I’ve been a civil servant long enough to watch pay rises slide from 2% to 1% to nothing during austerity alongside gutted terms, office closures, forced relocations, and a constant kicking from ministers and the press.
Most of my career sat under Conservative rule. I felt a rare flicker of optimism when Labour took over.
Two years on, it’s worse. More red tape than ever, VES that have gutted departments, morale on the floor, and senior leadership still applauding themselves like it’s a job well done.
Maybe it was worse before my time. I’ve never seen it this broken.
I keep seeing posts asking for application and interview tips.
Here’s mine: don’t.
And for the inevitable “just leave” crowd: if I could, I would. I was refused VES, and there’s nothing out there, inside or outside the CS, that doesn’t mean a serious hit to salary, location, or my personal life.