Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
Top Insider Advice
Something that has helped me to move up in my career at HMRC is taking on new tasks from working on additional projects for the HO's in Customs to training new starters to the business. I actually wrote and delivered a training package for new starters when I was AO in Customs, I felt this not only increased my skillset but it also helped me to make sure that anyone starting in the same role as me learnt the job from the perspective of an AO. I have also taken on projects where I have led a group of people, for example, clearing an email inbox where we had a large number of emails. I delegated colleagues to cover particular time slots, making sure that the emails that had been waiting the longest for a response were dealt with first.
Career path
Tax Compliance Caseworker
Hmrc
From 06/2024 to 03/2025Customer Service Consultant - Customs and International Trade Helpline
Hmrc
From 11/2020 to 06/2024Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
I'm motivated by doing the best I can for my customer, although I have now moved from Customer Service Group to Compliance Group, I am still dedicated to serving the people and working hard to deliver the best possible service to them. I am excited to now work in Campaigns and Projects to be able to help customers in many different ways.
Greatest achievements
Although not directly related to my work here at HMRC, something I'm particularly proud of was that in March 2020 I set up an organisation in my community to help us get through the Coronavirus Pandemic. We won the bid as an organisation from the City Council to be the only group in our town to be able to run the services needed to get us through from organising volunteers to do shopping for residents who were isolating to providing food parcels to those who needed them and running a team of telephone befrienders to call those who were isolating on their own and needed someone to talk to. I will always be proud that I created this scheme that helped my community to safely get through.
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.
Kris
Estates Strategic Planning & Data Modelling lead
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.
