Private job and civil service offer

mimshack01

Hello,

I have been working in the private sector for about 10years+ but lost job with last employer last year due to redundancy as the industry has been going through challenging times.

I've been trying to find a job since then (though I was pregnant at the time so not as desperate as I am now.

The issue I have is that I have just been provisionally recommended for HSEO role with civil service (pay is about 40% of my previous job pay). I had also applied for a grade 7 of the same role as pay is a bit better (about 55% of previous job's pay) but was unsuccessful at the interview outcome. I have 5 working days to confirm acceptance of the HSEO position. Recruiter says I may be able to develop competencies for grade 7 in next 2 years which seems too long for managing my current expenses and child care.

I'm eager to get back to work as I have mortgages and loans to pay and the industry I work in is still going through tough time. But feeling a bit concerned it means I am losing a lot by accepting the lower pay level.

Please what you advise? Can I negotiate pay in civil service?

thanks for your help.

Darksparkle

mimshack01 wrote: »

Hello,

I have been working in the private sector for about 10years+ but lost job with last employer last year due to redundancy as the industry has been going through challenging times.

I've been trying to find a job since then (though I was pregnant at the time so not as desperate as I am now.

The issue I have is that I have just been provisionally recommended for HSEO role with civil service (pay is about 40% of my previous job pay). I had also applied for a grade 7 of the same role as pay is a bit better (about 55% of previous job's pay) but was unsuccessful at the interview outcome. I have 5 working days to confirm acceptance of the HSEO position. Recruiter says I may be able to develop competencies for grade 7 in next 2 years which seems too long for managing my current expenses and child care.

I'm eager to get back to work as I have mortgages and loans to pay and the industry I work in is still going through tough time. But feeling a bit concerned it means I am losing a lot by accepting the lower pay level.

Please what you advise? Can I negotiate pay in civil service?

thanks for your help.

Pay bands are set for each department, they can't be changed.

Not sure of what grade you are referring to specifically, I thought it was HEO or SEO, not heard of HSEO.

If you are not currently working then why not take the job and continue looking for something that suits better?

TELLIT01

You may be able to negotiate the starting pay but it would still be controlled by the relevant pay band. In reality there is little opportunity to negotiate, and promotion opportunies can be few and far between. To expect promotion within 2 years is optimistic in the extreme. Promotion also wouldn't automatically mean more money as grade pay scales overlap.
One thing I can say with certainty is that you will be in for a massive culture shock by moving to the Civil Service from private industry. All decisions come top-down and managers at the level you would be entering have absolutely no say in any of it.

mimshack01

Sorry...it's HEO. Yes I thought it might be better to take it but just concerned it would be the new basis for future pay negotiations. Thanks

Darksparkle

mimshack01 wrote: »

Sorry...it's HEO. Yes I thought it might be better to take it but just concerned it would be the new basis for future pay negotiations. Thanks

The only thing I'd say is it can be difficult to jump 2 grades within civil service of looking at G7 posts. Not impossible though.

mimshack01

What are the levels between the HEO and grade 7? Can one negotiate work flexibility to reduce some days of early child care cost, say 2 days work from home or compressed hours? It seems like negotiation may be harder once you are in since management is more top down approach?

Darksparkle

mimshack01 wrote: »

What are the levels between the HEO and grade 7? Can one negotiate work flexibility to reduce some days of early child care cost, say 2 days work from home or compressed hours? It seems like negotiation may be harder once you are in since management is more top down approach?

SEO is the grade in between HEO and G7.

Grades are:
AA
AO
EO
HEO
SEO
G7
G6
SCS

There is also Band T, a training grade which I believe fits in somewhere between EO and HEO.

Working from home/compressed hours depends entirely on the department and the job. Civil service is a big place! I know plenty who are part time/part year/compressed hours. Very few home workers.

mimshack01

Ok. I didn't realise that. Thanks.

mimshack01

Can one ask for grade level up to SEO or the position entry level is difficult to negotiate as well as pay band?

Darksparkle

mimshack01 wrote: »

Can one ask for grade level up to SEO or the position entry level is difficult to negotiate as well as pay band?

No you cannot negotiate the grade. All jobs have set grades.

mimshack01

Thanks a lot!