New Public Sector Job

L

LKelly

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Hi All

I am new to forums and I would be grateful for any advice.

I am a married father of 4 living in the South of the country. I am 36 years old and I have a university degree and masters in the Environmental field. I am due to be offered a position in the civil service as a CO. I am currently on a Social Welfare payment called Farm Assist for small farmers. I own a relatively small farm and its not making money. Its land only suitable for sheep and Im not making the kinds of money Dairy farmers are. Farm is basically breaking even however being the only son I have inherited the land and its a great home life for my wife and children. Its not going to make me rich as its an asset that is not sell-able and we are not moving. Kids are at school etc etc.

I have been lucky to be offered a job with the public sector. Problem is its two counties away and requires me to move. I have asked about getting a job in my home county but its this or nothing. I think I will take it up and I will move myself but financially I dont believe we will be any better off.

My wife is a stay at home mum because of our very rural location, Basically for income I farm, receive Farm Assist and do several hours tutoring students at a local university (which is fully declared in my social welfare payment). I was working full time as a QA supervisor up to 3 years ago since finishing college but the company closed down.

This job has a starting out salary of 24 k.. My farm assist payment is 420 euro per week at the moment. I need to keep food in my childrens mouths. My wife and I dont drink, smoke or socialise. Only expense is sky tv to keep us sane in our remote location. Even that is at a special rate.

I am really considering taking the job as I know money will be increasing with increments but it is very poor money. I would also be able to get Working Family Payment from Social Welfare which would be approx 200 per week so cira it would be around, 200 + 420 wages = 620, I would be getting, total household income. I dont qualify for Back to Work Family Dividend introduced in 2015 as Farm Assist is not a qualifying payment for this scheme.

I am conscious Im 36 and it will be a long time before I would be getting decent money. Accommodation will be another 50 to 70 per week minimum.

Any advice please.
 
Cannot see how this role which is entry level and full of so many university qualified people can be for you, have you exhausted all avenues, have you a cv with a selected recruiter, you will stagnate in thus role and forget about moving up, it is a challenge with a lot of talented people trying to get out of the CO pool.

Do not know where you will get accommodation at 50-70 a week.

Would consider using it as a step stone as it is easier to get a job when you have one almost regardless of that poor salary.
 
The jobs in my area are few and far between. Also it would require me to move to another location, work in private sector and have no job security. I figure that a public sector job could be security and that's what Im after. Need to put food in my kids mouths and give the family some form of security. The social welfare trap is pulling me back.

Can you apply for transfer when in job a while?

I really cant afford to spend anything more that 70 a week. A room in a house would do.
 
Hi LKelly. You are not the only person in the position you find yourself. I know more than one that almost exactly shares your type of situation. A farm, back-breaking, responsible, arduous, worrysome, inherited and any other adjective you wish to bring up. The future of the farm will never improve. And you become a Clerical Officer to support yourself and your family. One myth is broken here i.e. lowly civil servants are well paid for doing nothing. Furthermore, you may find yourself never chasing promotion because of the splitting of your roles (family, farm, public service). Your family will always come first and the land is land (the cause of everything bad that historically happened to Ireland). You have responsibilities as a clerical officer too.

A first for me is to recommend that you engage a good financial advisor. You're never going to make a profit from the farm. You can't give it up, you're tied to it. Therefore, you have to play the cards which have been dealt to you. I hope the loss your farm is making can be pitted against your deductable tax as a civil servant. This is where your financial advisor comes in. It will cost, but you have no choice (in my opinion).

Transfers between locations in different counties are not easy in the civil service. I have seen some in my time, but they were few.
 
Any scope to increase hours at the university? Or do some substitute teaching at a school to supplement your income. Any scope for your wife to help you with a side line on the farm? Raising some turkeys for Christmas? Your family life will suffer with that commute. Good luck.
 
noproblem said:
How much would you hope to achieve if you sold what you have, including the land?
Click to expand...
Yes, that was my thought as I read his dilemma. I understand your attachment to the farm but it feels like you are splitting yourself in two. Either dedicate yourself to the farm or sell it and move on. You can do better than C.O.
 
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