Public Sector – Applying for role at same grade

customerunhap

Have a query which those with experience of the public sector might advise on, would it look very odd if you were in a public service role, permanent, and you applied for a comparable job grade wise, in an area or organisation which looked more likely to lead to promotion to the next level further down the line?

Or is the above a no-no? Or do public servants just apply for roles ‘up the line’.

I’ve seen a role on Publicjobs which looks interesting, but I am less than two years in my current gig, and wondering if it would lead to questions further down the line if I went for a lateral move, at interviews for the next level up?

I have played for a generalist competition at the higher level, but with the recession imminent and likely a moratorium on promotions, would I be as well to make a lateral move as I reckon the generalist competition will be scrapped, and quite hard to get on a panel for.

Any thoughts on the above?

Addle

You have to quit your current role to be eligible. It’s very risky.
Have you applied for mobility?

customerunhap

Hi Addle,
Many thanks for the swift response.
When you say risky, risky as in I'd be back on probation etc and if it didn't work out/was not made permanent?
I will check out the Mobility site on Per, I'm not eligible as far I can tell based on my grade, although it may be extended during the year, but with Covid I presume its up in the air.

Addle

Addle wrote: »

You have to quit your current role to be eligible. It’s very risky.
Have you applied for mobility?

No you don't.
I applied for a grade below mine to enable me to move and got the job.

Addle

customerunhap wrote: »

Hi Addle,
Many thanks for the swift response.
When you say risky, risky as in I'd be back on probation etc and if it didn't work out/was not made permanent?
I will check out the Mobility site on Per, I'm not eligible as far I can tell based on my grade, although it may be extended during the year, but with Covid I presume its up in the air.

It’s risky because you’ve no guarantee of getting the new job and may end up with no job.

Addle

SouthWesterly wrote: »

No you don't.
I applied for a grade below mine to enable me to move and got the job.

I’ve never encountered anyone who has applied to revert/be demoted before.
I considered applying for a job of equal grade for the same reason (location) and was told I couldn’t without quitting.

robinbird

Makes perfect sense. Apply for the new comparable grade job.
if you get it give notice to your current job and move to new position.


A few queries. Public servants might know the answers.

Would have to go through probation period again in new job?
Assuming new job is the same grade would you stay on the same place on increment scale or would you have to start from the bottom again?

Augme

robinbird wrote: »

Makes perfect sense. Apply for the new comparable grade job.
if you get it give notice to your current job and move to new position.


A few queries. Public servants might know the answers.

Would have to go through probation period again in new job?
Assuming new job is the same grade would you stay on the same place on increment scale or would you have to start from the bottom again?

1. Yes you do have to go through probation again.

2. A organisation doesn't have to keep you on the same increment and can make you start in the bottom but most would let you keep your increment position.

beauf

Addle wrote: »

I’ve never encountered anyone who has applied to revert/be demoted before.
I considered applying for a job of equal grade for the same reason (location) and was told I couldn’t without quitting.

I know a few moved laterally, and none were asked to quit.
I know a few who moved to different agencies and they all had to work their notice.

Perhaps its a local policy where you are? Seems very odd.

angel eyes 2012

I left a small public sector agency on a side move to a civil service position mainly due to the relatively young people ahead of me who were not going to retire and as a consequence the lack of promotional opportunities.

I had to complete probation again but retained my salary on the same increment. I have no regrets as I was promoted a number of times in the current job and the actual role is far more interesting.

The one bit of advice that was given to me was not to "break service" - something to do with pension. So I finished work on the Friday and started in the new job on Monday with no break.

Good luck OP, just make sure you do your research first.

Augme

Augme wrote: »

1. Yes you do have to go through probation again.

2. A organisation doesn't have to keep you on the same increment and can make you start in the bottom but most would let you keep your increment position.

If you have been established at that grade then you have passed probation and don't have to do it again.
It's possible to transfer without quitting the old job. I've done it twice, in both directions.

Having been at my current grade before I eventually for my increments back. A new circular came out last year allowing it.

Unusual to look for demotion but it does happen. For me it was quicker than mobility.ive also moved from public service to civil service and kept my service and increments.

angel eyes 2012

SouthWesterly wrote: »

If you have been established at that grade then you have passed probation and don't have to do it again.
It's possible to transfer without quitting the old job. I've done it twice, in both directions.

Having been at my current grade before I eventually for my increments back. A new circular came out last year allowing it.

Unusual to look for demotion but it does happen. For me it was quicker than mobility.ive also moved from public service to civil service and kept my service and increments.

I've done it twice too and had to complete probation on both occasions. There is obviously different requirements depending on the organisation. This is why it is important the OP does their research.

whampiri

@OP
1. Yes you can apply for a job at the same grade. The only exception to this is applying for an internal/interdepartmental competition as the ruling there is that if you're at a grade, it's not a promotion.
2. You will need to serve probation again.
3. You don't need to quit. In some departments, their HR units will talk and just transfer you between the departments.
4. I've never heard of someone working in the CS not starting on their previous payscale however it's always best to ask.
5. Never revert to a lower grade unless you want to remain at that grade forever. Reverting without a very good reason puts up too many red flags for recruitment.

doc22

whampiri wrote: »

@OP
1. Yes you can apply for a job at the same grade. The only exception to this is applying for an internal/interdepartmental competition as the ruling there is that if you're at a grade, it's not a promotion.
2. You will need to serve probation again.
3. You don't need to quit. In some departments, their HR units will talk and just transfer you between the departments.
4. I've never heard of someone working in the CS not starting on their previous payscale however it's always best to ask.
5. Never revert to a lower grade unless you want to remain at that grade forever. Reverting without a very good reason puts up too many red flags for recruitment.

Whats the difference between quiting/resigning and a transfer?When you get offered another role are you sometimes then asked to resign in writing.

Say if you were established at a higher grade say HEO took an EO on open panel due to location and things didn't work out could you then revert to your previous grade before establishment at EO

bennyc

Moving at the same grade would be fine as you are going for a different role, I have done this in the HSE, you should get a bump to the next level on the scale to your current role when you do move at the same grade as far as I know.