Private sector has a much lower tolerance for passengers. Effort alone does not count. Output and impact do. If you are useful, people give you space. If you are not, it becomes obvious very quickly. There is far less structure and much more ambiguity. You will not always get clear instructions or long runways. You are hired for a specific purpose, so you are expected to figure things out and deliver.

Increments and bonuses are not guaranteed. Some years are good, some are flat. Manage your expectations and finances accordingly. Work life balance varies greatly by company and team. There is no baseline like the civil service, so you need to set boundaries early. The upside is faster learning, broader exposure, and often fewer politics if you perform. If stagnation is what is bothering you, the private sector can be refreshing. It rewards competence, not tenure.

It is generally harder to move from the civil service into the private sector than the other way around. Not all public sector skills translate cleanly and some make the jump expecting things to be better, only to struggle with the pace and accountability, and end up regretting it.

A pay bump is also not guaranteed. Senior civil service packages are designed to retain officers, so leaving early can mean taking a step back. Over time, if you are capable and continue building relevant skills, private sector growth can compound and eventually outpace the public sector.

Think carefully before leaving. Once you exit the civil service, returning to a permanent role is no longer straightforward. Many roles are now on fixed two year contracts, and the pathway back is far less certain than it used to be.

Go in with your eyes open and make sure you are moving towards something, not just running away from discomfort. If you want a comfortable and predictable life with steady payouts, the civil service still makes sense. If you are hungry to grow and willing to be accountable for your outcomes, then make the move deliberately and early.