From Herts to the heart of government: working for the UK Civil Service

Priscilla Enobun completed a BA (Hons) Accounting and Management Science degree at Herts in 2010. After several years in finance and other roles, Priscilla began exploring new opportunities and was drawn to the breadth and purpose of a Civil Service career. She applied and soon secured a support role at the 2021 G7 Summit in Cornwall, a gathering of the world's most advanced economies. She was part of the core team responsible for coordinating logistics and funding for the event.

The G7 summit was a significant moment in Priscilla's career. She believes that, in the Civil Service, 'if you are willing to engage and learn, there are genuine career pathways.' Determined to explore what the Civil Service had to offer, she took on work across logistics, communications, and finance. It was through this experience that her passion for finance within the Civil Service deepened. As Priscilla explains, 'I noticed that one of the finance teams needed additional support and, being partly qualified as an accountant, I was able to contribute. I was doing really well, and that experience cemented my decision to further pursue a finance career within the Civil Service.'

Priscilla went on to apply for a permanent role through the Civil Service's competitive recruitment process, and her combination of hands-on experience and accounting qualifications made her a strong candidate. Today, Priscilla is a Senior Finance Business Partner at the Department For Education.

While Priscilla's financial background helped her secure a role in the Civil Service, there are many other careers available, including in communications, policy development, and specialist and generalist roles (e.g., digital and data, project delivery, and social research). Most roles are advertised openly on the Civil Service Jobs portal, where anyone can search and apply regardless of their background or connections. Recent graduates can join as a Higher Executive Officer or via the award-winning Fast Stream programme. Successful applicants to the Fast Stream programme will experience a variety of postings across different government departments, guided by a tailored personal development plan.

Most Civil Service roles don't require a specific degree. However, Priscilla says there are several skills and characteristics she looks for when interviewing candidates. 'We want people who are curious but also have key transferable skills - many of which you would have built at university or in part-time work. For example, teamwork, customer service and being able to self-evaluate well are all very important.'

Priscilla credits her time at Herts with improving her public speaking and presentation skills, which she has relied upon throughout her career in the Civil Service. 'Work on your CV, too. I want to be able to read the first few lines and get a sense of who you are and your career aspirations - make me want to talk to you! The Careers and Employment Service at Herts has CV tools to help you do this.'

Alongside a fast-paced and rewarding environment, Priscilla values how inclusive the Civil Service is. Being a civil servant also offers a good work-life balance and flexibility, something that is particularly important for parents. 'I have two kids, and it is useful to work condensed hours. If one of my kids is ill, then I have the option to work from home, which makes managing family life much easier.'

The Civil Service offers flexibility in how you shape your career. Many graduates begin at an entry-level or Higher Executive Role, but progression is not a one-size-fits all. Whether you want to deepen your expertise in a specialist area, broaden your experience across departments, or take on greater leadership responsibilities, the Civil Service provides the structure and support to grow in the direction that suits you. For those who do wish to progress through the grades, there are clear pathways from Higher and Senior Executive Officer roles, all the way through to senior civil servant positions.

Priscilla is passionate about her work and encourages other Herts graduates to explore the wide range of opportunities the Civil Service has to offer. Whether you want to build a career in finance, shape national policy or support frontline services, there is a path for you and the skills you have built at Herts are more relevant than you might think.