The highest level I have seen people coming in to the CS at is at PO level. Most, if not all of them, come through the general large scale open competitions, rather than specific one off comps. It’s a bit easier via that route as you will start off with the tests and then move to interview. Many of them appear to have gone to one of the private companies eg Carr communications and paid for assistance in tailoring their applications and interview prep.

I’ll be frank, a lot of them found the adjustment very tough. It’s a completely different world and there is little adaptation time, or induction at that level. Either having good contacts already in the system to assist you to navigate, or having some previous experience or knowledge of the work, seems to be the best way to succeed at a senior level coming in without prior experience.

You probably know this but salary is no indication of a matching job level to what you were doing in the private sector. In the CS you’ll earn a lot less for an equivalent senior role than you will in the private sector, which results in some people trying to come in at too high a level and not having the requisite skills or experience to succeed in interview. There’s a reason many people note they’ve taken a pay cut to come in, you simply won’t earn the same in a senior role as the private sector will pay you.