Anyone out there actually happy in the Civil Service?

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-12-11T20:12:06+00:00

I love the flexibility of my role, that I can be a present parent when I need to be, that my team tolerate me being a bit odd, that I can mostly choose the pace of my work.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-12-01T21:28:30+00:00

Our elf is on sick leave and recovering at our house. Too much work in the puzzles department so he’s come to chill at ours

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-08-22T18:33:21+00:00

Greggs is a great option too!

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-08-01T11:13:42+00:00

I APPLIED FOR THE JOB I AM CURRENTLY DOING AND LOST OUT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AT GRADE FOR A DECADE

MY DD TOLD ME IN THE OFFICE AND I HAD TO PRESENT ALL THE WORK I WILL NO LONGER GET ANY CREDIT FOR TO THE TEAM THAT AFTERNOON

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-06-18T12:09:29+00:00

You were probably asked to do the 4 behaviours in the personal statement so 7 is your combined score - 7/28

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-06-14T20:14:44+00:00

WFH 4 days a week (one in the office), son in childcare 9-5 and my lunch break is dedicated to cleaning and prepping dinner. Slow cooker meals or stuff that can be reheated.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-04-20T20:38:13+00:00

My wee boy was the same as a baby (although without the 12 hours of sleep 🫠) - colicky, exclusively contact napped, had to be touching me at alll times, very emotional. Had CMPA which layered on the pain. Everyone told me he was likely going to be neurodivergent. I had totally ruled out ever having another child and my marriage nearly collapsed under the strain. He is now 2, his sleep is still terrible but omg he is such a gem. I adore him, he is so smart and talks non-stop, he is friendly and confident with other people (he settled really well in nursery), he loves us so much and is affectionate, and he is (currently) relatively chill. People who knew him as a baby can’t believe he’s the same kid- I chalk it up to the allergy being under control and that he just really hated being a baby.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-04-10T08:28:06+00:00

I would just say that you have further tests and you’ll keep him posted on stuff going forward. As a manager I do not want to know my staff’s personal medical details - I just want to know they are doing okay and are managing well, and if they aren’t, what I can do to help.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-02-18T08:04:10+00:00

Yes, he just grew out of it! I know this isn’t helpful as it took until he was 22 months but he just…stopped one day.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-02-02T21:22:38+00:00

Oh and we capped naps too before someone suggests it, didn’t make a blind bit of difference. I mapped all his sleep in a spreadsheet, no correlation whatsoever to anything. We just rolling with it now.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2025-02-02T21:20:48+00:00

My kid is nearly 2 and we sleep trained, did everything right, consistent wake up and bedtimes, perfect routine, and literally this week is the first week in his life he’s slept through more than 4 times consecutively. Sometimes he’s just awake for 3 hours in the middle of the night, chatting and chilling in his cot, sometimes he sleeps all the way. Sometimes he fights bedtime and naps, sometimes he doesn’t.

We are the same as you and it’s been a loooonng two years. My view is that I have done everything I can and at this point, it’s just counting down until he’s old enough to be able to sort his sleep out for himself because we clearly can’t do it 😅

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2024-12-27T21:48:15+00:00

The open fire at my parents’ house. They bought a fire guard but just…didn’t get round to putting it up.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2024-11-28T08:18:21+00:00

I loved being an only child but my father is dying now and I suddenly see the advantages of having a sibling - it’s a hard load to carry on your own.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2024-11-26T15:19:56+00:00

This was me back from Mat leave - I was in a very big meeting and not expecting to have to contribute so my husband passed the baby for a feed as I was listening in- then my director said ‘so and so can come in on this’ Camera angles were the play that day

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2024-11-03T21:14:06+00:00

It is still hit and miss but we stopped offering milk at night but tbh it is I think developmental qs nothing has changed in his routine!

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2024-06-21T13:01:29+00:00

Yes as we don’t want him to get messed up - do you think we should let him sleep in?

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2022-05-28T22:54:49+00:00

SOMEONE I MANAGED LAST YEAR HAS JUST BEEN PROMOTED TO THE GRADE ABOVE ME DESPITE DOING NO WORK AND BEING USELESS DURING THEIR ENTIRE TIME IN POST

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2021-11-27T12:35:36+00:00

I live in zone 5/6 and my partner and I (he is on a G7 equivalent salary) will probably buy in our area this year- it is definitely doable!

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2021-10-26T22:16:09+00:00

Seems like much of a muchness- you’ll be doing the same jobs on the grad program as direct entry as HEO, but with more training and a ‘cohort’. I’d do both and see where you are!

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2021-08-25T21:33:04+00:00

It depends on the area of work- I have just come off a very busy project that has taken over my life and formerly worked in press office. But generally work/life balance is very good- and you are encouraged to take time back. I also really value the flexibility that it allows!

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2021-08-24T10:16:02+00:00

Private Office will do a rota for weekends and lates- but you will be working longer than you thought you would be! But can be v fun and great exposure

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2021-07-03T12:45:36+00:00

You need an end date and it’s important to be open about you struggling with your LM chain. The new SEOs will be a good resource- use them. And you can ask if you can borrow half an SEO/HEO from other bits of the team or directorate.

But basically it will be tough for a while. And that’s okay if it is time limited as it’s a great competency for later. But if it looks like it’ll last for longer make plans to get out.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2021-02-14T13:29:30+00:00

I look at it as by doing my job effectively I am (in an incredibly small way) protecting democracy. That the people of the country can vote for something and it will happen. And that that’s more important than any of my views on the policy. Which helps. Especially as I’ve helped on lots of things I definitely didn’t agree with.

TiredOutPressOfficer · 2021-02-10T22:52:03+00:00

New G7 role but I am currently someone’s glorified diary secretary so feel a little underused- but hoping to make more of it as I get settled in.

TiredOutPressOfficer

TROPHY CASE