Pros/Cons working in the civil service

BilboBagOfCans

Hi all,
Hoping for some advice. I am a qualified nurse with two years experience in the HSE. I have grown to hate nursing, and cannot see myself in it any longer. I don't really know what to do with myself to be honest-other job options are sales ( wouldn't like the stress of meeting targets and the driving) or working in nursing homes which also doesn't appeal.

I applied for the recent AO civil service competition, however I am a bit worried that if I got a position, I wouldn't like it. I don't mind office working, I'm just not sure exactly what your daily jobs would be. Ideally I'd like to work somewhere within the Dept of Health but I know you aren't allowed pick an area to work in.

Just wondering if anyone here could tell me what the day to day work is typically like?
Basically I am sick of wondering what to do with myself, and I want a job where I can have job security and where I can go in, work hard and leave it there at the end of the day.
Would you recommend the civil service? Any advice or warnings would be great!

SJ.

What do/don't you like about nursing? AO is a great opportunity with potential, but as with any large employer there are better and worse managers and work areas.

Jawgap

There are a few but not many advantages to working in the Civil Service. One of the relevant ones is that you can always transfer. So even if you end somewhere you don't like of doing a job you're not keen on you can always put in for a transfer.

Day-to-day work will depend on where you're sent.

BilboBagOfCans

I hate the pressure of if I do something wrong I could really hurt a patient. It's that pressure that gets to me more than anything. I also dislike the working hours.
I know from reading the other thread that some AO's do have very busy jobs. Are transfers hard to get?
Thanks for your replies, really appreciate it! I suppose I'm very afraid in case I end up hating this because then I've come out of healthcare and it could be hard to explain why I made such a random move if I want to go back to something else in the health field

Nocrac

BilboBagOfCans wrote: »

Hi all,
Hoping for some advice. I am a qualified nurse with two years experience in the HSE. I have grown to hate nursing, and cannot see myself in it any longer. I don't really know what to do with myself to be honest-other job options are sales ( wouldn't like the stress of meeting targets and the driving) or working in nursing homes which also doesn't appeal.

I applied for the recent AO civil service competition, however I am a bit worried that if I got a position, I wouldn't like it. I don't mind office working, I'm just not sure exactly what your daily jobs would be. Ideally I'd like to work somewhere within the Dept of Health but I know you aren't allowed pick an area to work in.

Just wondering if anyone here could tell me what the day to day work is typically like?
Basically I am sick of wondering what to do with myself, and I want a job where I can have job security and where I can go in, work hard and leave it there at the end of the day.
Would you recommend the civil service? Any advice or warnings would be great!

There really is no typical day. It very much depends on the Department and even then on the Division you are assigned to and your individual manager. You could end up preparing briefings, speeches, replies to parliamentary questions and representations, handling Freedom of Information requests, drafting legislation, drafting press releases, advising the Minister, drafting policy, analysing data, managing budgets, procurement, dealing with state agencies, making presentations, managing projects, managing staff, etc., etc.

The only advice I would give is don't expect it to be stress free and don't join for that reason. There would likely be much easier private sector jobs.

I have seen a lot of people join the civil service presuming that and it has worked out badly for them.

You may not necessarily be able to "leave it there at the end of the day". Deadlines and unexpected pressures will very likely be part of the work. Standards are also very high in terms of the quality of outputs. You can be thrown in at the deep end regularly.

Having said that it can be very fulfilling and interesting.

Presumably the Department of Health hire technical grades - that may be an option worth exploring?