Civil Service Job Offer

MrJamez

Hello,

Just to cut a long story short, I’ve been offered a position to start Jan 2021 within the Civil Service after being on the reserve list since February.

Current situation:
24 years old and working for a large private company with perks such as Sick pay, flexible working hours etc.. (which I would also get as part of the CS). I’m also due to start a three year apprenticeship with them after working for them for 2 years after building a good range of contacts.
Salaries are identical for both roles and both seem interesting.

Do I stay put? Thanks in advance.

TELLIT01

If you are enjoying the work you are doing now, and value the opportunity of the apprenticeship I would definitely say stay where you are.  The allegedly great benefits of working for the Civil Service are now no better, and often worse, that many companies in the private sector.  In the area of the CS where I used to work flexible working had virtually disappeared by the time I left.  Staff were pressured to agree to either starting when the office opened, or start late and be there until the office closed.  When I started working hours truly were flexible as long as sufficient staff were on site at any time.

gwynlas

When I worked at the CS flexible working was limited to either side of core hours. Promotion was almost impossible as once in a grade there was a wierd system of advancement open to internal candidates only prejudiced to such an extent that you would have been better off applying for the higher post externally. 

TELLIT01

Depending on where in the country you are, promotion can be extremely difficult to get unless you are willing to relocate.