Insider profil
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.
Career path
Higher Officer, Front Line Manager (FLM)
HMRC
Started 12/2021 to PresentExecutive Officer, Work Coach
DWP
From 02/2021 to 12/2021Senior Customer Service Consultant
Emirates Airline
From 06/2007 to 02/2021Company
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.
Sue
Business Engagement Co-ordinator
Top Insider Advice
You need to believe in yourself and take any development opportunity offered to you. Training and learning is important and is encouraged so you can do your job effectively and develop skills that can help you throughout your career. Constant development is important for you, your team and the wider business. If you are interested in pursuing something - consult with your manager to see if they can help identify opportunities or courses you can attend. Not all courses are internal and in some instances the department will pay to attend external courses or attain professional qualifications. There are also great training and development schemes that exist in HMRC
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.
Lesley
Business Management Unit Higher Officer
Top Insider Advice
Try different areas. Don't stick to one