Are you interested in working for the Civil Service? If so, read this excellent update on Civil Service Recruitment from Matt Vickers, Careers Consultant (Engineering and Maths).
The Civil Service is one of the largest employers in the UK. It supports the Government to implement its policies and offers an opportunity to contribute to challenging, fast-paced work that makes a difference to the whole of society.
Getting in
The Civil Service recruits graduates through:
1. Direct entry into its many departments and agencies as Administrative Officers or specialists (e.g. Assistant Statisticians).
2. The Fast Stream. Fast Streamers work across the Civil Service, typically gaining experience of working in different government departments, as they are developed to become our future leaders. The programme offers potential for career progression to reach the very highest levels of the organisation. Applicants may be serving Civil Servants as well as university finalists and graduates, making it a competitive process – although Edinburgh graduates have fared well in the process over recent years. This affords the opportunity to begin as a direct entrant then subsequently apply to The Fast Stream.
3. In addition, the Civil Service runs two Diversity Programmes to offer a paid insight for candidates from ethnic minority, socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or who have a disability:
- Early Diversity Internship Programme Diversity (1 week; undergraduates in their first year.)
- Summer Diversity Internship Programme (6-9 weeks; students in their final 2 years at university, which can include postgraduate studies immediately following your first degree.) The programme offers two options:
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- General programme, (all students) or
- Digital Data and Technology, DDaT (STEM students)
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Fast Stream Opportunities
*Applications open at noon on Thursday, 23 September 2021 and close after 4 weeks*
- Generalist (2.2, any degree)
- Government Statistical Service (GSS) (2.1, degree where 25% is taught statistical content or PG degree in a subject including stats)
- Government Operational Research Service (GORS) (2.1 or 2.2+PG, highly numerate degree)
- Digital, Data, Technology and Cyber (2.2, any degree)
- Commercial (=Purchasing) (2.2, any degree)
- Finance (=Accounting) (2.1, any degree)
- Project Delivery (2.2, any degree)
- Diplomatic Service (2.2, any degree; UK Citizen; resided in the UK for 5 of last 10 years, including 12-month consecutive period)
- Human Resources (HR) (2.2, any degree)
- Houses of Parliament (2.2, any degree)
- Diplomatic & Development Economics (2.1 or postgraduate degree in a subject at least 50% economics; UK Citizen; resided in the UK for 5 of last 10 years, including 12-month consecutive period)
- Property (2.2, any degree)
- Science & Engineering (2.1 + MSc/PhD by the time you begin the scheme)
Worth knowing…
Devolution
The Fast Stream is UK-wide, with some posts being based in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland; (e.g. international aid posts within the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) – formerly the Department for International Development (DfID) – are located in London and East Kilbride). In addition, devolution means that many non-Fast Stream posts are recruited directly by the devolved nations’ civil services, giving you additional opportunities in:
- Scotland (including a new Graduate Development Scheme)
- Wales (including a new All Wales Public Service Graduate Programme)
- Northern Ireland
Local level
Beyond national government, civil servants also work in Local government. There is a National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) run by the Local Government Association in England and MyJobScotland advertises roles within Scotland’s 32 local authorities.
Health
The NHS in each of the devolved nationals also offers opportunities in administration, policy, data, GP practice management and other roles as well as running graduate leadership schemes not too dissimilar to the Fast Stream:
- Scotland: NHS Scotland jobs and NHS Scotland Graduate Management Training Scheme (General Management; Finance Management)
- England: NHS Jobs and NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, GMTS (General Management; Finance Management; Health Analysis; Health Informatics; HR; Policy & Strategy)
- Wales: NHS Wales Graduate Management Scheme (General Management; Finance Management)
- Northern Ireland: Health & Social Care Jobs Northern Ireland and Management Training Scheme (General Management; Procurement & Logistics; IT; Engineering; HR),
Finally…
To gain a real sense of other public sector opportunities, browse the job vacancy archive on MyCareerHub. From the Opportunities tab, go to:
> More Search Options
> Industry (Select Public sector) then
> [Tick box at bottom] Include expired opportunities
