Career Advice 30 yr old public servant

Purple said:
can I ask why, given that hours are not overly long, some of the hard pressed CO's don't just get an evening job or start their own business in the evening/weekends?
The hours are generally short and the holidays are long so while it would be a strain it still should be do-able.
Click to expand...

With respect, this displays an armchair ignorance of the working conditions of most public servants. They work a 40 hour week and most COs have about 20 days holidays.

It's no easier for them to start a business than anyone else in the private sector.
 
Syd2207 said:
I can't believe how badly I have let things slide.. being in this job has made me so lazy and don't even get me started on self motivation. I have been here since college so I haven't a clue what a "real job" is like. Rude awakening I hear you say
Click to expand...
If you do find a new job in the private sector, you will probably find that it is not that fundamentally different from your current job. Your problem is not the sector you are in. An entry level admin post in any sector will not offer you the challenge you crave.
 
Purple said:
The hours are generally short and the holidays are long.
Click to expand...

A clerical officer works 35 hours per week which is equal to the national average working week.
A clerical officer has an annual leave entitlement of 20 days leave, rising to 22 after 10 years service. The national average is 23.
 
Welfarite said:
A clerical officer works 35 hours per week which is equal to the national average working week.
A clerical officer has an annual leave entitlement of 20 days leave, rising to 22 after 10 years service. The national average is 23.
Click to expand...

Depends on the area. The working week for CO's in the HSE Galway is 33 (they are trying to standardised to 35 for new entrants). Holidays are 22 rising to 25 after 5 years.
 
Back again

This whole generalising about the public sector is wearing me out. I work a basic 32.3 hours a week but noone ever works that as they are always over hours. We get the benefit of this in flexi time but again this is limited but it is great. These hours and flexi time are the exact same are what I had when I worked in the private sector. I get 20 days leave a year and flexis can be added onto this. Because of work I have to take most of my hols all in one go and I've yet to take all my hols in one one year (too busy)

Anyway I've begun my quest for new challenges and I am gaining confidence.
 
Last edited:
becky said:
Depends on the area. The working week for CO's in the HSE Galway is 33 (they are trying to standardised to 35 for new entrants). Holidays are 22 rising to 25 after 5 years.
Click to expand...


I should have said a clerical officer in the civil service, as I was relating this to the OP's position.
 
I would advise the original poster to ask at work if he could get a transfer to a 'busier' dept. He could also study part time. If he can't get into more challenging work in the next year or so, he should consider taking a career break & travelling/getting more challenging work in the private sector.

I am the opposite of most people, in that I worked in the private sector for 12 years, left recently to go into the public service (clerical officer). I have a degree, postgrad & membership of a professional body. Even though I took a pay cut, (30-35K back to 23K), I feel that I still fare out well in the public service. I work very short hours (standard 9-5 with an hour for lunch). I think this is short because I had to work 8.30-6 in the private sector, with half an hour for lunch. The official hours were 8.30-5 but there was so much work to do that we were expected to stay on a bit longer without getting overtime pay.

The main reason I moved was because I was sick of working bank holidays, and long hours for little pay.

I am applying for EO positions. I think, in practice you need private sector (middle mgt experience) or at least challenging CO experience, to have a fair shot at the EO interview.
 
No offence but how could you have those qaulifications and have only managed to make it to 30k in the private sector in the last 10 years and now be happy with 23k ?
What industry were you in ?
 
breathnach1 said:
Become a QS part time course in DIT 1.5 years if you have a degree. Starting salary 45K approx
Click to expand...

I'd love to know where you got this info as the course I think you should be referring to is 2 and a half years. I've already started it!


bullbars
Re: Career Advice 30 yr old public servant
Quote:
Originally Posted by breathnach1 View Post
Become a QS part time course in DIT 1.5 years if you have a degree. Starting salary 45K approx
They would be in for a shock in the interview with that salary request!

The few graduates I know from the undergraduate course are starting on 40 K so with the post graduate course I cannot see why 45 k would be an issue. I suppose it also depends on what the undergrad degree is.
 
CO to SO/EO is probably the hardest jump to make in the service. There are people knocking around for a long time on not great wages, hoping to make the jump.

There are some strategies that you can employ to make yourself more promotable in the service;

1. Use the PMDS - identify the skill set that your department requires for the next grades up. It should be published by your department. Use PMDS to get the training you require to develop these skills, and present your work experience in such a way as to highlight that you have the necessary attributes. That way, in an interview you are showing them that you are ready for promotion.

2. Identify the prestige areas in your department and try to get into one of those. There are some areas where people tend to get promoted faster.

3. Do part time courses that are relevant to what you're doing

4. Apply for all internal and external competitions - obviously
 
buzybee said:
I would advise the original poster to ask at work if he could get a transfer to a 'busier' dept. He could also study part time. If he can't get into more challenging work in the next year or so, he should consider taking a career break & travelling/getting more challenging work in the private sector.

I am the opposite of most people, in that I worked in the private sector for 12 years, left recently to go into the public service (clerical officer). I have a degree, postgrad & membership of a professional body. Even though I took a pay cut, (30-35K back to 23K), I feel that I still fare out well in the public service. I work very short hours (standard 9-5 with an hour for lunch). I think this is short because I had to work 8.30-6 in the private sector, with half an hour for lunch. The official hours were 8.30-5 but there was so much work to do that we were expected to stay on a bit longer without getting overtime pay.

You worked for 12 yrs with a degree and post grad and worked from 8.30 until 6 for 30-35 k a year. are you all there man?
Click to expand...
 
Yeah I have tried to make the move up to EO, but have failed!! I was goin to leave straight away and find something better in the Private sector. But in the current Economic climate it might be better stick it out. Even thought I hate what I do so much.
 
leave it a little while . no jobs out there at the moment
 
Staples said:
With respect, this displays an armchair ignorance of the working conditions of most public servants. They work a 40 hour week and most COs have about 20 days holidays.

It's no easier for them to start a business than anyone else in the private sector.
Click to expand...
They work an average of 35 hours.
I really don't want to get into a civil service bashing thread but 35 hours a week is very short for a full-time job (the average working week of 35 hours reflects the fact that many people work part time). Flexitime is a luxury as well. My point is that if study leave (paid or unpaid), career breaks etc are available then they should be used by the OP to equip themselves to find a better job or another job. But do remember that if you don't like long hours then don't start your own business.

I do admire the OP's drive to get out of the rut they are in but I agree with other posters that this could well be done within the public sector. They should also remember that like for like pay is higher in the public sector and pensions are also better.
 
Purple said:
They should also remember that like for like pay is higher in the public sector
Click to expand...
Would you like to share your source for this claim, assuming of course that your reliable like for like comparison does take into account the higher level of qualifications of public sector staff (on average)?
 
I worked in accountancy for the last 5 years. I was fine when I worked in a financial company for the first 7 years. Then I took redundancy (in order to get accountancy experience & do exams). After this I found it very difficult to get work with good pay. I am from the west of Ireland where good jobs are not easy to come by. Basically, you either work all hours or else you don't work at all.

I made the mistake of taking the first job I got after the redundancy. This had low pay but I just wanted to get back working. Then when I tried to move jobs, the agencies/employers asked me what my current salary was, and they would only offer a salary of about 2k higher than my current salary. It took 3 job moves to get up to the 35K.

Fine for people in Dublin to think this is mad, but you can't just pick and choose jobs when you are outside Dublin. Also, I was always taught that it is better to be in a job than unemployed and waiting for the 'perfect job' with a 'perfect salary'.
 
Complainer said:
Would you like to share your source for this claim, assuming of course that your reliable like for like comparison does take into account the higher level of qualifications of public sector staff (on average)?
Click to expand...
[broken link removed].
By the way, if two people are doing the same job equally well their level of qualification is irrelevant.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top