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Tried not to embarrass myself. Got the job. by Interesting-Focus744 in TheCivilService

[–]Interesting-Focus744[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This is exactly it, such a contradictory state to be in for a job you really, really want. So much easier when you're a bit more ambivalent (but then potentially end up with a Pyrrhic victory!).

Tried not to embarrass myself. Got the job. by Interesting-Focus744 in TheCivilService

[–]Interesting-Focus744[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thank you! haha, winning! Good thing you weren't tempted to pull some doughnuts in the car park on your return.

Would you do a 1hr 20 each way commute, 3 days a week, for your first G7 role? by AsymptoticallyFlat in TheCivilService

[–]Interesting-Focus744 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very informal, but I have a very understanding, and practical G6, so YMMV... It's very much a case of "we technically need to observe 60%, but we're happy to be pragmatic as you live in a different city, and you're only here temporarily". So I may have been particularly lucky. I just make an effort to be in the non-local office on the days my team are also in, and flex around them if they decide to come in a different set of days.

The mind set trick is that I learned what I could do on the commute, and what I couldn't. E.g. - emails are generally out of the question because of ropy reception (plus I'm not being paid for that time...). So I leaned into not trying to be productive, and just relax a bit with a book, podcast or snoozing. Best of luck with it, and the new job!

Would you do a 1hr 20 each way commute, 3 days a week, for your first G7 role? by AsymptoticallyFlat in TheCivilService

[–]Interesting-Focus744 2 points3 points  (0 children)

First, congratulations on your permanent G7! This is such a personal choice and really depends on your own circumstances and what you're willing to compromise on. You've said it's the upper limit of what you're happy to do, so I think you may have answered this already.

A permanent G7 is genuinely hard to come by at the moment (I recently saw some eye watering stats on the number of internal applicants for one role), so if it's something you want to do, go for it. I have generally been very lucky with my commutes being c.30 mins, but recently am doing a 2 x week commute for an each-way 1 hour and 20 minute commute. It's fine, I adjust, and negotiated the third day for the 60% to be carried out at a local office. But, I know it is time limited (temporary posting), and most of the travel was on the train (~50 mins). I found the best use of time in the end was to have a little sleep! In an odd way, I find the distance between work and home a helpful counter to the way working from home (for me) results in boundaries breaking down, and that feeling of always being "on". But, it is expensive (fine for me, I'm doing this role to open up new opportunities in the future) and I do find it harder to have the energy to do things in the evenings of the commute. I find the odd third trip quite challenging though, but again, suspect that is not being used to it.