What experience do you need to become a civil servant?

Civil servants are employed by the government to impartially implement their policies and laws. This spreads into almost every space of our public and private lives. From teaching, to water i our taps, trains at the station, social work, and health and disease. Civil Service jobs can cover a range of different skills and qualifications.

Ministers are assisted by over half a million of civil servants working in 24 ministerial departments and executive agencies. These jobs have good training opportunities and it’s easy for staff to transfer between departments. This is useful when there are changes to the way we run our country. Civil Service jobs are mostly not dependent on the current government. If that changes most people’s jobs remain the same.

How to get a job in the Civil Service

The different routes into the Civil Service include:

• moving directly into a Civil Service job (permanent or fixed-term contracts, full or part time
• a 2-year Civil Service Fast Track apprenticeship programme
• the graduate Civil Service Fast Stream scheme
• the Summer Diversity Internship programme for under-represented groups such as those from ethnic minorities or persons with disabilities
• the Movement to Work scheme offering work experience for unemployed young people
• student placements 

This means that you don’t necessarily need a degree to qualify for government jobs. That said, you do usually have to have at least two good-quality GCSE grades and some useful experience. This could be in any related area, like administration, or customer service. The current application process means you’ll need to show you can:

• work well in a team
• communicate with others
• work with numbers

You might also be assessed on specific skills, knowledge and behaviours that fit in with the values of the Civil Service. Search for available government jobs with VERCIDA today.