Escaping the Public Service

PawneeRanger

I've been working in the public service in the south of the country for about 8 years now. I sort of fell into it after college and figured it would do for the short-term til I figure out what I want to actually do. Still here.

Shortly after joining everything went to hell with the economy and the recruitment embargo was brought in. There have been no promotions or any opportunities for advancement

I have a masters degree that is rather specific to my job (libraries) which I gained during my employment and, truth be told, I don't want to work in libraries anymore. I feel that I'm pretty much unemployable now having been here for so long. I have been thinking about doing an evening course in business/project management but I don't know how practical these will be if I can't gain any relevant experience in that area. I am literally the lowest of the low where I work. I had more responsibility in my part time job in a shop during college.. I feel like I'm wasting my life in a job I hate and I could be doing so much more.

Has anyone ever managed to successfully get out of the public service from a position like this? I know things are harder with the job situation being as it is.
I feel like my soul is being crushed every day I go in there now.

Civeng

PawneeRanger wrote: »

I've been working in the public service in the south of the country for about 8 years now. I sort of fell into it after college and figured it would do for the short-term til I figure out what I want to actually do. Still here.

Shortly after joining everything went to hell with the economy and the recruitment embargo was brought in. There have been no promotions or any opportunities for advancement

I have a masters degree that is rather specific to my job (libraries) which I gained during my employment and, truth be told, I don't want to work in libraries anymore. I feel that I'm pretty much unemployable now having been here for so long. I have been thinking about doing an evening course in business/project management but I don't know how practical these will be if I can't gain any relevant experience in that area. I am literally the lowest of the low where I work. I had more responsibility in my part time job in a shop during college.. I feel like I'm wasting my life in a job I hate and I could be doing so much more.

Has anyone ever managed to successfully get out of the public service from a position like this? I know things are harder with the job situation being as it is.
I feel like my soul is being crushed every day I go in there now.

Life is too short to spend in a job you hate. A friend of mine was working as a librarian for 12 yrs. she took a three year career break, went to SPain, then to South America where she met her future hubby. Has got married and living in India with hubby and kid.

Don't wait for all the traffic lights to turn green before beginning ur journey. Ps if you can solve problems you will always be employable. Uve got a masters - use ur head......no one has EVER regretted leaving public service.....Morrissey, Ian Curtis, Father Jack. George Lee.

donegal11

Meh, thinking of leaving a permanent,pensionable and comparedly well paid job with increments in public sector for what exactly? There isn't exactly a big demand in library workers and in your current job any vacancies will be filled with free interns. Unless you have a specific primary degree(IT) I'd think again as a generic arts degree won't open many doors. Then again if you just want a change in environment like working in a shop for minimum wage perhaps but I'd say after been stuck in it for 8 year your soul would be equally crushed.

PawneeRanger

donegal11 wrote: »

Meh, thinking of leaving a permanent,pensionable and comparedly well paid job with increments in public sector for what exactly? There isn't exactly a big demand in library workers and in your current job any vacancies will be filled with free interns. Unless you have a specific primary degree(IT) I'd think again as a generic arts degree won't open many doors. Then again if you just want a change in environment like working in a shop for minimum wage perhaps but I'd say after been stuck in it for 8 year your soul would be equally crushed.

Just a few things to clarify as you don't appear to have read my post properly.

I do not want to work in libraries anymore so your comment regarding the demand for library workers is pretty redundant. I want to retrain and have asked for advice on that.

My job is not comparatively well paid. At all.

You are basically telling me that unless I have an IT degree or similar I should stay in the public service job that I despise because my only other option is minimum wage in a shop?

Cheers.

jimd2

PawneeRanger wrote: »

Just a few things to clarify as you don't appear to have read my post properly.

I do not want to work in libraries anymore so your comment regarding the demand for library workers is pretty redundant. I want to retrain and have asked for advice on that.

My job is not comparatively well paid. At all.

You are basically telling me that unless I have an IT degree or similar I should stay in the public service job that I despise because my only other option is minimum wage in a shop?

Cheers.

That attitude is not going to get you to far. Donegal11 made a comment as to how he sees the situation. I don't agree that the only area you can be qualified in is IT but the general tenant of what he says is correct. You have very little chance of getting something by just quitting and things will possibly go from bad to worse. So ease up on the narkiness towards someone trying to help.

My advice would be to start a project for yourself that might take a couple of years to reach your goal.

Identify areas you like & are good at.
determine jobs related to these areas.
Find out qualifications related to these positions.
Identify which qualifications are doable from your point of view...your own qualifications/aptitudes / interests.
Find out the cheapest ways to get said qualifications, look online as there are many avenues out there nowadays.
Start working towards said qualifications.

At the same time, approach your immediate boss in work and offer to take on extra and new repsonsibilities. if you can learn any software used in your area then great. Get to know the Microsoft Office suite better, it will always be of use.

Another area to get knowledge in is economics, more and more requirements in public sector for economic evaluations.

Civeng

Hi, almost a year has passed. I was wondering what you decided to do in the end!

Slydice

PawneeRanger wrote: »

Has anyone ever managed to successfully get out of the public service from a position like this?

Not in the same position. I'm in a job where I can't see myself progressing or getting promoted. I've tried promotion competitions in the wider service but haven't had luck. Now looking at the same level job in the wider service hoping a change will help. Failing that, I'm hoping to go to a recruitment agency and see about taking anything different even if it involves a paycut (obviously hoping not to have to take a paycut as I'm in Dublin and rent is gone crazy here).

It feels like a huge risk to my career but if it's the only way I can see, I'm accepting it. Granted if I figure anything else (better) out, I'll try for it too.