Who I Am

Hi! I’m Thomas, I am currently on the Diplomatic and Development Fast Stream in the FCDO. I joined because I wanted to help make a positive difference in the world and also to learn from incredible people and work on interesting issues!

The Path That Led Me Here

Before the Civil Service I was involved in Youth Council which was a great opportunity to understand how decision-makers work at a local level. It was my first chance to influence policy by trying to make it better reflect the views of young people. I enjoyed listening to my community and doing my best to represent these views in committees.

I studied Economics at Loughborough University – but don’t ask what sport I did! – after this I was eager for a job that would similarly allow me to represent and influence to make a positive change in the world.  

Getting My Foot in the Door

My first Civil Service role was as a Government Economics Service Placement Student, a 12-month internship where I was assigned to the FCDO. It was challenging to upskill and learn a lot very quickly, so asking lots of questions to everyone was key to speeding the process up. I also rotated teams quite frequently so being comfortable building new relationships became an important part of my development.

Having a team that recognised this was my first role while pushing me to take on extra responsibilities helped increase my confidence. I still catch-up with them even years later!

A Day in My Life

The FCDO can be a challenging but a very rewarding place to work. In my first year I had the opportunity to travel to seven countries meeting diplomats and policy shapers from all walks of life. Many remain good friends even after changing roles.

The day-to-day varies significantly, one day I was writing a briefing for my deputy director, the next I was unexpectedly speaking on a panel to a hundred delegates at the UN General Assembly in New York – terrifying! Nothing is predictable, in the middle of the week I was once called to work in our Crisis centre helping with our response to an earthquake and on Christmas Eve, I had to update a Minister on political developments in a country.

It is a stretching place to work, many of my peers agree we are trusted with a surprising level of responsibility, you’re always learning new things but you’re surrounded by great people who are happy to share their expertise. 

Lessons That Shaped My Career

Listening is more important than talking. Some believe diplomacy is about persuading others to accept your agenda, but real influence comes from understanding theirs. Just as diplomacy fosters cooperation between states, we can apply the same principles when working across government departments. I’ve seen often in meetings people rush to relay their own department’s views, but taking time to understand where others are coming from can mean we work more effectively.

What I Wish I Knew Earlier

Figuring out what is really urgent versus important can help protect your wellbeing. Getting healthy work-personal life habits early on is essential. In my internship I was too keen so I even once went to the office at 11pm to finish something and often worked on weekends. We are all familiar with endless deadlines and commissions. There may not be enough time to complete all tasks even at maximum efficiency, that’s ok – the world will (usually) not end if you stop work at closing hours.

The civil service has a great culture of flexible working something that can help get the best out of its staff, making sure you recognise signs of burnout early can mean you deliver more sustainably.

Subscribe for more real-world stories like Thomas’, and share your career pivot in the comments. Let’s learn together.