Promotion within Civil Service

thunderb0lt

Hello all,

I work for a Government Agency (not really Civil Service per se), I'm currenty on 6 month probabtion. This is due to finish in 3 weeks time.

I need some advice on what to say at my 6 months review. I would basically like to move up 2 grades within the next 2-3 years as that's where the decent pay starts. I want to know from my line manager what I need to do in order to progress within my grade and or/get promoted to higher grade.


How is getting promoted in the public sector different from the provate sector (are there pay grades in the private sector).

I hear that the best way to get promoted within the private sector is to do to office lunches/dos where you get the chance to impress/discuss with your line manager over a drink.

Thanks

SarEl

You won't find many "office do's", and they are not the sort that impress your manager over a drink - and in my, admittedly, oft blinkered view, the quickest way out of the job is to have a drink (or two too many) with your manager! Since I see quite a few people who left this way, and hear of many more, in my experience teetotal is the best advice for any office social! If there are opportunities to move forward (and anyone expecting that in the next 2 - 3 years may not be very realistic, because in that time period you may be lucky to hold on to your job - they are shedding staff not increasing them, and anyone in there is holding on for dear life) the best way to impress is (a) do a good job, (b) do a little bit more than you have to, (c) take any training opportunities that come along and (d) don't look like you are trying to ingratiate yourself, which is the fastest way to alienate your colleagues and any decent managers you have!

Andy_L

If it was the civil service you would need to find and (sucesfully) apply for a vacancacy at the higher grade.

How is getting promoted in the public sector different from the provate sector (are there pay grades in the private sector)

Yes, The bigger and older an organisation is the more likely it is to have a pay grade system

flutterbyuk25

From my past civil service experience you would have to wait for either:

a) job vacancy in the higher grade that you are allowed to apply for (some govt depts but blocks on staff applying for one-off promotions)
b) a promotion board where they recruit x amount of a certain grade - however this is going to be unlikely for few years what with the cuts in civil service.

Also be aware that when you go onto your permanent contract you may be tied to your current grade for x amount of time, and it is rare for staff to 'double jump' a grade in promotion e.g. AO to HEO in one go. With civil service you don't just get promoted through hard work etc, you have to pass the grade standards for that role.

The best way ahead is to show that you are interested in promotion. Ask to shadow your manager or other managers if possible. Try and become an official deputy for your manager, then you will get experience and this will help when promotion comes. A long term deputising position would then be your next goal (e.g. covering maternity leave etc).

Good luck

one2escape

To be frank if you are wanting to move quickly up the scales the Civil Service is not for you. Promotion boards over the next few years will be few and far between. You can move up a couple of steps of the latter in one go however its rare for it to happen and usually its a specialist post. The civil service is a steady job (less than it was before). Long term there will be chances of promotion but if you after a rapid move up then you properly in the wrong job. Think of it as the hare and turtoise

Misshomme

You would either be offered a temporary position as an EO or HEO if you're already an EO or you need to apply for the next grade up. As someone has already said it would be unrealistic to go from AO to HEO in 2-3 years.

My friend applied to be an SEO and was told he would have got it if he had some management experience. He was an AO.

Instead of doing extra work to impress your boss, show a willingness to learn more about your job. From what I've seen learning more about your job and attending different training courses definitely helped a lot of people I know go up a grade. Especially if you have knowledge of a specialist area or have training in a specialist area.

It won't hurt going on work dos, but maybe you could use this time to mention to your boss that you're keen to move up the ladder and ask them what the best way to go about it would be.

Show willingness to learn, have a can do attitude, volunteer yourself to help with other things that outside what you'd usually do and just be positive and that should help

ILW

Just hang on and wait for someone to die.

lincroft1710

Depending on the Agency, progress in the Civil Service can be very slow, many don't progress beyond AO or equivalent.

A word (or sentence!) of warning. You may see yourself as whizz kid promotional material, your line managers may not. I've seen too many newcomers who thought they were doing the job better than anyone else, find out the hard way that they weren't.

If you're promotion material, your line manager should notice this, or if he doesn't his line manager will. Be aware that if you are keen to take on more work than your colleagues, management may well take advantage of you.

lincroft1710

ILW wrote: »

Just hang on and wait for someone to die.

They probably won't bother replacing those who die or retire these days.

suicidebob

thunderb0lt wrote: »

I hear that the best way to get promoted within the private sector is to do to office lunches/dos where you get the chance to impress/discuss with your line manager over a drink.

Thanks

I wonder if the person that told you was someone who never managed to get a promotion!

ILW

From the few people who I know in the CS, most promotion comes from not "rocking the boat". They truly love mediocrity and standing out from the crowd and showing any initiative is more likely to hold you back.