Why I Joined the Civil Service

Hi, my name is Shannon and I have recently joined the Ministry of Defence as an Executive Officer within the Army Civilian workforce team.

I didn’t know much about the Civil Service going in, but the benefits and opportunities on offer are absolutely amazing.  For me the ability for hybrid and flexible working was a key factor in my job search and the Civil Service really supports this, ensuring I can get a really good work life balance that suits my needs.

The opportunities for learning and development and career progression are also excellent. I’ve already been encouraged to think about what I want to do with my career and what they can do to support and help me develop the right skills to get there; whether through completing a course or apprenticeship or getting involved with other areas within the team to upskill my knowledge and experience. Within my first few weeks I have already been trusted to complete and present a project taking me out of my comfort zone and the support and reassurance received was really refreshing to see.

Reflecting on my first few months at MOD, I’m really happy I made the career change. I knew it would be a challenge and something outside of my comfort zone and it’s unlike any job I’ve had previously. My team have been really welcoming and supportive and I’ve been made to feel like a valued member of the team even in my short time here. I’ve been able to meet lots of different people across the organisation, both fellow civil servants and military colleagues, across all grades and ranks, from all walks of life, and everyone has been really friendly making it a really nice atmosphere to work in.

It’s been a challenging time for the team with lots of changes coming into place and trying to learn a new role within this atmosphere of fast-paced change can be quite daunting at times; but it’s given me a valuable opportunity to be part of these impactful changes, inputting ideas, providing advice, and taking ownership of the end processes as part of my work portfolio. My new role has given me the chance to utilise and develop the professional knowledge I’ve gained through study and my professional career in ways I’ve never been able to before, and I can really see how the work I’m doing impacts and makes a difference to the wider organisation.

MOD is a really interesting place to be a part of and I’m really enjoying all the opportunities I’ve had so far.