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Chained to the desk? It needn’t be so with a Civil Service graduate career

The Civil Service needs graduates who can provide vital public services and support central government policies. This certainly doesn’t mean that civil servants are destined for desk work.

You won’t be destined for nine-to-five desk work in a graduate Civil Service job. For many civil servants, a working day involves meetings with members of the public, private sector organisations or clients within government in order to understand their needs.

A job with influence

Depending on the role, your specialist knowledge will be put to the test daily, whether collecting and analysing top secret data or producing briefings that provide government ministers with essential background information. The work of graduate civil servants could affect a minister’s opinion about a really important issue or perhaps even change a decision made at cabinet level.

Government jobs... they’re not just in London

It’s commonly thought that Civil servants work only in London but, in fact, they can work all over the UK. Around one in five is based in London but many offices have relocated away from the capital in recent years – the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Intellectual Property Office, for example, are both now based in South Wales. The devolution of power to the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Executive and the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly have also resulted in opportunities being spread across the UK.

Government jobs can also open a world of opportunities: some civil servants represent UK interests abroad while others are heavily involved in the work of the European Union (EU). You may be able to incorporate some travelling or overseas posts into your job.

Going private to benefit the public sector

As the public sector tightens its purse strings and strives to deliver more for the taxpayer’s money, civil servants look to the private sector for best practices in creating a more cost-effective and efficient service. As a result, you might find that work experience in the private sector helps your career significantly. It all depends on the department or graduate scheme you join and where your interests lie.

Competitive starting salaries

Starting salaries on the Civil Service Fast Stream vary depending on the department and location but are usually between £25,000 and £27,000. Graduate schemes with public bodies (for example the Audit Commission and the Financial Services Authority) also offer a salary in this region.

If you want to gain experience outside of a graduate scheme environment, you should be able to find a graduate-level job paying around the average graduate starting salary (£19,677 according to a Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey in 2009).

Big on benefits and training

For many graduates, the big attraction of a Civil Service career is the range of benefits on offer. Good pension schemes, generous holiday entitlement and flexible working practices (for example job shares, flexi-time and career breaks) are headline advantages.

You’ll also find a strong commitment to training and development: civil servants need to have a high awareness of the factors influencing their area of work. On an official graduate scheme such as the Civil Service Fast Stream, your employer will make a big investment in your training so that you are able to move rapidly toward a senior management post.

 

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