Career progression requires effort - expressing a wish to advance ones' career is the bare minimum; however, you have to do all the groundwork, the homework and make all the effort that comes with it - make friends, link with people, search for contacts, browse opportunities, keep applying, find a mentor, volunteer for even the most mundane activities - you never know whom you're going to meet. Learn the Civil Service job application process and practice it, tailoring the applications to each role - and foremost: read the job ad thoroughly, this will help you avoid disappointment further down the line.

We often get bogged down with life and maybe a little stuck in rut, and can start to doubt ourselves. Think about what you've achieved, not just within your career, but through life in general and remember how fabulous you are! So many life experiences and personality traits will get you far in your career, stop and take time to think about this, then showcase your wonderful self.

I wouldn't describe the first half of my Civil Service job history as a career, more a means to an end. Until I joined HMRC I had no idea what I wanted from a job and what motivated me, and I expected that to continue for years to come. It was only when I started my first tax compliance role that I quickly learned that I found the job very interesting and that I was good at it; the perfect combination. Without realising it I had developed a lot of the skills and attributes which you need in this type of role from some of my previous jobs; a keen eye for detail, instinctively examining the little things which don't seem quite right, and most importantly, being very, very nosy! What I did learn from my earlier Civil Service career was that if I wanted to reach the more senior grades that nobody was going to carry me on their shoulders to get me there and I needed to seek out my own opportunities to develop my skills and experience. I knew the limitations of my earlier roles in terms of developing my skills and realised I needed to work a variety of roles to gain that wide ranging experience. I moved initially from a wholly admin role to a decision making role and the skills I learned there still stand me in good stead today. I then moved to a junior manager role to gain some valuable leadership experience and improve my confidence. Therefore, my biggest advice would be if you've got a role or career in mind don't be afraid to move around into different roles and different departments. You will be exposed to different types of work and gain wider experience and along the way you may find that perfect combination of interesting work and being good at it too. Once you've found something like that, you know where your career likely lies. Also, ask for career help from those who've been around the block. Seek out a mentor or resources such as this to guide you on your career path and advise you if you feel you need that help.