UK Ministry of Defence Employee Reviews

I think it's fair to say that the MOD is a challenging environment. Everything is complicated, and if something appears simple, they will somehow complicate it . The data vision however is superb and the goals are worth the effort but be prepared for ruthless business decisions - way more than the private sector. Budgets are slashed without notice and seemingly without strategic logic. Is it all worth it? Yes absolutely.

Pros

Worthy goals and a genuine pro-data culture

Cons

Overly complicated, but I am sure that comes as no surprise at all!

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From day one I realised I had made a mistake. Very Very Toxic environment. No support from Management or HR.

Administration Officer (Former Employee) - Oxford - 21 September 2023

There is a lot of support and guidance within the Civil Service written in their policies but, you are either condemned for asking for help or shut down. So even though they are supposed to be a flexible inclusive employer, sadly they are not. As a military spouse it was recommended that I work within the Civil Service due to postings. This is only the case if the management team are willing to help. Very low pay rate considering the work load expectations. I have learned something from this job and that is to never allow myself to be bullied by my manager ever again.

Cons

No support. NOT a flexible employer. Very low pay.

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Insights into UK Ministry of Defence

Based on 140 survey responses

What people like

Time and location flexibility
Feeling of personal appreciation
Clear sense of purpose

Depressing

Accounts Payable Clerk (Current Employee) - Blackpool - 27 August 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Horrendous management and no training. It is unorganised mania. What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Lack of training and poor pay What is the work environment and culture like at the company?It's like high-school basically

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Managers look after themselves , watch your back as others will take praise for your work.

SENIOR CAMERAMAN (Current Employee) - Andover, Hampshire - 9 August 2023

Watch your back, most people ticking boxes to get promoted. Managers take praise for your work constantly. Feel undervalued, military staff do not like taking advice from civilians, more so with senior military staff.

Pros

Very few

Cons

Feel undervalued

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Safe job, no redundancy

Finance Officer (Current Employee) - Lichfield and Upavon - 20 June 2023

The jobs with the civil service are sage, you are unlikely to be made redundant. They have flexi scheme which is good. It also has benefits of onside facilities ie gym cafe.

Pros

Safe job, access to gym and onside cafe. Flexi scheme.

Cons

Pension not as good as used to be. Poor pay.

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Fantastic

Senior HR Manager (Current Employee) - London - 10 June 2023

The best in supporting individual. There's always somebody on hand to help. You are never alone. The work ethic is second to none. Very well inclusive dependent on location.

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Supportive and skills based

DBS Finance & Procurement EC Advisor (Current Employee) - Cheadle Hulme - 4 June 2023

Great place to work. Learnt so many transferable skills and knowledge built up in multiple sectors. Opportunity for progression if desired. Flexi time, pension, cycle scheme. Extra holidays

Pros

Flexi time

Cons

Lower pay vs private sector

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Military = Old School | Job Security

Technical Manager (Former Employee) - England - 17 May 2023

It's taking a while to drag the MOD into the 21st Centaury. Teaches you some great life skills, lots of room to advance you career, adventure training and Sporting activities and international tours. Do your homework with regards to the job you want to join. Whether you do 4 or 24 years you'll leave with some great skills you'll struggle to learn to the same degree in civilian street

Pros

Job security, 7+ weeks annual leave, Adventure Training, International Travel

Cons

Salery doesn't increase exponentially with experience

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Nice benefits and low pay

Project Manager (Current Employee) - Bristol - 16 May 2023

Interesting projects but can be slow. Would be nice to see a change in attitude towards adapting more efficient methods of working . Work/life balance is great. Good training available.

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Best job I ever had

Personnel Administrator (Former Employee) - UK wide - 1 April 2023

Really enjoyed my career here just wish it had been longer. Role was the same but everyday there was something different really rewarding helping people out with their careers

Pros

Salary, travel & staff

Cons

Long hours at times

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Team Leader (Current Employee) - London, Greater London - 1 April 2023

I worked at mod for almost 10years. Interesting work but I met very few managers who are able to adequately deal and address poor behaviours. Office relies on exploiting young staff who are willing to work long hours to advance.

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Fab Manager, Supportive, Changes Galore!

HR (Current Employee) - Corsham, Wiltshire - 15 March 2023

Very interesting place to work. Lot to learn but also lot to share and give. If you have an understanding and a supportive manager then it makes a huge difference. Flexi-time is really useful. Pension is quite good. They help with travel and accommodation too depending on arrangements and agreement.It is complex, and it can take time for things to materialise. Keep on asking, challenging and getting what you want through healthy challenge, meaningful collaboration and professionalism.

Pros

Diary Management, Autonomy, Manager support

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Satisfying some of the time.

Soldier (Current Employee) - Ashchurch, Gloucestershire - 14 March 2023

Varied, satisfying at times, although it can be dull, depends on the daily taskings. Relatively stress-free. Work-life balance is okay, getting better.

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worked for m.o.d for 17 years used to be a good place to work not now

Transport Planner (Former Employee) - Catterick Garrison - 27 February 2023

i have worked for the M.O.D for the last 17 years, once upon a time you really felt as if you were valued but now with cuts no body wants to know you you are just a number for somebody who wants job satisfaction dont work for m.o.d you are just a number. If you cant do it yourself forget it as nothing is done 1 out of 10 for job satisfaction using dated equipment which does not work properly, people just are not interested sad but true.

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Not a very nice place to work abandoned and forgotten about

Security Officer (Former Employee) - Lancaster - 23 February 2023

A typical day at work starts at 0600hrs with taking over from another work colleague then within in an hour for the next 12 hours you are expected to sort every problem out that crops up with accommodation maintenance personnel being abusive having to answer the phone because every body transfers there phones through to the guardroom as they can't be bothered to answer the phone and do what they are paid to do in between you have to eat your meals while working at the end of the day it is a relief to handover to your replacement

Pros

Secure job

Cons

Undervalued

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Hopeless.

Kennel Assistant (Current Employee) - Berkshire - 14 February 2023

A culture of rewarding lazy people who are willing to be difficult and punishing/ignoring people who work hard. Constantly being told that management is trying to make you redundant. You and your role devalued and diminished at every possibility. A refusal to hire enough staff but then complained at by management for working/claiming overtime to cover their staffing shortfalls.

Pros

Depending on your manager, they can be fairly flexible with Annual leave etc.

Cons

Poor management, pay isn't great, constantly threatened with redundancy, lazyness is rewarded, hard work is punished +much much more.

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Highly recommend

British Army (Former Employee) - Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire - 13 February 2023

Could not of asked for a better work life balance. Job security and culture are important and I found both within the British army. Good promotion structure

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Disorganised and Stressful

Administration Officer (Current Employee) - Glasgow - 10 February 2023

I feel really unsupported by management and there is so much disorganisation within the building. Problems raised seem to be ignored. Complaints are not followed up.

Pros

Flexi

Cons

Low pay, low moral.

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Inclusive, challenging working organisation

Area Operations Manager (Former Employee) - South England - 9 February 2023

Can be trusted to go about your daily tasks without being looked over, but you must ensure you communicate well and ask for assistance when needed.

Pros

Job security, salary

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Unsupportive management

People Manager (Former Employee) - Bath, Somerset - 27 January 2023

Very much a tick in the box organisation. It is more important to management that it appears help is being given to staff who are under pressure than actually helping them.

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Just a number

Defence courier (Former Employee) - West London, Greater London - 12 January 2023

Very disorganised. Still using pen and paper when the rest of the world has moved on. Lots of holiday but good luck getting it authorised. Your manager will not even know your name.

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