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Top Insider Advice

Identify your long term career aspirations, set specific goals and achievable goals to guide your progression Take advantage of training programmes, workshops, and seminars to enhance your skills and knowledge Take on new challenges - volunteer for projects or tasks outside your daily responsibilities Smile - build relationships with peers, leaders, mentors Prioritise your well-being, maintain a healthy work life balance, always set boundaries

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Career path

VAT Policy - VAT Reliefs, Financial Services and Insurance Premium Tax

HMRC

From 12/2024 to 03/2025

Company

What do you like about your job and the company?

I am given numerous opportunities to continue learning, with various avenues available for exploration and growth at any time. I appreciate the ability to make decisions and have control over my work, along with the flexibility to manage my time and maintain a healthy work-life balance. I enjoy financial independence and benefit from the financial perks that come with the job, such as discounts, dental insurance, gym memberships, health coverage, and eye tests. I feel a strong sense of purpose and impact, contributing to meaningful work that positively affects our society and country.

Greatest achievements

In my Compliance role, I ensured customers adherence to tax compliance paying the right tax at the right time and managed tax risk. These responsibilities honed my analytical skills and attention to detail. Driven by a passion for public policy, I sought opportunities to transition into a Policy role. I engaged in training, seminars, and job shadowing to gain a deeper understanding of policy development and implementation.

Other insiders

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.

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.

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.

Discussions with Viola .