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[Closed] What attracts me to working for a council?

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Doing a job application to work for *a Scottish* council and the first question is "What attracts me to work for ** council?".

Have a couple of ideas, but are there any generic answers as to why one would want to work for a coonsil?


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:24 am
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The great salary and pension scheme.

My Mrs works 30hrs a week and gets same as me take home, and secretly I thought I was doing well best salary I've ever had.

Clearly you can't put this on the job app, just my mini rant.

'the opportunity to do great things for a great organisation and making a real difference for local people'

all complete tosh of course, but some of these HR types lap up that kinda cr@p


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:28 am
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This should be a good one 😆


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:29 am
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Are you a one legged disabled lesbian from Somalia? If not you haven’t got a hope, so put what you like. 😉


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:32 am
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white101 - they're pretty much the ideas I had so far!


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:33 am
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'as a gay, disabled, Kurd I appreciate your non-discriminatory and politically correct ethos'


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:33 am
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The opportunity to work short hours at a non-job with many meetings, attendance at a lot of 'personal development' courses and little accountability. Generous, compulsory sick leave entitlement. Having the opportunity to file official grievances against management at the drop of a hat that will allow me to be sent home on full pay during the investigation.

-I know that not all councils are like that 😉


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:34 am
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😆 @ Aristotle - So true is disturbing!


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:37 am
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The opportunity to work short hours at a non-job with many meetings, attendance at a lot of 'personal development' courses and little accountability. Generous, compulsory sick leave entitlement. Having the opportunity to file official grievances against management at the drop of a hat that will allow me to be sent home on full pay during the investigation.

-I know that not all councils are like that

Just 99.9% of them. Perfectly summed up!

You could add "Because I cant get a job in the private sector where my incompetance and stupidity isn't tolerated"


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:38 am
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I work for Scotlands largest council and one of the good things about working here is the sense of satisfaction when i walk through the city, I am a civil engineer and see people using my work everyday and it makes me happy that I am helping folk in my own little way.

so I'd stick in a wee bit about trying to help the community and do your bit for the people of ....... region


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:41 am
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My local council takes great pride in declaring itself a beacon council (whatever that means?) I recently asked for a few more waste bins round the local park for rubbish, dog plop etc.....

'bins are unhygenic and regulary vandalised in public spaces, we have no current plans to increase the number in the location....yours XXXXXX recreational waste officer'


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:46 am
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also @sofatester....do you work for a council?? if not quit your c**p

like i said I work for a council and I am a White Male mid twenties of British background with no kids and in my entire building (100ish folk) there is no one from anything like the background you describe.

do i sense maybe someone who went for a job with a council and was knocked back??


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:48 am
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my other half works for a council they've just put out an ad' for a job and got 160+ applicants 90% have no chance, the managers quickly whittled the list down to half a dozen or so that were suitable.
HR have since told them they have a further 10 to interview because they are disabled in some minority group.
None of them have relivant skills or experiance but they've been told to interview them regardless!

I'm all for equal oppertunities but whats the point of this!?!? ffs

back on the OP's point yeah stuff about helping the community or something similar


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:51 am
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I would love to work for a council. My Dad did his 40 years as an EHO. Full Pension, Reasonable salary, Job security, flexible hours working, something like 30odd days a year leave.

I dream of such things. I always have a pop at him for letting me get into construction in the private sector.

And yes, I do realise that the grass isnt always greener.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:52 am
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[b]enduro-aid[/b]- I do as it happens, like you I’m slightly "different" from the majority of people who work here.

[PR mode on]Not that it's a bad thing of course[PR mode off]


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:53 am
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29erKeith

For info:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employmentsupport/LookingForWork/DG_4000314

It doesn't just apply to public sector


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:55 am
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skiving?


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:58 am
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Are you a one legged disabled lesbian from Somalia? If not you haven’t got a hope, so put what you like.

Funny there isn't anyone that fits that description working at my local council. Maybe put down your Daily Mail?


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 10:58 am
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I did a 3 month contract for a council when I left uni doing some analsysis for them.

After the first week I was called in by my manager who told me I was working too many hours!
It suited me to drop Mrs Surfer off at work then travel to work myself. Then leave work and pick her up on my way home.
This didnt fit and meant I was first in and last out. I had to reduce my hours!
Fortunately the offices were in a nice park so I ran each lunchtime (they had good facilities as well) showered and had lunch. This met with their satisfaction and I was running around 55 miles per week just in my lunchtimes!


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:02 am
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Funny there isn't anyone that fits that description working at my local council. Maybe put down your Daily Mail?

When you say "local council" have you met them all? Also given the millions that are spent each year by many middle sized councils on "agency" staff you probably will never know.
A ridiculous sterotype it may.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:07 am
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When you say "local council" have you met them all?

Well I have worked quite a bit with people from the council in my job, plus I have used various council services etc - never seen anyone who wasn't white and non-disabled working there.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:09 am
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never seen anyone who wasn't white and non-disabled working there.

<gasps>
[b]Prejudice![/b]

I suggest that the chief executive has everybody sent on an "inclusivity and diversity" (refresher) course.

Something must be done, or discussed at length.

Counselling for all is the least they could do.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:11 am
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fair enough [b]cyclistm[/b]
but seems a little pointless to me tbh when the people in question don't have any relivant skills or experiance => 0% chance of getting the job

we have had a couple of disabled people work in the office here in the past and currently have a number of perminant and contract 'minority groups' employeed here too, but they are all qualified to do the job


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:18 am
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The theory is they should only get an interview if they meet the minimum requirements. It should avoid the local Manager removing them from the job at first sift based on any prejudice they might have.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:28 am
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Councils only employ freaky midget werewolf wimmin with no realisation there is a bigworld outside the view of their milk bottle glasses. & Men with really bad BO, long lank balding greasy grey hair in a ponytail using a rubber band.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:38 am
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put what you want, last in first out you will be lucky to still have the job in six months.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:38 am
 timc
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The fact you will spend most the working week doing **** all, always a winner


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:39 am
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Funny there isn't anyone that fits that description working at my local council. Maybe put down your Daily Mail?

Sorry, was on my second tea break of the day. Just felt like a quick read to keep up with developments in the real world. 😉


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 11:58 am
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SOOBalias - Member

put what you want, last in first out you will be lucky to still have the job in six months.

wow, thanks for the much-needed boost of optimism


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 12:02 pm
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You could add "Because I cant get a job in the private sector where my incompetance and stupidity isn't tolerated"

But spending all day posting on the STW message board is clearly accepted in the private sector. 🙄


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 12:06 pm
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jon1973 - Member

You could add "Because I cant get a job in the private sector where my incompetance and stupidity isn't tolerated"

But spending all day posting on the STW message board is clearly accepted in the private sector.

what's stupid aout that?


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 3:14 pm
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what's stupid aout that?

Because laziness, stupidity and incompetence DO exist in abundance in the private sector. Anyone who has ever worked for a blue chip company would know that.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 4:40 pm
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yeah, i know, i know. i'm one of those who used to belong to that group before being self-employed.

now it's just me who loses out.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 4:54 pm
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Just say with your skills you can benefit the needed
and you feel better rewarded from doing this than
giving your skills to the private sector.

Basicay Johnny Rollocks but its constructive crap 😳
You after benefits and rewarding sick pay !!
If so im a tax payer you Bastard :mrgreen:


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 5:04 pm
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Don't even remind me of what I've missed. i left school at 15 (1972) & started as an apprentice vehicle/plant fitter with my local council (City of Durham) did my time then fu**ing left to go self employed as a petrol station proprietor.
I am now, at 53, a ****ing prison officer with 13 years to go, who could have been retired with 38 years in with the cooncil!
Kick me up the arse. Hard.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 8:03 pm
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fail


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 8:38 pm
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I went for a job with our local council a few years a go.
As soon as I sat down in the interview I knew it was a big mistake.
Thank heavens they didn't offer me the job.
What a bunch of total ****wits, I wouldn't have lasted 5 mins.


 
Posted : 09/12/2009 9:48 pm