Transcript
Page 1: Civil Service Fast-stream

Civil Service Fast-stream

What to expect & How to

apply

Page 2: Civil Service Fast-stream

The Civil Service• The Civil Service serves the Government of

the day, developing and implementing policy, and delivering services to the public

• Politically neutral and remains unchanged when the Government changes

• Around 490,000 civil servants working around the UK and abroad in over 100 departments and agencies

• Working for the Civil Service means you are shaping how the country is run, and affecting the lives of everyone in the UK

Page 3: Civil Service Fast-stream

The Civil Service Faststream• Accelerated training and development

programme for those with the potential to become future leaders of the Civil Service

• Sequence of postings (12-18mths), usually in one department, to develop skills and experience

• Typically spend 2-4 years on Faststream• Leave when promoted to Team Leader level• Ranked in the top 5 of the Times Top 100

Graduate Employers

Page 4: Civil Service Fast-stream

Faststream schemes• Graduate Fast Stream

– Central Departments (vast majority)– European Fast Stream– Houses of Parliament– Science and Engineering– Diplomatic Service

• Also specialist schemes for Economists, Statisticians, HR and Technology in Business

• Can apply to more than one scheme at once

Page 5: Civil Service Fast-stream

Faststream advantages• Challenging work• Immediate responsibility and autonomy• Close contact with senior civil servants• Often work with Ministers• Management of people and resources• Fast-paced responsive work• Broad range of experience• Valuable network of contacts• Excellent training anddevelopment

Page 6: Civil Service Fast-stream

What will you be doing?• Your Faststream career will be unique,

depending on your interests, skills and experience, your department, and world events…

• Three main types of posts:– Developing policy (policy delivery)– Delivering public services (operational delivery)– Corporate operations (finance, HR, Press…)

• Tasks will change rapidly – must be adaptable

• Some examples…

Page 7: Civil Service Fast-stream

Ramin HassanDepartment for Work and Pensions• Two years of policy work, currently working as an Advisory Services Manager at Cambridge Jobcentre Plus.• Manages around 30 staff delivering front-line

services and administrative support.• Time is the main challenge for operations

managers; balancing short term needs, against measures to improve longer term performance

“Since joining the Civil Service, in August 2007, I have helped prepare Ministers and senior officials for appearances before Parliament, represented the UK at the UN on labour issues and now manage a large number of public-facing staff. The Fast Stream provides many such privileged opportunities in close succession, alongside generous training allowances.”

Page 8: Civil Service Fast-stream

Charlene WoolleyHMRC• First placement in Customs &

International Directorate - helped to implement the recommendations of the Cabinet Office report 'Security in a Global Hub'

• Currently working on facilitating the transfer of staff, assets and budgets to UKBA.

"I have watched key legislation relating to the project being debated in Lords. I have contributed to inter-departmental agreements, and had the opportunity to discuss changes with affected operational staff. I also regularly participate in director-level meetings".

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Ayesha AliDepartment for Transport

• Economic appraisal of major rail projects

• Impact assessments of EU related policies

• Constant engagement with colleagues from policy and others from the rail industry.

“Transport policy is an every day decision for people. This makes my work challenging but very rewarding when I see my ideas translate into everyday living”.

Page 10: Civil Service Fast-stream

Development• Development focused on your needs• 15+ days of training per year – both to gain

skills for the job and to gain wider personal skills

• Opportunity for a mentor from Senior Civil Service

• Opportunity for secondments to other Departments and Civil Service organisations, and externally, to gain wider experience

• You need to continually learn and improve

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Benefits• Competitive starting salary of £25,000 –

£27,000, and choice of generous pension• 25+ days holiday and 10.5 public holidays

(2.5 extra)• Supportive environment – flexible working, job

shares, career breaks• Opportunity for regional and international jobs• Real benefits are the work itself• Each department determines detailed terms

and conditions for its Faststreamers

Page 12: Civil Service Fast-stream

Career• Civil Service is a professional and rewarding

long-term career choice• Fast Stream develops you for the Senior Civil

Service• Core competencies:

– analysis and use of evidence – financial management – people management– project and programme management

• Promotion on performance and competence – so need drive to gain breadth and depth of skills and experience

Page 13: Civil Service Fast-stream

Application, selection & eligibility• Need a 2:2 degree in any discipline for general

scheme, other scheme requirements may vary• Majority of jobs open to European Economic

Area and Commonwealth citizens; some UK national only jobs

• Assessors have no background on candidates – committed to improving diversity, no discrimination

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Application and selection• Starts in September with online verbal and

numerical reasoning self-assessment• Half day e-tray exercise• One day assessment centre (group exercise,

policy exercises, and interview)• Merit based assessment of:

– drive for results– learning and improving – decision-making– constructive thinking– building productive relationships – communicating with impact

• Process may vary for other schemes

Page 15: Civil Service Fast-stream

Next steps• Need to be able to give examples as evidence

of competency at assessment centre • Seek to gain wider experience before applying

– internships and temporary jobs, other activities

• Information on main stream recruitment and other Civil Service graduate schemes at www.civilservice.gov.uk

• More information on the Fast Stream at www.civilservice.gov.uk/faststream

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Any questions?

Thank you


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