Anyone work for the civil service?

[Keke94LND]

Hi all, I am very interesting in a job for the civil service.. but I feel a bit overwhelmed with quite how many different departments and roles there are!

I'm wondering if anyone can give me some insight on what exactly I could join to do with my experience?

I have a 2:1 degree in Business and Management, I graduated 6 years ago, I have very minimal experience as an assistant in a research and communications team and then I have 6 years experience of working as an Executive Assistant and Office Manager in private finance..

I would be open to a civil service job as an executive assistant, as an in, but it really isn't what I want to do for my whole life and I would much rather something a little bit different!

Would I be able to get a job in the civil service and what kind of role do you think?

Thank you!

erm it's really hard to say without knowing you to be honest. there are thousands of different jobs across the civil service including Policy, Operations, Research, Legal, Analysis.

What i will say is once you are in it is much easier to move around as a lot more roles will be open to you especially at EO/HEO level which you would be as an office manager.

I can't answer whether you'd be able to get a job...interviews are competency (now behaviours based) ie the type of question where they ask "tell me about a time you showed this behaviour..." you can google civil service behaviours to take a look at them and then look at civil service interview questions for some ideas.

Frankly, anything you like. You're not pigeon holed with that degree or experience.

What bigger picture do you want to be part of?

Prisons and Probation
Home Office - immigration
Education
Forestry, Fishing
Public Health etc

Have a look at www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk for what's out there. Look at locations you want to work and what agencies are in that area for example.

There are thousands of jobs in the CS ! Worked there for 2) years. Fabulous employer . I have done full time, part time, term time only .. currently on full time compressed hours. Never work Fridays which is fab for long weekends . !

Just get yourself in ... once in you can hopscotch across departments.. my boss (bless) is about 26.. went in as an EO on 24k and is already 3 rungs up in 2 years and on 47k... go for it . Loads of interesting jobs .

If you can be flexible as to where you live (no partner /flexible partner ) then the sky is the limit .

The trick is to get 'in' as majority of posts are advertised internally. So go EO and get applying for promotion 6 months after arrival !

Most easier opportunities are in Home Office/DWP/ Cabinet office .

26 years NOT 2 years !!

@Finknottlesnewt

There are thousands of jobs in the CS ! Worked there for 2) years. Fabulous employer . I have done full time, part time, term time only .. currently on full time compressed hours. Never work Fridays which is fab for long weekends . !

Just get yourself in ... once in you can hopscotch across departments.. my boss (bless) is about 26.. went in as an EO on 24k and is already 3 rungs up in 2 years and on 47k... go for it . Loads of interesting jobs .

If you can be flexible as to where you live (no partner /flexible partner ) then the sky is the limit .

The trick is to get 'in' as majority of posts are advertised internally. So go EO and get applying for promotion 6 months after arrival !

Most easier opportunities are in Home Office/DWP/ Cabinet office .

Thank you :) this is great info! I live in London (can't remember if I mentioned that in my original post) and I'm buying a flat here so won't have any flexibility in terms of where I can work.. but I imagine there's a lot of civil service jobs in London anyway!

No need to imagine - it's a very simple search. 747 jobs within 3 miles of London. You can get more specific with postcodes etc.