The civil service is a good place to work if you are content to do a job with job security. If you are looking for a big wage this is not the place for you .Good holiday an public holidays .there is no great pension at the end of it as some people make out .but with job cuts the may expect you to cover more than asked .if so just do your core hours an finish

Was this review helpful?

Not a satisfactory employer

Admin Officer (Former Employee) - London - 14 May 2022

A typical workday was hard as I was left to work on my own. Most colleagues were left confused like me. Most managers did their best for their employees with the limited resources. Employer regularly broke employment laws by not following family friendly policies, not offering sufficient training and advancement and often bullying.

Pros

Almost nothing

Cons

Hard work with very little reward

Was this review helpful?

Insights into UK Civil Service

Based on 12 survey responses

What people like

Supportive environment
Feeling of personal appreciation
Ability to learn new things

Asylum Decision Maker

Asylum Decision Maker (Former Employee) - Liverpool, Merseyside - 28 April 2022

Terrible role, training appalling, constant pressure, salary always wrong, the whole organisation needs to be brought kicking and screaming into the 21st century, pay lip service to your welfare needs, ok if you want to remote work with no support.Overwhelmed in endless report writing to a strict legal framework and making decisions that don’t make sense.Staff are leaving in droves.Avoid.

Pros

Remote working

Cons

Everything else

Was this review helpful?

Not conducive for anyone with ambitions in life

Department for Work and Pension - Decision Maker (Former Employee) - leeds - 18 March 2022

Working for the civil service was an eye opener as to how rotten and toxic the working culture is. Its an organization where favour rather than merit takes precedence. Those most incompetent tend to be rewarded at the expense of those most worthy and deserving. There are a few brilliant and honest personalities within the organization but these are in the minority.

Was this review helpful?

The only real benefit to the Civil Service is being paid on time.

Safety Manager (Current Employee) - England and Wales - 6 March 2022

I have worked in a variety of departments now, be prepared for being totally undervalued by Ministers and Senior Managers. Pay progression is non existent despite what they may tell you and even if professionally qualified those with no such qualifications will continually second guess you and seek alternative answers that suit their agenda.

Pros

The pay such as it is arrives on time.

Cons

Govt ministers, Senior Managers, Fast Trackers with no clue and constantly shifting agendas.

Was this review helpful?

Rate your recent company

Share your experience to help others

Little scope for promotion.

Administrative Officer (Former Employee) - Birmingham - 8 February 2022

Flexi working hours and good holidays. Little chance of getting a promotion. No career prospects. I was working as a team leader and never got promoted.

Pros

Flexi time and working from home which was the norm before Covid. Generous holidays.

Cons

No scope of improvement in your career. Dead end job.

Was this review helpful?

Work life balance

Executive Officer (Current Employee) - London East, Greater London - 24 November 2021

Excellent support from management and colleagues especially covering diaries when a colleague needs to take emergency leave which allows staff to deal with family emergency situations

Pros

Relationships

Cons

High Expectations

Was this review helpful?

Lovely atmosphere

Administrative Assistant (Former Employee) - Southport, Merseyside - 6 November 2021

packing documents for despatchpicking documents ready to be packedI learnt that working as a team can be very enjoyable when staff are comfortable in the work environment

Pros

flexitime

Cons

none

Was this review helpful?

Enjoyable

Payroll Clerk (Current Employee) - Norwich, Norfolk - 28 June 2021

Hard work but great working environment and good management to work for, with some excellent perks and good flexible working. Unfortunate that the pay is low for the standard of work we provide.

Pros

Flexible Hours, good working conditions, good holiday entitlement and good managers

Cons

Poor pay

Was this review helpful?

Productive and fun workplace!

Administrative officer (Current Employee) - Belfast - 24 March 2021

I would give this job salary 5/5 if they paid us £15 h/r. This job requires auditing, accounting, data input, excellent eye for detail and you must pay attention to everything you do. This is the government and you are paid to do a job right!Work / Life balance is excellent. Management will be lenient if you having existing priorities. Where applicable they can offer A/L at short notice and encourage you to take it. This job is not for anyone who dislikes hard work!You must be intelligent, motivated to serve the public and a person of whom gets satisfaction from improving peoples lives.The people who work there really care, are extremely helpful and will have you laughing until the end of your shift!

Pros

Overtime rates are excellent, Working hours are extremely flexible, Very secure job

Cons

Demanding pace of work

Was this review helpful?

Jobs at UK Civil Service

See more jobs

Grants and Support Officer

Cheam

15 days ago

Depends what govt department you work in...

executive officer computer programmer (Former Employee) - east sussex - 26 October 2020

Hardest part of the job - when you get a manager who you really don't like. Many departments work with the general public. You often work in huge offices.

Pros

flexitime

Cons

civil service culture

Was this review helpful?

Exciting opportunity to be at the heart of government.

Senior Executive Officer - Stakeholder Engagement and Projects (Former Employee) - London, Greater London - 27 July 2020

Large organisation with all the flaws that this brings. Majority of people are hard working, objective, serving the government of the day. Hours can be long but rewarding. Chance to make a real difference to people's lives

Was this review helpful?

Civil Servant

Administrative Officer (Current Employee) - Telford - 23 March 2020

I would advocate working for the Civil Service, in my experience it is a fair and open environment to work in, good support network and friendly. Average wage in line with role and flexible working pattern available.

Was this review helpful?

Great inclusive environment

Civil Servant - Caseworker (Current Employee) - Liverpool, Merseyside - 7 January 2020

Inclusive culture and friendly workplace to be a part of Support from management to progress I felt like I was contributing and making a difference there

Was this review helpful?

Good place to work

Executive Officer (Former Employee) - Walsall - 30 November 2019

Help people get back into workplace . Arranging courses for re training for new skills or updating previous ones Arranging interview with employers Making sure correct payment was sent to customerfs

Was this review helpful?

Excellent career path

Regional Head of Estates and Facilities Management Services (Current Employee) - England - 29 November 2019

Great team work. Challanging role but very good job satisfaction. The role is very challanging but a pleasure to make a different to peoples working environments

Was this review helpful?

Don’t bother

AA (Former Employee) - DWP - 5 November 2019

I would no longer recommend working here . . . the biggest continual problem is poor management. Other issues are bullying, favouritism, and clan culture.

Was this review helpful?

Worked 8 years loved it

Caseworker (Former Employee) - Manchester, Greater Manchester - 11 October 2019

Interesting dealing with the public get a clear insite into what people go through good times and bad Loved dealing with the public and really enjoyed mu time their

Pros

Good outlook on life

Cons

Dealtwith difficult situations but found it challenginv

Was this review helpful?

Very rewarding job enjoyable environment.

Personal Assistant to Investigators (Former Employee) - Arkwright House Manchester - 27 September 2019

Working for the Government was a privilege. It was well paid, extremely brilliant hours. Had 6 weeks annual leave. I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it and only left as I had a young family and didn’t want to miss the time they were infants as it is very precious! In hindsight I should have gone back once the children were at full time schooling .

Was this review helpful?

Excellent Organisation, Poor Graduate Scheme

Fast Stream Graduate Trainee (Current Employee) - London, Greater London - 13 September 2019

I enjoy working for the Civil Service and making a difference. The management team and HR staff at the Fast Stream however have constantly let me down with their people management skills and their treatment of mental health disabilities.

Was this review helpful?

Civil Service

Project Support Administrator (Current Employee) - London, Greater London - 10 September 2019

The service has changed a lot. You can no longer work for the civil service and stick to the same job for life. Emphasis is about being a leader or leading in some area of your work role. Pressures are there to progress, opportunities are there also but most of the time there are people already in mind for the roles which makes it really unfair. I feel there is a lot of favouritism that goes on still. seen staff

Was this review helpful?