Civil Service Progression

[Captain_Sham]

Did you ever go into project management? A lot of engineers with us take that exact route, and the company is brilliant from promoting within. They don’t always get it right though.

I ran projects. Some companies I worked for were small companies. I would be site manager/engineer/dumper driver/cleaner. I also worked for enormous companies [Laings on T5(Heathrow)) Ended up self employed.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

See I’ve got all the time in the world for that, it’s the way things should be. Lapdogs have no place in work.

Completely agree. Seen many of both types over the years. Trick is knowing when to reign it in, say your piece, argue your corner then recognise the point where the decision has been made and you just suck it up and get on with it, agree or disagree.

 

[JackSomething]

Thank you for the insight. Its these kind of things that I am trying appraise. Im wondering if I am wasting my time. I know age a protected characteristic but is there unconcious bias? Are they going to want to promote a fogey when they can promote someone who can use the training for 40 years rather than 10. Everyone in my team who got progression was early 20s. There were 4 of us in the senior bracket and not one of us got in. We probably have over 120 years experience between us. Im not suggesting that this is what happened. I am very impressed with the young team members. They are smart and it is a very competitive process, The job market is tough in Swansea. Maybe I am no longer motivated enough.

I can honestly say I've never considered relative age of candidates when appointing someone, but obviously I can't be sure unconscious bias didn't play a part. I work in employability support and can see clearly in our work with older jobseekers that age undoubtedly plays a part in the selection process with many employers.

It's probably less likely in civil service/public sector jobs as they have to be more transparent about the selection process, while I believe the private sector can be far more flexible in appointing whoever they want.

As for the private/public debate, I worked in the private sector for a good few years after university (albeit in not very good jobs), before spending the last 15+ years in local government. There are few working days that go by in which I don't count my blessings to be in this sector.

 

[Neath_Jack]

I ran projects. Some companies I worked for were small companies. I would be site manager/engineer/dumper driver/cleaner. I also worked for enormous companies [Laings on T5(Heathrow)) Ended up self employed.

I was with Laings for about a year, but I didn’t want to work away all the time so left them. They were okay in fairness.

 

[JackSomething]

Completely agree. Seen many of both types over the years. Trick is knowing when to reign it in, say your piece, argue your corner then recognise the point where the decision has been made and you just suck it up and get on with it, agree or disagree.

An underappreciated skill. Seen far too many who won't open their mouths when they can clearly see a bad decision is being made, also seen almost as many who don't recognise when their point has been made and it's time to zip it.

A lot of the latter group in professional footballers I've noticed...

 

[Captain_Sham]

I was with Laings for about a year, but I didn’t want to work away all the time so left them. They were okay in fairness.

They were a good firm but I was teetering on the brink by then. I dont think I stayed year. The thing about construction is you can always find another job. I burned so many bridges.

 

[Neath_Jack]

Completely agree. Seen many of both types over the years. Trick is knowing when to reign it in, say your piece, argue your corner then recognise the point where the decision has been made and you just suck it up and get on with it, agree or disagree.

Yeah I struggle with backing down. I’ve been having ‘discussions’ with directors previously where I’m telling myself in my head to just wrap up and walk away, but I inevitably end up saying something that I shouldn’t say, so I then have to apologise later in the day when I’ve calmed down. I am passionate about my job, and will defend my department to the point of offering resignation. I know it’s not right and one day it’ll cost me my job.

I’ve asked my daughter to coach me in self reflection as she does that as part of her job.

 

[Neath_Jack]

The worst I’ve come across is Costain. I’ve worked on one of their sites as a contracting company and they were PC, which is unusual for us as we’re normally PC. It was as if they read of a script and you darent question work methods. I’d hate to work for them directly.

 

[Neath_Jack]

An underappreciated skill. Seen far too many who won't open their mouths when they can clearly see a bad decision is being made, also seen almost as many who don't recognise when their point has been made and it's time to zip it.

A lot of the latter group in professional footballers I've noticed...

I should have been a professional footballer

 

[Captain_Sham]

The only reason I didnt go back into construction 8 years ago was that I never applied for my managers CSCS card back in 2003 when 1st passed the test so I couldnt get accredited as there was such a gap.

 

[JackSomething]

The only reason I didnt go back into construction 8 years ago was that I never applied for my managers CSCS card back in 2003 when 1st passed the test so I couldnt get accredited as there was such a gap.

Do not get me started on the CSCS racket...

 

[Neath_Jack]

The only reason I didnt go back into construction 8 years ago was that I never applied for my managers CSCS card back in 2003 when 1st passed the test so I couldnt get accredited as there was such a gap.

I hate that scheme, and if I had my way we’d scrap it as a policy in the company I work for. They withdraw cards all the time then replace them with something else, with different qualifying competencies. I’ve had very qualified staff who end up being able to only get a labourers card. Money making scheme, similar to the considerate constructor shite.

 

[Captain_Sham]

The worst I’ve come across is Costain. I’ve worked on one of their sites as a contracting company and they were PC, which is unusual for us as we’re normally PC. It was as if they read of a script and you darent question work methods. I’d hate to work for them directly.

PC Harringtons were who finished me off. It was so brutal working for them on St Davids 2 in Cardiff.(1000 +m3 concrete pours) That was my last company. They were fking savages.

 

[Captain_Sham]

It SO different working the civil service. People dont understand what Im saying when I say I Iike that people are not allowed to scream at me. They think Im joking.

 

[Neath_Jack]

It SO different working the civil service. People dont understand what Im saying when I say I Iike that people are not allowed to scream at me. They think Im joking.

Yeah there is that side of construction