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After starting as an apprentice 12 years ago and working my way to G6, I’m leaving the Civil Service in a few months to join a tech consultancy. Excited but nervous. Any tips or advice for the world of private sector would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone,

I started a new policy role this week. It's my first policy job; I've moved over from the operations side. There's a lot going on, with some key milestones in the next month that I need to work towards.

The policy area is very complicated and I'm not an expert in it. I know my role is to work with the experts, but it's still a lot to take in.

Right now I feel like I'm pretending not to be overwhelmed by all the new information, while also needing to engage with stakeholders and ministers from day one.

A few questions for anyone who's been here:
- Is this overwhelm normal, and roughly how long did it last for you?
- Any tips for getting up to speed quickly?
- Has anyone else moved into policy from an operational or external background? How did you find the transition?

I'd really appreciate any advice. Thank you!

ACCESS TO WORK WOULD BE INCREDIBLE IF THERE WASN’T SO MUCH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STIGMA - JUST LET ME FUCKING WORK!

I've been trying to change my beneficiaries on the pension website but keep getting an error. Has anyone been able to make changes to their beneficiaries since capita took over and how did you do it??!

Hi, I'm feeling utterly exhausted in my HEO role, I work part time but have a high case load which won't change, there are not enough hours to get it done. My department for my role has high turnover because people get burnt out fast. There have been comments about me being part time and aspects of the role. Part of me feels this isn't worth it and to see if I can take a grade lower in the department but all I ever hear about are level transfers and promotions. Can you move down a grade? How do I go about it and should I speak to my manager about options. I see an EO role in my office but I don't want to manage anyone, so ideally I'd like to to to an AO and just not have the high level of stress and urgent deadlines coming from every angle. Is it doable? I think I would even increase my hours if I was an AO.

Just thought I'd post my recruitment timeline for reference. I understand the timeline varies massively throughout the civil service.

Happy to delete if not allowed 😊

My timeline:

5 May – Invited to complete Online Situational Judgement Test

6 May – Online test result received

11 June – Invited to interview

12 June – Interview booked/confirmed

22 July – Interview completed

28 July – Application update

6 August – Interview survey received

12 August – Interview result received

12 August – Provisional offer 🎉

14 August – Started pre-employment checks, ID/right-to-work validation and further information requested

18 August – More pre-appointment information completed

26 August – PEC information received/being processed

2 September – PEC update

9 September – PEC update

16 September – PEC update

23 September – PEC update

30 September – PEC update

7 October – PEC update

9 October – Pre-employment checks COMPLETE ✅

12th October - Call received regarding start date (formal offer to be sent)

9th November - Start Date

There’s someone in another team who sits on a transformation board with decision-making authority that I’m not senior enough to have at G6. So when I need something agreed, I have to go through them rather than my own line management chain.

The problem is, they absolutely love taking credit for work that I’ve sometimes spent years delivering. They’ll present it to the board for approval, copy in as many people as possible (including Directors), and somehow make themselves look like the person driving it, when neither they nor their team have had anything to do with it. I’m sure most people on the board should know this, but the wider audience maybe doesn’t.

On the one hand, I get the agreement I need, so I should be happy. On the other, it really, really winds me up that my hard work gets no recognition, while I’m usually relegated to the end of the CC list. I don’t know if I pissed them off in a previous life or what, but I’m getting absolutely sick of it.

Short of confronting them directly, how do I Goosfraba this shit, stop letting it get to me, and move on with my life? Is this just something senior people love to do?

I’m a teacher of 6 years, 2 as HoD, looking to get out of the profession, mainly due to poor work-life balance (I miss having weekends) and the ever growing list of needs that students have (and are impossible to meet), and it has sucked the soul out of being able to teach my subject that I do genuinely have a passion for.

I’m looking to move into the civil service and I just want to know that, if you are an ex-teacher:

Is there a significant change in work-life balance?

If you took a pay cut (I am M6 + TLR), did you manage / was it worth the trade off?

If I was looking to complete this final academic year before leaving, when should I start applications?

What type of job roles would be suitable? EO? HEO? / Policy? Operations?

Thank you for any insight / advice

Hi everyone.

I need further advice from here, I have got an offer for Customer Service Advisor for HMRC. I currently work in banking as a customer support advisor but potentially looking to move towards fraud.

I just want to know if there are any targets, flexibility (such as Flex Time or such), benefits and what the role entails more towards- phone calls, emails or web chats (messaging). I want to know if there is a difference and is it worth me accepting the offer?

Civil service pensions is a world of its own which does not make sense…

How on earth National Highways which is owned by the government… wait for it… their staff don’t even get access to civil service pension.

The Met Police which which is not even part of the civil service, their staff has access to Civil Service pension.

Make sense out of this!?

I have been instrumental in successfully expanding my team’s remit; it now includes a high priority strategic programme that I’ve integrated with my BAU responsibilities. I have 5 staff as a G7 analyst. The work is clearly expanded beyond what can realistically be delivered by one G7 team.

A highly optimistic assumption (with very little scope to test that assumption) is that a substantial proportion of work needs to be redistributed across the G6 area, some work can be deprioritised and start after completion of a priority work stream. Alongside this, there is still a need for 2 new G7 teams.

The discussion about this is centred on what G7 area I will pick up. Obviously this pivots me away from a role with substantial strategic influence and oversight toward project management and BAU. There’s an assumption, in my view, that the current G6 area can absorb two new G7s and associated junior staff when they already have 6 G7 teams (they are a 1.5 FTE). A lot of the new work is time-limited.

I am trying to suggest that they could have FTAs for a lot of this, including a 12 month G6 to oversee. It’s landing on deaf ears.

I think there are legitimate operational reasons to entertain the above - and there is some self interest. I’m on the future leaders scheme and I’ve worked unbelievably hard to build this programme and influence. My reward, it seems, will most likely be a demotion in all but name. Finding it hard not to bring emotion into this, but I’m human. Very demotivated and glum.

Any practical advice welcome.

STFC (part of UKRI under BIST aka. DSIT) announced they will be taking voluntary redundancies soon, likely at the start of the next financial year.

No idea or the scale yet, and no word on any "golden handshakes".

Not directly civil service employees so maybe not directly relevant to the sub, but definitely civil service adjacent. https://www.ukri.org/news/ukri-is-transforming-how-it-works-backed-by-record-government-investment/

For a HEO grade with 16 day AL (annual leave) leftover, do you think it would be worth selling 6 of those days and letting the remaining 10 days roll over into next year? I understand any AL selling needs to be done this month

Hey, been working in DWP for 7 years and on my current team for 4. I am planning to start gender transition in the coming months and with the negativity for trans folk in the media, I’m a bit nervous about coming out at work, and dealing with stakeholders I’ve known for 4 years etc.

Has anyone here come out as trans and transitioned within DWP and can give me some good news stories that it went OK? Thanks 🙏

Just been informed by my manager I’ve been offered a position as I’m effectively in the warehouse, this application was put in by a previous line manager. The role sounds interesting to be honest and something I could do easily.

My question is if I don’t accept it is that me then not considered for future roles?

In May 2023, his UKHSA manager Aleesha Adams arranged a video call to discuss his recent sick leave.

At the time, prosecutors say, he was secretly holding five jobs.

Chowdhury appeared on camera ‘coughing and blowing his nose’, the court heard.

Ms Adams said that his face appeared white while his neck was a different colour, prosecutors say.

During the meeting she saw the make up on his forehead begin to separate, showing his real skin underneath, the court heard.

https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/13/civil-servant-secretly-took-five-full-time-wfh-jobs-raking-350-000-29705808/amp/

How on earth could no one notice his multiple jobs? Employment checks? PAYE record checks?

I just wanted to say I am pleased to receive an offer for EO case manager role in disability services in access to work in Blackpool. Just wanted to ask anyone’s opinions on here how the role is and how the flexibility is within dwp and for this role and also how is the caseload and how are the calls for this role meaning will it be lots of telephone calls or is it more decision making and could you work any days from home as well thanks.

How to survive in a Ministerial PO as an introvert and any general advice?

Won’t be paid this year; kinda ridiculous.

I’ve been in my role for almost 5 months and I’m part time. Doing OK I think (no one has told me otherwise!) and as I transferred over from elsewhere in the CS, I don’t have to worry about probation

My issue is training. I don’t know if it’s me being particularly dim or something but I learn best when someone tells me WHY I am doing something along with HOW - and I like the HOW to be structured step by step guidance where I make copious notes to follow. I then develop muscle memory and it’s all good

I had one relatively good trainer so have been doing a part of my role without issue. All structured and written down and I feel confident

However I’ve now moved over to another part of my role and I’m struggling to grasp it. Had another trainer who was just all over the place - she’s super experienced but my brain just couldn’t keep up with her whizzing all over the screen as I’m trying to follow over teams (we all work remotely from each other)

I just need a really specific style of training … step by step , clear and ideally in order and at my pace … how do i actually get this?

I worry that people will think I’m literally thick and unable to grasp anything quickly. I’m not - but I am a bit of a neuro div so my brain needs CLEAR

Hi everyone,
I’ve just received a provisional offer for a Work Coach position with the DWP, and I’m feeling quite torn about whether to accept it.

My husband has been against me taking this role from the beginning, even before I submitted my application. Having spent some time reading posts on here about the job, I’m also becoming concerned about the workload, burnout and the impact it can have on mental health.

The salary is okay, and the Monday to Friday working pattern is appealing. However, I currently work in a different role where I can earn extra through additional hours, so I’m trying to weigh up the financial benefits, career prospects and work life balance against the potential stress.

I know people are more likely to post when they’ve had a negative experience, so I’d really appreciate hearing from people who currently work as Work Coaches or have done so in the past.

What are the genuine positives of the role? Is the workload manageable with a supportive manager, and would you recommend taking the job? Equally, if you left the role, what made you decide it wasn’t for you?

I’d appreciate honest opinions, both positive and negative, to help me make an informed decision.
Thank you!