Insider profil

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Paulina .

Higher Officer, Front Line Manager (FLM)

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Top Insider Advice

Career progression requires effort - expressing a wish to advance ones' career is the bare minimum; however, you have to do all the groundwork, the homework and make all the effort that comes with it - make friends, link with people, search for contacts, browse opportunities, keep applying, find a mentor, volunteer for even the most mundane activities - you never know whom you're going to meet. Learn the Civil Service job application process and practice it, tailoring the applications to each role - and foremost: read the job ad thoroughly, this will help you avoid disappointment further down the line.

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Career path

Higher Officer, Front Line Manager (FLM)

HMRC

Started 12/2021 to Present

Executive Officer, Work Coach

DWP

From 02/2021 to 12/2021

Senior Customer Service Consultant

Emirates Airline

From 06/2007 to 02/2021

Company

What do you like about your job and the company?

There are currently 5 line managers in my business unit and we are a close-knit group, who has each others' backs at all times. We share tasks and workload, supporting our Senior Officer, Business Unit Head in daily tasks. There are opportunities to expand our expertise and stretch our skills in pursuit of career progression.

Other insiders

Prudencia O

Top Insider Advice

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for support. No one succeeds alone. Join support networks, find a coach, mentor or sponsor. Get as much help as you can! 2. Step outside your comfort zone and take on new challenges, even if they are a bit scary! Growth doesn’t happen in familiar spaces. Take on challenges that stretch you, that make you uncomfortable and ultimately lead to new skills and greater confidence. 3. Make things happen – look for sideways moves to develop your skills, not just promotions. Think about development programmes. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, seek them out, take the initiative and be ready to step up when the moment comes. If you don’t make it happen, nobody will! 4. Resilience is essential. There’ll be lots of disappointments on your journey and times when you wonder whether it’s worth it. I can tell you without a doubt, it is. Keep trying, keep pushing. Remember, every obstacle is an opportunity to rise. Each setback is a chance to grow stronger and to learn something new, and every step you take brings you closer to the top of the ladder. 5. When you succeed in life or in your career, celebrate but also acknowledge that you didn’t do it alone. Nobody does! Above all, don’t pull the ladder up after you! Reach out and help others climb.

Jim

Portfolio Lead

Top Insider Advice

Find a mentor you are comfortable with. Be prepared to take honest constructive feedback. Create a support network...it's easier than you think.

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.

Discussions with Paulina