Jobs for Former Civil Servants
Civil servants work in a wide range of public sector jobs. If you’re a civil servant looking for a career change or a former civil servant trying to get back into the workforce, there are plenty of job roles out there for you.
Civil servants are highly-skilled, making them viable for a wide range of roles in both the private and public sectors.
Why Civil Servants Want a Career Change
Firstly, no matter what the profession, there are plenty of benefits to changing careers.
In recent years, civil servants in the UK have seen an increase in pay caps, job losses, and pension cuts. For some civil servants, this has led to low morale in teams, anxiety, and low job satisfaction, prompting a career change. Others simply want a new challenge.
If you’re a former civil servant looking for your next job opportunity, before retraining or refreshing your skills, identify your transferable skillset.
What Transferable Skills Do Civil Servants Have?
Civil servants develop a wide range of transferable skills that are highly valued in the private sector. Civil servants are highly skilled in the following areas:
- Organisation
- Leadership / management
- Communication
- Decision-making
- Collaboration / teamwork
- Time management
- Project management
- Strategic thinking
- Problem-solving
- Policymaking
Tips On Moving From the Public to the Private Sector
It can take some time to adjust after making the switch from the public to the private sector. Here are some tips to make the switch as seamless as possible:
- Research the private sector and gain insight into what it’s like
- Learn how to sell your talents
- Update your CV by removing information specific to the public sector and adding information that’s relevant to the private sector. This includes targets, projects, outcomes, and examples that demonstrate your skillset
- Read up on some interview tips to make sure you are ready to sell your skills
- Tailor your CV to match the job role and industry you are interested in. Remove irrelevant information and hone in on what skills you have that make you perfect for the role
What Jobs are Suitable for Former Civil Servants?
It can be tough to choose a new career, especially if you have been working in a government job for a long time. The good news is that there are plenty of jobs in the UK for former civil servants.
Whether you choose to stay in the public sector or move to the private sector, there are plenty of career pathways for former civil servants.
We’ve put together a few examples:
- Project management jobs
- Management roles
- Finance jobs (especially for Civil Servants with experience in Home Office Security)
- Charity and NGO jobs
- Social care jobs
- Community outreach jobs
- Administration jobs (especially in policy-led environments, such as education institutions)
Our specialist jobs board has tons of live jobs for former civil servants, keep checking back for more great career opportunities in your area.
