Civil Service Careers (2024)

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Civil Service Fast Stream

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Civil Service Careers (6)

Civil Service Careers (7)

Scheme Duration

3 years

Location

UK wide

Scheme Overview

On the Science and Engineering Fast Stream (SEFS) you’ll use your science and engineering skills to help shape government policy and decision-making.

Society faces many challenges which science can help solve. The Civil Service needs highly talented, versatile, and numerate science and engineering leaders to deliver on exciting and challenging work that will make a difference to the lives of people across the UK.

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the essential role of scientists and engineers in improving Government decision-making: to ensure not only that scientific evidence underpins policy but that it is also effectively communicated.

You may be a science or engineering graduate straight out of university, an experienced postgraduate academic, a seasoned industry professional or an existing civil servant with a technical background. Join the Science and Engineering Fast Stream and you will become part of a modern, vibrant and active community of professionals with one goal in common: to give back to the communities they serve.

Entry Requirements

  • eligible to work in the UK
  • you need, or expect to have, before the start of the programme, a 2:1 or higher undergraduate degree in any subject including degree apprenticeships
  • and hold a postgraduate degree in any science or engineering discipline, or be a chartered engineer or scientist registered by one of the professional institutions licensed by the Engineering Council or by the Science Council. For Integrated Masters you need, or expect to have, a 2:1 or higher.
  • we expect you to have secured your postgraduate degree before you start the programme.

Who is the scheme suitable for

Over three years you will experience a wide range of stretching but rewarding postings across the Civil Service such as assistant Private Secretary to Ministry of Defence Chief Scientific Adviser, Earth Observations Policy Support in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and a Materials Advisor for The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. These are the types of roles you may experience and this means that you will likely work in areas outside of your scientific/engineering knowledge, and you will use your experience and expertise to grow through a tailored and accelerated leadership development programme. The Government Science Engineering Profession are keen to broaden experience and the SEFS scheme offers a unique interchange placement which may include working in Local Government, Charity and Private Sector roles. Together, these postings will develop your ability to apply your scientific mindset and your leadership potential, to prepare you to become a future senior leader in the Civil Service.

During all of your postings you will be involved in building and applying scientific knowledge so that Government can address key issues such as climate change or sustainable housing. You could be conducting critical analysis of large datasets, modelling a public health crisis or generating new evidence to inform decision making for clean energy. You may also be working to create new legislation and regulation, or helping industry to comply with statutory requirements, such as food safety standards or transport emissions.

From your scientific background you will understand the importance of developing and communicating evidence bases by interacting with scientific communities in academia and industry.

You will be passionate about science and engineering, and whilst on the programme will advocate for increasing its use across the Civil Service, and help to promote the Government Science and Engineering Profession.

As a future leader, you will be expected to lead on work from an early stage, including but not exclusively of a technical nature. This might involve management of research projects or working with policy teams to develop solutions for ministers and senior civil servants. By acting as an intelligent customer, you could oversee technical work to ensure successful delivery of a policy like a new inter-city transport project, or a research programme into artificial intelligence. To do so you will work adeptly and strategically with academics, industry experts and other key delivery partners inside and outside of Government.

You could also be involved in horizon scanning work to identify future trends and patterns of emerging technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, or genomics. You may be involved in applying systems thinking to help solve some of the highly complex problems Government faces.

Your unique skillset combining technical and leadership ability, and your adaptability to work in both technical and non-technical environments will make you widely deployable across the Civil Service at the end of the programme. When you finish after three years, you may wish to specialise in specific policy areas, taking on technical leadership and oversight roles, potentially influenced by your specific disciplinary background. Or you may instead want to use your scientific and engineering skills in a policy or operational delivery role, bringing a fresh perspective to teams. Alternatively, you may focus instead on direct leadership and management roles, but remain affiliated to the profession, and continue to promote science and engineering across the Civil Service.

Which ever path you eventually take, the Science and Engineering Fast Stream will develop you into a confident and inspiring future senior leader of the Civil Service, supporting our ambition to put science and engineering at the heart of Government policy making.

Demystifying the Science and Engineering scheme

Supporting your learning

You’ll receive core training from the Cabinet Office alongside specialist training unique to the Science and Engineering Fast Stream. This specialist learning is linked to the Government Science and Engineering Profession’s career framework, and includes:

  • building a portfolio of knowledge and experience equipping you for leadership success in the Science & engineering profession
  • a mixture of face-to-face training courses and e-learning packages
  • the opportunity to build relationships with external industry partners and academia
  • bespoke training opportunities aimed at addressing your specific learning needs, enabling you to broaden your understanding of science and engineering in the Civil Service
  • a programme of support for gaining membership and chartership through external professional institutions – we have developed close partnerships with a number of science and engineering bodies, who provide professional development and application support exclusively for Government Science & Engineering (GSE) members
  • the GSE Profession Team is always looking to continuously improve the scheme – as a scheme participant you will be invited to actively participate in task and finish groups aimed at improving the scheme offer and outreach
  • once graduated off the scheme you will become a member of the SEFS Alumni network which is managed by the GSE Profession team. The Alumni network builds and connects a community of professionals with shared experience. It provides an environment to support learning, further career development opportunities, and to share knowledge and top tips
  • the GSE Profession have developed a skills assessment tool that allows you to track your GSE technical skills against the GSE career framework and access science and engineering related learning opportunities tailored to your development goals
  • access to two new e-learning courses to help you in your new role, ‘Understanding and Accessing Science and Engineering Advice’ and ‘Communicating Science and Engineering Advice’. These courses include video insights from the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and Chief Scientific Advisers across government, as well as knowledge checks and reflections to help you apply lessons learnt into your role
  • APM Project Fundamentals Qualification – The GSE profession have added a 2-day course to our Learning and Development curriculum. The course is offered to Science and Engineering Fast Streamers in the 3rd year on the scheme. The course is to understand project management and the operating environment. To understand project life cycles, project management planning and the roles and responsibilities within projects and to understand quality, communication, leadership and teamwork – all within the context of a project

Civil Service Careers (8)

The benefits you’ll enjoy

Benefits include the Civil Service Pension Scheme, flexible working, season ticket loans, sports and social activities, child care assistance and more.

Civil Service Careers (9)

Sadie talks about her experience on the Operational Delivery scheme, and why she chose to apply.

Read Sadie’s story

“You’ll get a real breadth of experience. You’ll work at the cutting edge of science and technology innovation. And you’ll have an impact from day one.”

Tara

Science & Engineering Fast Streamer

Science and Engineering Fast Streamer, Tara

Scheme placement details

Show more

Building a foundation: supporting science, engineering and technical advice in government.

This is a 12 month posting in a Higher Executive Officer Science and Engineering role.

Working with a Chief Scientific Advisor or providing expert advice and analysis to inform a specific area of science policy.

Opportunities to interact or work with academics or government scientists working on primary research, exposure to scientific literature/research.

Opportunities to work with research councils or funding bodies.

Broadening your outlook: gaining relevant experience outside the Civil Service.

This is two 6 month postings:

  • 6 months – Departmental Policy Role
  • 6 months – Secondment

The first will be a departmental policy posting in a different area of the Civil Service. The second posting will be a secondment outside the Civil Service such as in the private or charity sectors. These postings will offer you new perspectives on how science and engineering inform policy.

Breaking new ground: expanding your skill set, experience and expertise.

This is a 12 month posting in a stretching Senior Executive Officer role with Leadership and Management elements

You will take on a new challenge in a different policy area within government, stepping up your leadership and management elements as you bring technical expertise and policy together. You’ll confidently take on new areas of work, drawing on the skills and competencies developed in the previous two years.

Explore the schemes

See all the Fast Stream schemes

Discover the stories

See all case studies

Understand the process

Read about the application process

Civil Service Careers (2024)

FAQs

How to answer Civil Service questions? ›

Listen carefully to the question, answer what is being asked, not what you think you have heard. Always make it clear why the example or demonstration of skills is relevant. Think about the required strengths and how you are going to answer the question in a positive and energetic way, backed up with a brief example.

How to score high on a Civil Service test? ›

Take practice tests, like those offered by iPrep. Determine your weaknesses, and spend more time studying those section of the material. Work with a partner or study group. Attend a refresher course either in the classroom or online.

How to answer Civil Service questions on Reddit? ›

I expect the candidate to provide some general evidence and an example in the STAR format. Occasionally for Technical, we might ask for a presentation but you would be given a topic in advance eg Explain how you would implement Benefits Management in a new Programme.

Is the Civil Service test hard on Reddit? ›

The exam was extremely difficult, not just my unit who took the supervisor exam which was essentially our exam with additional questions but other units throughout the state complained about how hard it was. I was told I need to be reachable to obtain my position.

How to pass a civil service work strengths test? ›

Tips and Techniques to Help You Pass the Exam

Before taking the test, read the job's description and make sure you know what qualities and traits are required in this position. This will help you to choose the best answers that will make your strengths shine. Pay attention to all the details in the scenarios.

What are the ice breaker questions for the civil service? ›

Ice Breaker Example Questions
  • Tell us about yourself.
  • Why did you apply for a role in the civil service?
  • Can you share an achievement you're particularly proud of?
  • What is something you are looking forward to?
  • What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

What did people need to learn to pass the civil service exam? ›

Depending on the specific position for which you are applying, you may be taking a federal, state, or municipal exam. Regardless, all Civil Service tests generally require at least a 70 percent score to pass and cover areas such as reading and writing proficiency, clerical abilities, math, and reasoning skills.

How to pass civil service verbal test? ›

Thus, don't rush and take your time. Read the text carefully, pay attention to all the details, and be sure you submit the correct answer before moving on to the next question. What makes the Civil Service Verbal Test especially challenging is its True/False/Cannot say options.

How do you nail a civil service interview? ›

Preparing examples from your lived experiences will help you to become more confident and will allow you to quickly recall this information. Use the job description and your application to think of some questions you might be asked during your interview.

What type of questions were on the civil service exam? ›

You'll likely see problem-solving questions that include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You may be presented with a group of words and asked which one is spelled correctly. You'll also likely find questions that will ask you to identify sentences that contain proper grammar.

What are civil service strength questions? ›

Questions interviewers may ask to assess your civil service strengths include:
  • What motivates you at work? ...
  • Would you say you're skilled at delivering unpleasant news? ...
  • How do you handle interpersonal conflict in a civil service setting? ...
  • What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

Which is the toughest exam of civil services? ›

UPSC CSE is undoubtedly one of the most India's toughest exam. It serves as the gateway to prestigious positions like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). It is conducted in three stages – Prelims, Mains, and the Interview round.

Should you study for the civil service exam? ›

Understanding the civil service exam format, studying the provided prep manual, creating a personalized study guide, and taking practice tests are all crucial steps in the preparation process.

What is a good rank for civil service test? ›

Successful candidates are awarded a score of 95, 85, or 75 based on their performance. This model provides an additional ranking method for state agencies administering civil service examinations.

How to answer making effective decisions in Civil Service? ›

Share your core belief. Situation: Illustrate a scenario where you demonstrated dedication to 'Making Effective Decisions'. This could be a project that required careful analysis, a challenging situation where you took responsibility, or an instance where you guided others in decision-making.

What type of questions were on the Civil Service exam? ›

You'll likely see problem-solving questions that include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You may be presented with a group of words and asked which one is spelled correctly. You'll also likely find questions that will ask you to identify sentences that contain proper grammar.

What is a good example of working together Civil Service? ›

Good examples of working together include supporting, collaborating, and offering help to colleagues, sharing your thoughts, listening and learning from colleagues' ideas, and giving advice to get tasks completed.

What is Civil Service for dummies? ›

civil service, the body of government officials who are employed in civil occupations that are neither political nor judicial. In most countries the term refers to employees selected and promoted on the basis of a merit and seniority system, which may include examinations.

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