For my first blog for the Unofficial Civil Service Guide, I wanted to share some reflections from my career in the Civil Service so far for those who have recently joined.

I’ve been in the Civil Service for just over 7 years and have been fortunate enough to work in 5 departments across multiple professions and have landed in an area (energy) which I enjoy and find very rewarding. Reflecting on how I have been able to do this has made me conclude something potentially surprising – I don’t think my success has solely earned.

Why do I say this?  

I had all the perfect circumstances for success from early on – I was very fortunate to have two loving parents who were in a position to prioritise putting me through a great education from a very early age, which gave me the confidence that I could pursue any career option I wanted to if I was willing to be dedicated and take chances (my supportive brother also deserves mention here).

Domestic and global shocks creating opportunities – my entry into the Civil Service through the Fast Stream in 2019 was possible largely due to increased recruitment drives by previous governments to deliver leaving the EU, which helped my chances of securing a role through the application process. Beyond this, further domestic and international crises enabled me to benefit from informal job opportunities, which required no formal interview process, and enabled me to secure most of the permanent roles I’ve had in the Civil Service post-Fast Stream.

I was given help throughout my career – from the application process for the Fast Stream, to preparations for Grade 7 interviews, I’ve been lucky enough to receive great advice and support from some great people, for which I’m very grateful, as I would not be where I am now without them.

The Civil Service’s tendency to reward visibility over performance – whilst I don’t think I’m incompetent, I think the main reason I am where I am now is because of my visibility to seniors who ultimately decide who gets staffed into the exciting short-term opportunities. Being in London and being able to establish good relationships with these seniors has been a critical enabler of this.

The last point, I think, reflects a fundamental current truth for how the Civil Service operates. Across all departments I’ve worked in, I do not think that there are strong formal procedures in place to ensure that performance gets rewarded consistently or fairly. This is something I think a lot of people in the Civil Service are aware of, which leads to people (and seniors specifically) looking out for those whom they view as talented and doing their best to move them up through providing increased exposure to informal opportunities.

I do not think pre-identifying talented individuals and supporting them is inherently negative, and likely reflects practices across organisations outside the public sector (though this my guess as I do not have direct experience outside the public sector), but when this is the only way in which talent is rewarded, it’s left susceptible to biases determining one’s chances of success. This is something that, if left unchanged, will hurt the Civil Service in the long run, and is something I’m keen to change for as long as I continue to work in the Civil Service.

For those who have recently joined the Civil Service and are trying to get on, I would share four pieces of advice

• Be visible – in the current system, good performance is important but ensuring that you’re in people’s minds when future opportunities arise is equally key. Explore ways in which you can be visible in your team and department as a good performer, leader, collaborator, and someone who is committed to continuous learning.
• Build a network – invest time in building your network with colleagues, not only in your immediate team, but outside and in other departments. You’ll meet great people along the way, who you’ll be able to learn from and build great relationships with (and probably work with down the line).
• Don’t let the periods of failure hurt your drive – there will inevitably be times when you attempt to go for something and it does not work out, or you feel like you are not being noticed for the work that you are putting in. Although tough, these moments do not have to be times which hurt your drive and aspiration. View them as opportunities to learn, and when there are future opportunities, try again; eventually, it will land.  
• Always give back – when you do get success (however you define it), prioritise sharing your knowledge and experiences with others who are looking to follow a similar path, and especially with those who are potentially less confident in their own capabilities, or exposed to opportunities.