Civil Service administrator
The role of Civil Service administrator is quite broad and can cover a wide range of tasks and responsibilities. The Civil Service is made up of a large number of different departments, which implement government policies and deliver services to the public. As an administrator you would contribute to the delivery of these services through duties such as research, compiling reports, working on policy documents.
The Civil Service is a significant employer, comprising departments, agencies and non-departmental government bodies (NDPBs), and employing just under half a million people. Approximately one quarter of which work in London or the South East, with the remaining three-quarters spread throughout the UK.
The tasks involved vary greatly according to the department in which an administrator is based, but are likely to include some or all of the following activities:
This area of work is generally open to all graduates and diplomates. In particular, the following degrees/HNDs may improve your chances of entry to some roles:
Entry without a degree, HND or foundation degree is commonly possible.
A postgraduate degree is not needed.
There are strict criteria regarding nationality for entry to the Civil Service and comprehensive guidelines are available on Civil Service Jobs . Any job in the Civil Service is open to applicants who are UK nationals or have dual nationality (with one being British). About 75% of Civil Service posts are also open to Commonwealth citizens and nationals of any of the member states of the European Economic Area (EEA).
Pre-entry experience is not required, although sandwich course placements, vacation visits and work experience are all offered by many government departments. These can be a useful way to gain relevant skills and try out working within the Civil Service.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
Speculative applications are not accepted. For further details on how to apply, check the Civil Service Jobs website. Some roles involve tests as part of selection. See How to Pass the Civil Service Qualifying Tests, which may be available in your careers service, for more information.
Most department vacancies are filled on a permanent basis but temporary or fixed-term posts are sometimes offered.
Many Civil Service departments and agencies are sponsors of The Windsor Fellowship , a charity established to encourage and support applicants from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups. This organisation offers work experience, training seminars and voluntary work through their Leadership Programme for Undergraduates. They also offer the Home Office Fellowship Programme to give participants an insight into Civil Service recruitment practices.
The Civil Service has a commitment to equal opportunities, and appointments are based on assessment of achievements, potential and skills against set competencies. There is no upper age limit for applications and some entrants are on their second career.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Most departments will offer on-the-job training and a mentor (usually a senior member of staff within the department) to offer advice and guidance.
On-the-job training includes learning from experienced staff and attending in-house training courses. There is a commitment within the Civil Service to lifelong learning and continuing professional development (CPD). The Professional Skills for Government (PSG) framework was introduced in 2008 to enable civil servants to plan their career. Individuals can use this framework to identify their training needs, both to improve the skills needed to perform well in their current job and to move roles or apply for promotion.
Training is provided via e-learning or by attending courses, depending upon the nature of the training required and the department or agency. The National School of Government runs a range of foundation courses to help develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand the structure and workings of the Civil Service.
The ethos of the Civil Service is to reward and recognise positive contributions by staff, although opportunities differ between departments and agencies. Recognition may be via promotion and/or pay increases, which may be performance-related.
The Professional Skills for Government (PSG) framework is intended to help civil servants to plan their career. It can be used to identify what skills you might need to gain to change role or seek promotion.
Moving between different roles and advancement to more senior levels is dependent on opportunities arising but there is usually plenty of scope for civil servants to move within departments. Salaries may be restricted by set pay scales, depending on Civil Service grade level.
The Civil Service is keen to shift the public’s opinion of it, from being seen as a stereotypically traditional organisation to one that it fast-moving and dynamic. The message being given is that as well as job security, the right candidate will have ample opportunity for development and progression in an exciting environment.
There are opportunities for civil servants to apply internally to the Civil Service Fast Stream .
It is a common misconception that civil servants are all based in London. In fact only around one in five work in the capital, the rest being employed in a variety of settings throughout the rest of the UK, including ports, tax offices, laboratories and at sea. They also work in a wide range of occupations, including training, social research, marketing and international development.
For a comprehensive list of departments and agencies, including the European Civil Service, see the Civil Service Jobs website. Vacancies may be advertised in any government department including:
See individual websites for further details about each department.
Individual departments will usually recruit through adverts in local or national newspapers and on their own websites.
Some government departments, such as the Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG) , HM Treasury , The Highways Agency (HA) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) , offer graduate recruitment schemes.
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