Case studies: Policy officer: Zoë

Zoë studied an MA in International Relations and Modern History at the University of St. Andrews.

I currently work as a policy officer in the Europe Department of the Department for International Development (DFID). The DFID have recently launched an International Citizen Service , designed to support people volunteering overseas.

After graduating I spent four months temping as an administrative assistant in the Cabinet Office. In February 2006 I moved to Amsterdam to do a three-month internship with an NGO called ‘AWEPA’, which focused on strengthening African Parliaments. I was given a job as a project manager and worked there for two years. I then moved back to London to work at the Royal Commonwealth Society - first as a fundraiser and then as a project manager. During this time, I had been applying to the Civil Service Fast Stream, and on my third attempt in 2010, was lucky enough to be accepted. To my delight, I was allocated to the DFID.

I think my degree subject was partially relevant in securing my job. Fast Streamers in DFID generally seem to have studied and/or worked in international issues. However, I think my prior work experience was just as important and my degree was very helpful in securing those jobs previously.

My day normally begins with the many emails that I receive from the EU Council of Member States about various development issues. I make sure that relevant colleagues are kept informed and that they are aware of any comments they need to provide on EU draft documents.

I often then prepare a briefing for an EU meeting - perhaps a formal EU Council meeting that our Secretary of State might be attending in Brussels, a Cabinet Committee meeting on Europe, a gathering of EU Director-Generals, or the EU working group that meets weekly on development issues.

It takes a while to get used to civil service speak and understand how the department works and after ten months I feel I have learnt a huge amount. My next job, starting in May, will be as an assistant private secretary to one of DFID’s three Ministers. And after that, I will be posted overseas to work in one of DFID’s offices in a developing country in Africa or Asia.

The range of development issues that the EU covers makes my current job particularly interesting. DFID is a fantastic place to work, and my colleagues are dedicated and incredibly knowledgeable.

The most challenging aspects are the tight deadlines and my workload, which can be quite tricky to balance. Often I only have a couple of hours to gather the information that I need to provide, which can be difficult.

As a civil servant, you work with the aim of serving the public. And by working on the UK’s international development policy, I have the opportunity to help people in the world’s poorest countries. I find this a rather inspiring reason to get out of bed in the morning.

It has never been an easy time to get into the international development sector as it’s very competitive and popular. However, if you are willing to work your way up from the bottom, perhaps by volunteering, doing an internship or taking yourself off to a developing country to work on the ground, then it is possible.

AGCAS

Sourced by AGCAS editors

Date: 

April 2011

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