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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.

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

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.

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?

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?

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.

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