Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
Top Insider Advice
If there is one thing in my 20+ years in the civil service I have figured out it is you will never know if you don't try. Early on in my career I would never volunteer for opportunities, I wouldn't offer up answers or contribute to group meetings or working groups and missed the opportunity to apply for roles I would have loved to try my hand at. This was all through the fear of looking stupid or failing and how other people would view me. Not to say I have never failed as I have, be that in job applications or the approach I have taken to work tasks. The biggest thing I will share here is I have learned so much more from failing than I ever have from getting something right first time. The support from my colleagues during these times was surprising, there are so many great people who work across our government departments which fosters a great environment to be part of. Don't forget if you learn or take something way from an experience how can that be seen as a failure. Don't stop trying.
Career path
Estates Strategic Planning & Data Modelling lead
HM Revenue & Customs
Started 09/2020 to PresentSenior Digital Analyst
HM Revenue & Customs
From 02/2015 to 09/2020Business Analyst
Department for Work & Pensions
From 02/2007 to 02/2015Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
In my role no 2 days are ever the same, as someone who loves working in ambiguity and not knowing what the day is going to bring I relish the challenges my current position demands. My team at times are like a hub, we engage with colleagues across the department such as Design, Implementation, Projects, Finance, Property and Lines of Business to name a few. The engagement we have and insight/data we gather and develop to shape our planning assumptions, products and recommendations provide significant challenge but a great sense of achievement at the same time. The work we do feeds in to various boards and groups helping to inform key decisions made on the future of HMRC's workplace and workforce strategies, something that is a constantly changing landscape.
Pete
Situational Awareness Officer
Top Insider Advice
Once established the keep your options open. The department and Civil Service are vast, work is varied and options are unlimited. Look for opportunities to expand your knowledge, experience and contacts.
Sue
Operational Lead
Top Insider Advice
I have been very lucky in that I have almost always been given a role (or applied for one) that I have enjoyed in HMRC (or earlier departments). If you show that you are keen to learn and willing to listen, then you will find that opportunities will present themselves to you and you will progress in your career. When I was told that I would have to undertake taxes training in 2005, I was horrified. Having been trained in National Insurance and done various management roles, I thought that tax would be just too hard for me and that I wouldn't pass the exams. However, I committed wholeheartedly to the training programme. I studied hard and passed all the exams first time - even though my daughter was still a baby so I was constantly exhausted as well as having to travel to London once a week for 18 months for my tutorials!
Liz
CDIO Borders & Trade Recruitment and Workforce Lead
Top Insider Advice
Always be yourself, it you make a mistake then admit it, we are only human. Listen to the views of others around you. Treat staff how you would like to be treated but bear that everyone is individual and treat them accordingly.