Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
Top Insider Advice
My one piece of advice is “Be-Honest” If you require any reasonable adjustments or assistance, “be honest” in your job application. “Be honest” in your training. If you don’t understand something, then speak up. If you need something to be explained again, “be honest” and say you didn’t understand. “Be Honest” with your aspirations, aims, goals for your career, there are many opportunities which may be applicable for you. “Be Honest” with yourself and keep your work/life balance right for you. My experience - I have been honest about my dyslexia. I have received additional help and support throughout my entire HMRC experience. I learnt an enormous amount about myself during "Coping strategy sessions" which allowed me to be more honest with myself and my manager. Finally, don’t be scared to question things.
Career path
Debt Management Complaints manager
HM Revenue and Customs
Started 01/2022 to PresentIndividual and Small Business Compliance Caseworker Manager
HM Revenue and Customs
From 01/2019 to 01/2022Personal Tax Operations Advisor
HM Revenue and Customs
From 06/2017 to 01/2019Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
One of the main motivations is to change my own thinking and my perception of other people thinking that “I am good at my job even though I am dyslexic” to “My dyslexia helps me to be even better at my job”. I have always had a keen eye for noticing things that don’t look right or if something has been changed. Having these skills are very useful when being an investigator and having to appreciate a deep level of detail. I have a strong desire to understand why? Why something has happened? What has caused the result which has led to an error or mistake? Due to my dyslexia, I am a non-linear thinker which allows me to connect the dots that other people don’t see and there-fore solve problems from a different perspective. I really enjoy this role due to the diversity of the cases, as each case expands my knowledge in my area of tax. This allows me to develop and to be able to do a better job.
Greatest achievements
Throughout my life there have been multiple occasions in different context where I have been put into a position of trust. As a young adult I was trusted to run a day’s coaching for over a hundred people. This included managing other coaches, the running of sessions, while considering everyone’s abilities and ensuring everyone had a lunch break. At the time I was one of the youngest coaches within my area. Having this level of experience was new to me and it felt good to be given this level of trust. Due to the success of the day, I was called upon to run this event again for 3 years running. Another achievement is getting to where I am today. When applying for HMRC I thought I would never get the job. I had such a negative relationship with myself and my dyslexia which resulted in me thinking I wasn’t good enough to do “a role like that”. I have since accepted my dyslexia and now know it helps me do my job with a different perspective to others giving HMRC increased diversity of skills and knowledge.
Sarah
Communications business partner
Top Insider Advice
I've had a huge variety of roles in HMRC, and I've enjoyed all of them. I've found it's not always necessary to chase promotion. A sideways move to another area can expand your horizons and build your skills and this is recognised when you're ready to take the next step. I've always tried to maintain job satisfaction above all else. I've done a couple of jobs I've really hated, so I moved on and found something else. I've found if I'm happy in my job, I perform better and this is noticed. Also, don't be afraid to ask for opportunities or for what you want. I've always believed 'if you don't ask, you don't get' – the worst that could happen is someone says no and you're no worse off.
Sandra
Tax Investigator
Top Insider Advice
I've been a Civil Servant for 34 years, starting as an AO in what was DHSS, processing benefit claims. This was a real baptism of fire, dealing with desperate people and desperate situations and exposed me to parts of the population that were a long way from my life. I learned good people skills from this and a real focus on how important good customer service is-doing what you say you will and still having to deliver even when things are difficult or unpopular. This gave me a good grounding for moving onto National Insurance in a compliance role for business and individuals. HMRC merged in 1999 with NI and that was the start of my accidental career. I'm proud to have worked my way up from the bottom as I believe it made me who I am. Whilst no against direct entrance programmes, gaining experience within different grades and roles creates a rounded person.
Bal .
Social Media Support Officer
Top Insider Advice
Look for opportunities to build your skills, develop your talents and reach your potential. Sounds very wordy but learning is a lifelong journey and we never know everything I have found that trying something different has kept me happier at work and given me a sense of self satisfaction. It doesn't have to be work related it can include learning any new skill from sewing to pottery. At the moment I am currently spending 30 minutes a week completing learning around marketing and social media which is providing me with skills to better understand my role and that roles around me.
