Insider profil

Picture of Sally

Sally .

Marketing and Social Media Advisor

Ask me a question
Nottingham

Keen to receive questions about

Everyday LifeWork & Life with Us

Top Insider Advice

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.

Read more advice

Career path

Marketing and Social Media Advisor

HMRC

Started 12/2020 to Present

School Advisor

HMRC

From 11/2016 to 12/2020

Universal Credit Delivered Locally Outreach

HMRC

From 09/2014 to 11/2016

Company

What do you like about your job and the company?

There is a good mix of work. Sometimes I'm concentrating on editing a document, or formatting a candidate pack. But other times I can be lost down a rabbit hole of websites and articles while I research labour market insights or info on the best job boards!

Greatest achievements

Back in 2004 my friend and I decided it would be a laugh to walk 60k for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Charity. We didn't know however, that to enter we had to raise £1.5k each first! Challenge accepted we organised a Charity Ball, complete with live music, auction, and wonderful food and copious amounts of donated booze. Target smashed we raised £7000 that night. One huge hangover later, we then had to start the training! Great memories, and a huge sense of achievement, maybe it's time I did something similar again?....

Other insiders

Chris .

Top Insider Advice

Something that has helped me to move up in my career at HMRC is taking on new tasks from working on additional projects for the HO's in Customs to training new starters to the business. I actually wrote and delivered a training package for new starters when I was AO in Customs, I felt this not only increased my skillset but it also helped me to make sure that anyone starting in the same role as me learnt the job from the perspective of an AO. I have also taken on projects where I have led a group of people, for example, clearing an email inbox where we had a large number of emails. I delegated colleagues to cover particular time slots, making sure that the emails that had been waiting the longest for a response were dealt with first.

Lesley

Business Management Unit Higher Officer

Top Insider Advice

Try different areas. Don't stick to one

Philip

Civil Investigator

Top Insider Advice

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.

Discussions with Sally
Do you offer work experience to year 12 students?
in Career Tips·Thursday, September 15, 2022
Picture of Robina
2 responses
122 views
Hi how do i contact HMRC for a placement year ?
in How to apply·Friday, December 9, 2022
Picture of Airat
2 responses
72 views
Do you provide support to military reservists, if so, what do you provide?
in Career Tips·Tuesday, December 6, 2022
1 response
25 views