Insider profil
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Top Insider Advice
I really believe that if you work hard and give your very best in your career path then you will succeed in the role you want to get to. I took every opportunity in my career to develop my skills and learn new skills which helped me to progress in my career.
Career path
Portfolio Support
HMRC
From 06/2021 to 03/2023compliance officer
HMRC
From 04/1995 to 05/2021various roles
HMRC
From 04/1987 to 03/1995Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
I have a vital role in ensuring that the changes happening to our borders are well thought out and meets the requirements and expectations agreed with the EU when we exited. It gives me a very good insight of the different changes happening at our borders, how it will work, who it will affect and any issues that might arise. I am working with professionals within the HMRC and externally which I find very interesting as I am learning new ways of working at the same time as meeting the UK governments objectives for our borders.
Greatest achievements
I had the opportunity to work on the cross-government Border Delivery team in the early stages of when the UK left the EU. I planned the Industry Day events with EU stakeholders to give them information on the changes that would happen as a result of the UK leaving the EU in case of a no deal scenario as at that time negotiations were still ongoing between UK and EU. I worked with our policy colleagues to understand the changes and responded to questions from our EU stakeholders on the various different things that they were concerned about. I found this role very exciting and felt part of the future chages that were being considered for our country.
Janine
Assistant Officer
Top Insider Advice
Having a positive attitude and having the ability to complete a task is rewarding and you feel that you have made a difference.
Gordon
Risk Analyst
Top Insider Advice
There are a huge number of roles within HMRC and the wider Civil Service. There will be some that really suit your skills. Where there is a gap, the training and development opportunities available will give you every chance to fill that gap and find that role where you can excel. You will find management want you to improve and will encourage your development, whether within your current role or to achieve the abilities to change to somewhere else you can be better. Self-belief used properly can be your strongest skill.
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.