Case studies : Criminal and enforcement policy advisor: Rachel Heatherly

Rachel took the Fast Stream route into the Civil Service and now works as a criminal and enforcement policy advisor at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). At Oxford she read classical archaeology and ancient history (BA) and took a Masters in classical archaeology. She then went on to study a second Masters in international public policy at University College London.

Having decided not to pursue a career in archaeology, I took a short-term administrative position at Ofsted, which exposed me to a range of business areas. I developed a particular interest in policy-making, and after spending a few months travelling I returned to university to gain a deeper understanding of public policy, specifically the issues surrounding international development and cooperation. 

These studies have proved highly pertinent to my current role at HMRC but were absolutely not required in order to secure a place on the Fast Stream. The application process is designed to test skills and potential, not knowledge. The analytical skills and ability to draw together evidence from a range of sources which I developed through my archaeological studies were of perhaps the greatest importance to my Fast Stream application.

Projects in the Criminal and Enforcement Policy team are often quite exciting - ranging from identity theft and cyber crime, to smuggling and terrorist finance. A typical day involves email correspondence, a number of short informal meetings, reading reports and doing research around the projects in question. Training, personal development and networking are also significant parts of my schedule. 

My personal responsibilities can, however, vary considerably from day-to-day; from writing speeches and briefing other areas of the department, to supporting legal proceedings, or even travelling to Paris as a UK delegate to attend an international meeting on tax crime. The most challenging part of the job so far has been getting up to speed on all the technical (often legal) knowledge underpinning my team’s work.

There are lots of exciting, high-profile projects to get involved in at HMRC and within the Fast Stream more widely, and plenty of scope to take on responsibility and pursue areas of particular interest. The Fast Stream network also fosters a real sense of camaraderie, both within the department and across Whitehall. At the end of the programme I hope to continue progressing in the Civil Service, but with a greater focus on international development.

The sheer number of possibilities, in different policy fields and across all business areas, is a definite bonus of working in the public sector. It is exciting when you find yourself at the cutting edge of national and even international politics, and very satisfying to see your work have a visible impact beyond the office. The work-life balance in this sector is also particularly good.

There are a number of routes into a career in the Civil Service. The Fast Stream is great if you want to progress quickly, get lots of experience in a short amount of time and follow a structured training package. To take this route I cannot recommend practising for the online application tests strongly enough. Once you’re through that stage and at the assessment day they will be looking for experiences beyond the academic, so get involved in clubs or societies, and work out what you’ve learned from these experiences. Keeping an eye on current affairs is also a must, but more than anything - know why you want the job.