Civil Service Job Offer

MrsJardinera

Hello all,

I have been offered a job within a government agency. This happened at the end of June but the process has really trailed on and it is making me feel uneasy.

I was offered the job on the same day that I was interviewed but since then, they've carried out a disclosure check & got 2 references (one from my current employer and one from my employer which I worked with for 6 years prior to redundancy).

However, today, the HR department have now asked me for references from the temp jobs which I did at the start of last year (following redundancy). They apparently need to cover every job from the last 3 years but I am just taken aback as there seems to always be another hurdle and I don't know why they didn't tell me this at the start of the recruitment process. I was only in these temp jobs for a matter of weeks.

Does anyone work for the civil service who can tell me whether this is normal or should I now be suspicious?

Thanks in advance!

Dunroamin

Suspicious of what?

MrsJardinera

Whether it will be a good place to work. I just feel like I have been messed around and this is making me wonder whether I should go to the job or stay where I am.

saintjammyswine

They need a complete job history, totally normal in public sector.

Lucy_Lastic

In my experience, everything in the Civil Service takes a long long time. Hang on in there, it will all come right in the end.

MrsJardinera

Thank you for your replies. Lucy, I see that you are a civil servant. Would you recommend working for the government or is everything very strict?

marlot

I joined the CS in January. My experience was similar, and I was joining an agency which seems to have its act in order.

MrsJardinera

Marlot, how have you found the work since you joined? I know all agencies will be different but just wondered....

cardiffgrad1

In general, I have found the civil service a good employer and I have worked for more than one department.

However, I have also found that things move very slowly, particularly with recruitment.

There is nothing to worry about, this is just something you will have to get used to if you've previously worked in the private sector.

Daedalus

The process is pretty transparent.

They need to cover your employment history for the entire 3 years. Complete history, you already have the job so the check is more to ensure you haven't been in prison or otherwise lied on your CV. If you omitted 'week temp in X' from your CV it won't matter.

They do much thorough checks than private companies, ie, they actually check and require proof. Count yourself lucky you aren't going for a job with higher clearance.

As for working for the civil service, it is good for two things really.(IMO)
1) Getting as much free training/education possible (depends on current role)
2) Safe long term employment, suited to those who don't want to reach the top of a cut throat private industry.

MrsJardinera

Thanks for the new replies. It's just so difficult now that my current employer is waiting for me to hand my notice in but I can't since I don't have an official start date.
I also have a question which perhaps nobody will be able to answer. I have 4 suitable references as far as I am aware (2 from temp agencies and 2 from permanent employers). In one of the temporary jobs which I was in last year, I was bullied by my manager and this pushed me to walk out. This particular employer has a reputation for treating any female employees this way. I was employed by him for 2 months and I know for a fact that he will not give me a reference. I presume this would jeopardise my job offer from the civil service. Does anyone know?
I was honest with the HR department and told them that I left on bad terms due to bullying. I also pre-warned them that they probably wouldn't get any communication from him.