Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
Top Insider Advice
A job can sound great from the headline, but read the description properly and think carefully if this is a good first job on a ladder of progression or could it be the next one on your way onwards and upwards? Ask yourself what are your strengths? What am I good at? What needs working on? Where do I want to go and how am I going to get there? If you aren't actually too sure where the path may lead, don't overly worry yourself, picking up skills and knowledge in any job is always a good thing. The trick is to know what you have and what you need next. You may have good experience in one area of work, but you need some experience in another to move forward, so sometime a sideways move can work too! I did a sideways temporary move in to VAT import policy as I wanted to understand how it fitted with my litigation work and how policy was developed. I did this for 7 months and it gave me insight in to how things like ministerial submissions were drafted and how communication with stakeholders was so important in this. I used this experience to further my knowledge and it helped me do a better job application for my current role as it demonstrated I was willing to stretch and develop myself. Keep trying and learn from any feedback you are given- it can be very useful ! Good luck!
Career path
Tax Technical Advisor
HMRC
From 08/2021 to 09/2024Team Leader
HMRC
From 08/1984 to 08/1990Admin Officer
HMRC
From 01/1992 to 08/1994Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
My main role is to respond accurately to questions that colleagues from other departments within HMRC may have in interpreting legislation and guidance. They may have come across a situation that is unique and are struggling to find an answer on how to deal with it in the correct way. The guidance that is available, together with the legislation and caselaw just may explain their situation and so they raise an enquiry with my team. Should the subject matter be something I lead on, for example securities for tax, then I will check to see if we have had a similar question before which will enable me to answer quickly. If this is not the case, then I will go through the various guidance, notes and legislation to prepare an accurate response. This part of my job I really enjoy as some of the legislation can be complex and difficult to read. I have a time limit in which to prepare a response to ensure things don't drag on or get forgotten about in a busy environment, so planning work around enquiries is crucial. By providing accurate responses, it supports and develops colleagues knowledge base so hopefully avoiding repeat questions on the same topic, which is also an important role of my department.
Greatest achievements
This sticks out as it involved sending a group of criminals to prison for over 100 years and the effort I put in with my team was huge. I have had some good litigation results and even though you can lose sometimes, I stayed positive and learnt from it. The work I have the greatest sense of personal achievement for is definitely being a swimming coach for a group of athletes who have overcome massive physical and emotional challenges following an organ transplant. The pride of watching someone overcome so many things in their lives to reach the pinnacle of their sport is huge. Helping and supporting them to believe in themselves has been one of my greatest achievements. All the years of coaching swimming at all levels has left me with a desire to teach and pass on knowledge, and I try to do this in my job in HMRC.
Paul
Lead Business Manager
Top Insider Advice
Make a difference in whatever you do. The roles in your career may change frequently or be quite stable. You may stick to one profession, end up working in a few or work in one you would never have expected to work in. Your best profession may not yet even exist! But whatever you do - make a positive difference. That difference can be to your customers, the public, the service you provide or the people you work with. It will be different in the roles you do - but make sure you change things for the better.
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.
Zoe
Secretariat
Top Insider Advice
One thing I've found since being in HMRC is that there is a real motivation for the workforce to reflect the diverse society that we serve. The success profiles often used in recruitment can seem daunting, but actually they allow everyone no matter what kind of previous experience we have, to demonstrate those transferable skills, or behaviours, which can be drawn upon, with the right training, to be successful in a brand new role. So don't let anything make you think you don't have what HMRC need or want, whether that be challenging personal circumstances, health difficulties, or lack of prior experience, the Civil Service is here to support everyone in our society, and so it should be made up of a diverse workforce that can accurately represent everyone.
