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Top Insider Advice
Always remain positive. Take the plunge once in a while and believe in yourself. Learn what you can from others. If there are any opportunities outside of your comfort zone, rise to the challenge and volunteer. You will surprise yourself, who will release the abilities that you didn’t think you had. Remain positive and focused on your goal. Consider the bigger picture, how does my role fit in within the wider goals of the business and how can you make it a great place to work. In a customer led role like mine, you can really make a difference to people’s lives. You see the negative impacts our mistakes can make and how you can work to ensure that they are not repeated, whilst improving the customer journey and the reputation of the business. You will gain positive feedback and people will look up to you.
Career path
Complaints Manager-Officer
HM Revenue and Customs
Started 06/2008 to PresentCompany
What do you like about your job and the company?
I am proud to be a civil servant. I have received excellent training and from the experience I have gained, I have been able to use it to help others. I am encouraged to take an active role in my development, which allows me to take full control of progression opportunities. We have a culture in HMRC that it is an excellent place to work, it certainly is. Plenty of extra voluntary duties are available to aid in my development. I have helped other business areas in ways too. This has included being an independent on an interview panel. I have also trained new team members onto the team. It’s good to see how my work impacts on the business as a whole. One of HMRC's goals is to be the best provider of customer service, I love that my role reflects this and plays a huge part. I am proud to make a difference to the customer journey, working towards HMRC's ultimate goal of providing the best customer service.
Greatest achievements
In a bid to make efficiency savings, I took part in trail of how we can support customers who need extra support in dealing with their tax affairs. The trial was all about the customer and how we can improve the customer journey while at the same time reducing costs. A whole new way of working was devised. Instead of customer appointments in an enquiry centre, mobile advisers would assist customers who needed extra support to get their tax affairs in order. This would mean meeting customers in the community and even at their home address. Some were digitally excluded, and I would make use of technology, taking an iPad for example to help them file a tax return. I would liaise with other teams where required to ensure all the customers enquires were dealt with in full.
Terry
Business Support Team Manager
Top Insider Advice
It can be a very daunting experience starting work for a new employer, no matter what your age or experience. On my first day in the office (having never worked in an office before) I dressed in full suit and tie, only to find my colleagues were in smart casual dress. This was 33 years ago and now a simple question could be asked on a platform such as this. Then there are the ways things can sometimes be explained incorrectly, it's not anyone's fault. Generally no one is specifically trained in dealing with the diverse nature that working/office life can bring. Rest assured HMRC is a great place to work and One of HMRC's Values is that we are innovative, We are committed to continuous improvement and to developing ourselves. Another is that we are professional, We partner with others and collaborate within and across teams to achieve great results.
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.
Lesley
Business Management Unit Higher Officer
Top Insider Advice
Try different areas. Don't stick to one
