Working for ATO Vs Services Australia

Sunny10 on 29/10/2022 - 22:29

Hey Guys. Hope you are all well.

I need help in regard to my brother's Situation. He is currently working for the Services Australia call center as a Casual/IIE and is in a contract until Feb 2023. Chances are the contract will further extend to 12 months. Also, he is in a pool of Ongoing/permanent positions which have been valid for 18 months since July 2022. Not sure when they will hire or whether they will hire. Definitely, the call flow is too high but it's been 15 months since he is working for them.

Now he just got an offer from ATO for the role of Client Engagement Officer as a Non-ongoing with a contract until next year end of June 2023. He checked with them about extension possibilities but they said not sure. It is a decent pay offer with the flexibility of working 2 days from home and 3 days in the office. He is keen to accept the offer but then not sure about the future with ATO. The department he has been offered is the Super department within ATO.

Does any of you works for ATO and is/was in a similar position? What would be the best advice? It is a personal decision I know but if any experienced people here guide him better, would be a great help for him.

Thank You

Education & Work

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 29/10/2022 - 22:44
    +3

    offer from ATO
    It is a decent pay offer

    Do they pay in Apple® gift cards? Surely they must have loads of them stashed somewhere.

    • Sunny10 on 29/10/2022 - 22:48

      The offer letter doesn't say that he will be paid in Gift cards so I assume no

      • Muzeeb on 29/10/2022 - 22:50
        +3

        Lol. Thanks for the confirmation.

  • Wiadro on 29/10/2022 - 23:00

    which pays more

    • Sunny10 on 29/10/2022 - 23:04

      Base rate at ATO is higher than SA

      • Wiadro on 29/10/2022 - 23:10

        ok theres your answer

        • Sunny10 on 29/10/2022 - 23:13
          +3

          It is not about who is paying more, it is about to have a continuous Job and a career growth opportunities for the brother

          • Kangal on 29/10/2022 - 23:46
            +1

            @Sunny10: He should go with ATO.
            Then he should approve my tax, with lots of deductions.
            I'll split some money his way.
            We will both be happy ; )

  • freefall101 on 29/10/2022 - 23:19
    +1

    ATO has a massive workforce that doesn't really do anything. But progressing career-wise is quite difficult unless you're in their professional streams, so it depends what he wants - a lazy paycheque or a chance to move up.

    • Sunny10 on 29/10/2022 - 23:30

      He does have a bachelor's degree in commerce and has Master in Economics. But you are right. until and unless you don't have a professional degree and Tax, chances of growth or being permanent are difficult. The only reason he was thinking of ATO as a prospective employer is less call flow than Centrelink. Even he doesn't know to be in a merit pool with Services Australia, will he ever get a chance?

      • garetz on 30/10/2022 - 03:17
        +1

        He is way overqualified for this job, he should be aiming alot higher.

        • Sunny10 on 31/10/2022 - 09:41

          No study here in Australia. And I think to get a role at APS4 or higher you need some experience before hand of APS3z.

      • Montyjpm on 30/10/2022 - 06:57
        +1

        Degree and Master from Australian institutions or oversea?

        • Sunny10 on 31/10/2022 - 09:40

          Masters from Overseas.

  • Unorthodox on 29/10/2022 - 23:26
    +3

    ATO has more ability to branch out to other areas as well (both contract and perma) plus has very good flexibility.

    If he wants to move into a more technical role (e.g. tax expertise, the ATO will also fund this) and there are always internal project/ops teams. I would avoid the collections area as I've been told that some cases are very emotionally draining and some people treat ATO contact people poorly despite the ATO being quite lenient for genuine mistakes.

    • Sunny10 on 29/10/2022 - 23:31

      He has given team of Superannuation and Employer Obligations,
      Engagement and Assurance

      • Unorthodox on 29/10/2022 - 23:36
        +1

        I mean, obviously depends on what he prioritises now and in the future.

        Could easily pivot into economics (per your other comment) by going into Treasury or the RBA (albeit would likely mean a move to Sydney down the line).

        ATO can be a cruisy perma gig, people clock off at 4:45 on the dot and they have periods where you can pick up overtime if you need more cash.

  • bobbified on 30/10/2022 - 00:29
    +3

    The department he has been offered is the Super department within ATO.

    I personally think that anything to do with Super will keep expanding in the long run. I also think that a more specific experience (in this case, Super) is more valuable than a generic one in the Services Australia call centre. After working in the call centre at Services Australia, you can go somewhere else with the call centre experience but the product knowledge is not transferrable.

  • thatonethere on 30/10/2022 - 08:27
    +2

    If he likes ATO then give it a try. SA needs more staff so they will hire him back in a flash if ATO doesnt turn out or doesnt turn into ongoing.

  • Taegukgi on 30/10/2022 - 12:34
    +1

    I know many people leaving SA to move to the ATO. I’ve never heard ATO to SA.

    Another thing to consider is that one gives and one takes. Who’s going to be more popular?

  • Peachout on 31/10/2022 - 19:38
    +1

    I worked for Centrelink for over a decade, in Call and Service Centre. Initially you get sucked in by the pay and promise of career advancement. Quitting is the best thing I ever did. Many long term employees, good people that I used to work with, all did the same for the same reasons. The place is soul destroying. Every day, the same deja-moo. I've worked for private enterprise ever since, for less pay but better quality of life.

    If your brother is the sort of person that can work like a battery hen, completely disassociate himself emotionally, punch out the numbers and tread all over others to get himself ahead without conscience, then that's the place for him. The pay and leave conditions are great for zero qualifications. However with his qualifications, sounds like he could get the same rate of pay working for a better employer.

    I've never worked for the ATO so can't comment on what they're like.

  • th123 on 01/11/2022 - 19:22

    Take the role that gets you out of the call centre.

    You'll stop getting hawkeyed for every minute.

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