Applying for jobs at a lower grade

Yazmina

@strawb_shortcake how/where did you do your pension calculation?

strawb_shortcake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939405#Comment_81939405

This was more back of a cigarette packet calculations, but the NHS we have higher contributions than I have in Alpha but that may be due to my salary?

But my accrual rate worked out slightly less which over the next 20 years had quite an impact.

Though I would say that CS pay can vary significantly through the departments, NHS wouldn't offer me much more but for others it may be a better jump

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939390#Comment_81939390

Are you struggling to fulfil the requirements of being an SEO? Your first post indicated your role had shrunk and you weren't challenged...

There is a lot of competition with the headcount reductions that many places are seeing, but I also know of one job where only a handful of applications were received, and those applications also didn't meet the pass mark for interview (poor AI generated nonsense) - so they went back out to recruit again.

MayDogsandCoffee

Where are you based? Like another poster has said, in one area SEO will be head of shed in another they will be tea boy (non pc I know). If you are out in the sticks it is harder to move the higher up the chain you are, in Head Office of within travel, much easier. Have you considered a secondment - or maybe move departments for a while and then go back once promoted (or decide you like new department better). I considered a lower grade for a while then thought why should I take a pay / pension cut because the job isn't as promised. Or just use your down time to do every short course(and free) on CS website, do a bit of mentoring, basically fill your time to help with your next move.

Yazmina

I am London based. I think I'm a good SEO because I'm getting interviews, and I have been applying for jobs mainly outside of my current department. I've completed the foundation level of a project delivery course. I didn't want to do the full qualification because I feel like I need to be working in the field to be successful at the next level. I worked at a conference last week to score points on working with people rather than just spreadsheets.

When I say my role has shrunk, I mean that I just have less and less to do. I do very little for my line manager because her field is project delivery and she has an army of project support officers to do what she needs. The Finance Business Partner has two assistants so rarely needs anything from me. I'm a finance professional at year-end and I have no meetings I need to attend until next Tuesday. That meeting is just the regular catch up with my manager where neither of us will have much to say.

I saw a G4 role at the National Crime Agency. I don't know if G4 is exactly the same as HEO? The role description looked quite meaty.

strawb_shortcake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939605#Comment_81939605

G4 is equivalent to HEO, there salaries are higher than my home department at SEO about £10k higher than my band minima, and at G7 around £4k higher

MayDogsandCoffee

Lots of CS project stuff is stalled at the moment due to funding, our area certainly is extremely slow at the moment - worse than being too busy.

Yazmina

I should have mentioned that I've been stuck in this situation for 2.5 years. That's why I'm so desperate.

RedFraggle

From your initial post it almost sounds as if you've not mastered the "STAR" interview style. If you don't give the situation, task, action result in the right way you'll be missing points. Always included the "how and with what" detail

I'm in an ALB at SCS1 and we get 200 to 300 applications for HEO and SEO jobs. It is super tough out there.

Andy_L

"moving from AO-to SEO over my career. I'm nearly 50"

This suggests you have some pension under the old Final Salary schemes. After a few years (3?) that pay drop for dropping a grade will start to impact your pension.