Careers - Civil Service
Civil Service
Similar to local government, the Civil Service provides services directly to people all over the country. Civil Servants work in a range of government departments and contribute to the delivery of services in various areas including justice, education and health. Many Civil servants also work on policy development and implementation, including analysts, project managers, lawyers and economists.
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As Civil Servants are accountable to the public, they need to meet the highest possible standards in all that we do.
Civil servants aim to have:
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integrity - putting the obligations of public service above personal interests
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honesty - being truthful and open
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objectivity - basing advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence
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impartiality - acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving governments of different political parties equally well
Entry Level
Civil Service Jobs is an online portal containing all externally advertised jobs, and can be accessed here.
You are able to filter searches by department, contract type and job grade. Majority entry level roles will require you to complete 250-word statements to show your suitability to Civil Service Behaviours. Some applications may require you to complete a personal statement and/or complete a section on employment history and skills gained. Additionally, some roles may require online tests to be completed, and will only pass you onto further stages if the online tests have been passed.
At interview stage, you may be asked questions on strengths, experiences or behaviours. Behaviours tend to be the most commonly adopted method for interview. Whilst candidates may prepare behaviour answers, it is important to answer the question at hand and use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to clearly outline how your specific actions helped you achieve the outcome.
Graduate Scheme
The Civil Service Fast Stream is the government’s flagship fast-track graduate programme. Graduates support the government of the day to implement its policies effectively on behalf of every community across the UK. The award-winning Fast Stream programme, which has consistently ranked first in The Times top 100 graduate employers, develops talented, high-potential people to become future Civil Service leaders.
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Offering access to roles in just about every government department, the Fast Stream opens up a huge range of opportunities to explore. The length of the Fast Stream will depend on the stream you apply for, but typically it lasts 3-4 years, with graduates experiencing 3-4 placements in different government departments.
Internships
Early Diversity Internship Programme
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The award winning Early Diversity Internship Programme is available to first-year undergraduates from diverse backgrounds. The 5-day placement in a government department gives you valuable insight and understanding of what it's like to be on the Fast Stream.
If you're interested in a career in the Civil Service, it's an ideal way to learn in a short space of time if we're right for you. It’s also a great foundation for applying to the Summer Internship Programme (SIP).
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Summer Diversity Internship Programme
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The multi-award winning Summer Internship Programme (SIP) gives people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to see what a career in the Civil Service is like. It puts talented undergraduates and graduates on a work placement in a government department. As a successful applicant, you’ll get an insight into the broad range of opportunities available across the Civil Service.
You’ll also be invited to undertake Fast Pass, which is a quicker route to Fast Stream selection. The Fast Pass means if you receive a positive appraisal during the SDIP internship, and then apply for Fast Stream that year, you’ll be fast-tracked past the initial online selection stages. You’ll also have the option to defer your Fast Pass to the following year. As part of the programme you will receive coaching to support. This gives you an excellent chance to succeed on the Fast Stream.
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship puts you in a paid position whilst allowing you to study for professional accreditation. Once you complete your apprenticeship you will have all the relevant knowledge to progress in your chosen field.
Since 2015, the Civil Service has recruited over 40,000 apprentices across multiple locations, departments and professions. Being a Civil Service apprentice gives you the opportunity to shape the decisions that impact our lives and deliver the public services upon which we all rely.
Find a Civil Service Apprenticeship in the Civil Service Jobs portal. You can sign up for apprenticeships alerts tailored to your skills and experience at the Civil Service Jobs portal (note - you will need to create an account in the Civil Service Jobs portal to sign up for apprenticeships alerts).
