Anyone move from private to public service? Experiences?

Don_08

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Particularly in a professional capacity. Looking at possibility of a job in public service and ignoring remuneration, what good and bad points are there between private company and public service.
 
Inefficiency, red tape, as in having to get a ridiculous number of people to sign off on things.
 
change of pace and work ethic. even in an exceptionally busy and in demand area, I find it extraordinarily slow - nothing like the same work ethic as private sector
 
I think it is important to consider what part of the private sector you are moving from and what part of the public service you are considering moving to. Also your profession would have a bearing on things.
 
Agreed. The range of cultures and approaches throughout the public service is vast. it would help if you could be a bit more specific.
 
Would probably depend on what type of job you'd be going into. I left private service about 3 years ago and came into the public service.
Took a cut in pay but thought Id be able to climb the ladder and make up for that. The recession put paid to any hopes of a promotion. Still stuck on lowly Clerical Officer salary. Its a steady job, pensionable blah blah blah.
If I hadnt got a couple of responsibilities to look after Id be out the door and would sign on the dole if I could. Melted for the most part.
Some of the people would sicken you in here how lazy they can be. And its frustrating watching muppets in management who havent a breeze.
 
I have to agree with the sentiment in most of the responses to the OP. As a professional with specific skills, I moved from the private to the public sector for the specific reason of helping to wind down towards an early retirement - in other words, literally a working holiday. I found that my technical skills were not appreciated nor wanted in some cases, because my approach is a business-like one - to streamline processes, help to make staff more effective, productive etc. As this is totally against the ethos in the public sector, I took the back seat I was offered and coasted to retirement. Like the OP, the reduction in remuneration was largely offset by the very restful days at the office - no pressures, no worries, no challenges, much shorter working days, long holidays etc. etc.
 
It depends on what part of the public sector you're talking about. Like the Private Sector there are very busy efficiently run areas, very creative dynamic areas and very inefficient badly managed areas.
 
I moved after 20+ years in the private sector to a public sector role 5 years. It's really not that different. Most people work hard most of the time. There are a few wasters around - most of them are being managed through a performance management procedure.

It is hard getting attacked by most of our media and most AAM posters on a regular basis, mind you. It is hard getting told how to do your job with absolute certainty by people who have difficulty find the difference between their elbow and their buttocks. It is hard to keep up your motivation knowing that there will be no promotional opportunties for the foreseeable future, regardless of how well you succeed.
 
i moved after 20+ years in the private sector to a public sector role 5 years. It's really not that different. Most people work hard most of the time. There are a few wasters around - most of them are being managed through a performance management procedure.

It is hard getting attacked by most of our media and most aam posters on a regular basis, mind you. It is hard getting told how to do your job with absolute certainty by people who have difficulty find the difference between their elbow and their buttocks. It is hard to keep up your motivation knowing that there will be no promotional opportunties for the foreseeable future, regardless of how well you succeed.

+1
 
It is hard getting attacked by most of our media and most aam posters on a regular basis, mind you. It is hard getting told how to do your job with absolute certainty by people who have difficulty find the difference between their elbow and their buttocks. It is hard to keep up your motivation knowing that there will be no promotional opportunties for the foreseeable future, regardless of how well you succeed.

At last - the truth is FINALLY coming to light...

keep it up!

:)
 
It is hard to keep up your motivation knowing that there will be no promotional opportunties for the foreseeable future, regardless of how well you succeed.

Hardly limited to the public sector though. Applies to most private sector workers too.
 
Hardly limited to the public sector though. Applies to most private sector workers too.

Not really as there is something called redundancy in the private sector and performance reviews that lead to dismissals for underperformance.
 
Do people really get let go from the public sector based on performance? Its a rare event I would say?

Or maybe the way to state it is the threshold is lower for a low performance in public sector?
 
In the public sector many people are now required to take on extra work for reduced pay.
 
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