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Jo .

ISBC People Team Leader

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Top Insider Advice

Don't underestimate the amount of time needed to apply for CS jobs. You will spend hours getting your behaviours and statement evidence right and that's how it has to be. Get a mentor/s to check your applications before submitting. Have the CS behaviour descriptions open when you are writing your statement, this is what you will be marked against. Tell us the how, I sift regularly and it is frustrating when candidates state @i am an excellent communication' for example, that is good but tell us how you communicate, what makes you so good! I like the STAR model but also the WHO, What, How, Outcome. Tell us your personal story, avoid jargon and write to a complete stranger who knows nothing about you or the department you are applying for.

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Career path

ISBC People Team Leader

HMRC

Started 10/2021 to Present

Company

What do you like about your job and the company?

I am a great advocate of the Civil Service and all it has to offer. My current role is varied, can be reactive at times without much chance to plan but extremely interesting and rewarding. My days include lots of engagement with our wider stakeholders on calls, more virtual connections in this day and age as opposed to face to face meetings. I spend a lot of time talking to my team, ensuring they are supported. I do not work manage my team so also have calls with the work managers to check the tasks they have allocated then cross refer with my team, this enables all to be clear on expectations and I can quickly react to any blockers or confusion.

Greatest achievements

I spent just over 2 years moving from placement to placement, some challenges along the way with colleagues not fully appreciating my role as it was centrally funded so I was essential free resource. I didn't realise how much I had learnt from each placement and the experience until I left them sometimes. I built resilience in droves by having to reinvent myself and establish those big working relationships every few months, Change does not bother me nowadays, if I had to move roles tomorrow, so be it. I am proud of moving from band O to SO in a little over 2 years, not an easy achievement but it can be done!

Other insiders

Zoe

Senior Project Manager - Locations Programme

Top Insider Advice

No matter what job I've done over the years there has always been people impacted by it. Whether I was sorting out a customers Tax, National Insurance record, developing new IT systems, or delivering new policies or even opening new buildings its people that have been affected at the end of it. Its easy to forget when wrapped up in the day to day activities of your job, that I have made life better for a huge amount of people over the years but in tiny bite size chunks

Louise

Benefit lead

Top Insider Advice

I think we can all feel a sense of imposter syndrome, and that inner voice saying you are not capable. You are ! I think we all need to recognise that work can be challenging and not always as straightforward as you want it to be, which is where the doubt can set it. Its all about building that resilience for me, don't give up. If you want something just keep working towards it, even if that means taking it slowly.

Marta .

Top Insider Advice

Keep your mind and eyes open as there are are so many opportunities

Discussions with Jo
Please describe the most enjoyable aspects of your day-to-day role?
in Career Tips·Tuesday, December 20, 2022
1 response
26 views