ?
I spent 5 years in the ONS and 4 years in the Home Office.
I didn't experience the same as you.
The package was reduced whenever the Cabinet Office got the chance. I ended up on 2 different pension schemes, neither the final salary scheme, I missed that. Both departments, especially the HO culled a lot of staff while I was there. A lot of really good colleagues went, the only people who seemed immune were SCS (why I ask your grade).
Moving on lateral transfer from/to the same job between departments was not easy, I underwent a 2.5 hour interview. But I worked in quite a technical area in IT and at a reasonably senior level.
The department I worked in didn't have the money to fund training for more than about 10% of the team, so training was prioritised. I don't think anybody had a lot invested in their training.
I started out on the 'Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme' in IT at DWP when I was 19 and spent 6 months in intensive training, then spent the remaining 18 months working on some really cutting edge projects, went into the private sector for a year and came back to the Civil Service last year at HMRC two grades senior. Just accepted a role taking me back to DWP at another grade senior, not quite SCS though.I spent 5 years in the ONS and 4 years in the Home Office.
I didn't experience the same as you.
The package was reduced whenever the Cabinet Office got the chance. I ended up on 2 different pension schemes, neither the final salary scheme, I missed that. Both departments, especially the HO culled a lot of staff while I was there. A lot of really good colleagues went, the only people who seemed immune were SCS (why I ask your grade).
Moving on lateral transfer from/to the same job between departments was not easy, I underwent a 2.5 hour interview. But I worked in quite a technical area in IT and at a reasonably senior level.
The department I worked in didn't have the money to fund training for more than about 10% of the team, so training was prioritised. I don't think anybody had a lot invested in their training.
It's a shame to hear that, I and my friends/family who've worked in the Civil Service have only ever had good experiences (overall) so I was speaking from personal experiences. Like I said, I've only had experience of two Departments and both are very similar in terms of pay/structure so maybe I've been fortunate in that sense.
Edited by 95JO on Friday 1st February 22:31
95JO said:
I started out on the 'Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme' in IT at DWP when I was 19 and spent 6 months in intensive training, then spent the remaining 18 months working on some really cutting edge projects, went into the private sector for a year and came back to the Civil Service last year at HMRC two grades senior. Just accepted a role taking me back to DWP at another grade senior, not quite SCS though.
It's a shame to hear that, I and my friends/family who've worked in the Civil Service have only ever had good experiences (overall) so I was speaking from personal experiences. Like I said, I've only had experience of two Departments and both are very similar in terms of pay/structure so maybe I've been fortunate in that sense.
My background was private sector, i stumbled into the Civil Service due to personal circumstances.It's a shame to hear that, I and my friends/family who've worked in the Civil Service have only ever had good experiences (overall) so I was speaking from personal experiences. Like I said, I've only had experience of two Departments and both are very similar in terms of pay/structure so maybe I've been fortunate in that sense.
Edited by 95JO on Friday 1st February 22:31
I didnt find the package particularly good, especially compared to my previous job (even the pension).
I joined as an SEO, promoted to Grade7 and took early retirement as a Grade6. I am however back in the private sector having been made a good offer.
I recruited one of tbe lads who worked for me. He is mid 30’s and had only worked in the Civil Service, he can’t quite believe how much better the job is in the private sector.
I guess it isn’t right for everybody. I spent most of my time frustrated that I couldnt just get on and do things without permission and that seems to be at every level, even SCS.
My direct experience was that the package was poor compared to the private sector and the jobs are no safer. It is however a very frustrating environment to work in if you are used to delivering ‘at pace’, a Civil Service buzzword that they didnt really practice.
However some of the work is very intersting and would have been more so had i been willing to undergo DV clearance.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff