Early 30s wanting to join the civil service - good idea if I want to get married & have kids?

I would say that while there is at most 2 yearly promotion opportunities be very careful as it is just may be very annoying how some may get on a panel and other do not. The process is to get on a panel for promotion not get the job outright which stay for 2 years and if lucky top 20 might get in but normally not inn the top 10 to 15 you be waiting. Benefits are good though

Are you in Dublin?

Sounds like a decent move versus staying in retail but it's not your only option either. Progression is the CS is much easier in Dublin versus outside of Dublin. if you want to work hard and hustle you'd end up in Dublin most likely so something to consider if you're not there already. Progression is possible but isn't that easy or guaranteed because of the sheer number of highly educated, hungry people who enter now. Most new COs have at least a BA.

Some departments have lots of opportunities, some have little and some have opportunities to make money and progress that are not family-friendly. Lads in revenue tend to go on the road in debt collection, into customs, into shift work. At the moment the money might look good versus your current salary but throw in 2 kids and childcare or a partner who goes part-time and that money will fly out the door.

But I would get out of retail asap. Far too unstable for a family man. I would in your shoes apply for the next CS comp but in the meantime, I'd be looking at the likes of Springboard courses to see if any appeal. If you can study an in-demand skill you'll likely be on better money out the gate (possibly able to work from home depending on what you do) and you will future-proof yourself by having a skill versus being a generalist.

I'm curious if anyone here has switched from an established role in the private sector into the public sector?

I have a degree in a field that's traditionally employed in the public sector, qualified at a time when the hiring freeze was in place. I've gone in a different direction, established myself in a well paying private sector role but still have a hankering to work at my qualified profession. I briefly looked into a role last year but the only entry point was as a graduate on about 1/5 of my remuneration now which isn't sustainable.

Are there any options or programmes designed to recruit people from private sector with relevant skills and experience at a more palatable salary?

I'm guessing no but just curious!

You will see senior roles, AP, or PO or A/Sec level being publicly advertised from time to time, some in government departments, some in agencies or regulators. No idea what your speciality is, but do keep an eye out at relevant agencies and publicjobs.ie. You will be starting at the bottom of the relevant scale, with no negotiation.

Your ex colleagues need to study their pension arrangements a bit harder. If they are post 2013 entrants, their pension entitlements will be very modest. Performance management is variable, but would certainly not be true to say it is non-existent in my experience. Same for deadlines - budget deadlines don't move, legislative deadlines (imposed without any consideration of operational realities) don't move. If you're in a high profile area with journos and opposition tracking every move, there is lots and lots of pressure.

Like I said, they need to study their pension a bit more. They're not the terms of the Single Pension Scheme. Here's a good starting point;

I've been hearing that oul urban myth about being told they were working too fast since the 1980s. It wasn't true then and it's not true now.

This is entirely dependent on the skills that you have. Public and Civil Service tend to have two streams - general management or skilled jobs. An AP for example is the first step in senior management might be required to have a background in IT to head up an IT Department, if it is say an operations role and generalist then it might not require anything but a degree in anything. In advance of jumping ship go on Linked In and find people in similar roles who might be able to advise you as the culture varies from Department to Department and even internally in those departments can be very different. If you want to move up the ranks quickly , if you have skills in people management and do exceptionally well then you might be able to climb the ladder every two years. Im middle management myself . Good luck and let me know if you have any questions

Yeah, the starting salary is very poor but gets slowly better with time and experience. Keep in mind though, as someone mentioned above, the take home is even less than a similar salary in your current job as you will be contributing towards a pension too. Worth it of course but something to keep in mind.

There have finally been promotion opportunities again over the last few years which has been a great opportunity for people who were in a while, to move up and hopefully that can be maintained. I came in not long before the moratorium across recruitment and promotion so it was a hard time to be a CO.

Couple of promotions later and life is very different. Way more responsibility of course but gets manageable once you get used to the expectations and tasks.

As other posters have said, you will never be rich, but you won't starve either and makes getting a mortgage a lot easier than in some other jobs.

Sounds like a good move for you anyway and wish you the best. Don't worry about where you are based either as mobility, if not promotions, will give you a chance to try other departments or sections within a department.

You will pay far far more than that for your pension.

Get some support a chara.

www.cseas.per.gov.ie is a great first step.