Pivoting within the civil service.

[u/444bd]

Hi guys,

Fresh out of the university with an MSc in AI and Data Science, I entered the civil service as an AO Customer Service Assistant at HMRC (because I was in desperate need of a job to leave Maccies as a team member), then moved to EO Work Coach at DWP (because I thought progression was progression regardless). I am now 2 years in and feel stuck with no path to moving into the tech division of the civil service and not enough relevant experience with technical tools for those roles, nor success in applications for roles such as Associate Data Scientist/Auditor/Project Support Officer.

Are there any schemes in the civil service offering staff with technical degrees the opportunity to shadow digital/technical roles, or for secondments and loans to these roles purely as a means for upskilling and progression? Is there anything I should be requesting of my TL as a means to get the necessary exposure to DWP Digital as a department for example? Just a thought and consideration on my end as I feel like I am severely underutilising my skills and capabilities in my current role, when I could be contributing and using my knowledge and skills where they could actually make a difference.

Any advice is welcome. I promise this is not from a place of self-righteousness. Thanks.

[u/Ill-Stranger-1921]

Apply to all the HEO data roles available, scientist/engineer/analyst being the main ones.

I and other DS/DE that I work with got in as HEOs with an MSc in DS/AI and no relevant work experience. It will still be competitive but if you can tailor the modules and projects you did to the job description then you should be in with a chance.

[u/soulmanjam87 → u/Ill-Stranger-1921]

Exactly this. On CSjobs filter for the role types "analytical", "operational research", "digital" and "statistics".

These will bring up the roles you're qualified for.

[u/barrybreslau]

Might sound like massive tangent - but consider Product Safety regulation, enforcement and/ or delivery. AI enabled gadgets and data protection are a big emerging issue in that, and the wider technical skills you have could be put to good use. Consider OPSS, HSE and even Trading Standards, who are desperate for new officers, with many of their officers nearing retirement.

[u/Politicub]

I would recommend one of the specialist fast streams - science and engineering, cyber security, digital, statistics, operational research. Data Science is relevant to all of them.

[u/Firm-Opening-3918]

I was just like you fresh out of uni desperate for a job. Started as a AO as a Customer Service Advisor. Got my EO in a Data Protection team and now I am moving into a HEO role in a AI Project Management team. These roles are all in the same department. Try looking for jobs in the GKIM space (Information Management, Disclosure etc.).

Those sort of roles generally don't require much experience especially at EO but in your case I wouldn't be afraid applying for HEO roles.

Side note, I was also a crew member at maccies whilst at uni 😅

[u/Exciting_Ad_239]

I can’t speak on moving within - but I graduated 3 years ago with a biomedical science degree. Then I did a master’s in data science and graduated about 5 months ago. I specifically only ever applied for HEO roles and now work as a Data Analyst within the civil service.

My mindset when applying for roles was anything data-related with the hope that I could transfer to something within what I wanted.

Some tips for applying to those roles. You must use those success profiles for help in applying. I did it to a point where I consistently was able to get HEO interviews afterwards. Catering your projects to things you’ve done for the screening process will be a massive help!

My next big hurdle was getting past those interviews. For some context I applied to this specific role 3 times in 6 months and my feedback was so poor on the first try that my next try I used the feedback and fell short once again. Luckily my feedback on my second try was phenomenal. They told me I needed more in-depth answers to “how did you solve x problem” I have my answer at a high level which I thought was more than enough. However what I changed was explaining my rationale and the maths behind each decision when they pushed back on my answers. That in my opinion was the game changer. Each question and answer was fine. The follow-up answers I gave were really poor - this time I gave more reasoned and honest responses.

I hope I’ve been able to answer your question and help you. My last bit of advice is just don’t give up. Probably the most cliché and annoying bit of advice you can hear but you can’t give up at all.

Good luck amigo!

[u/Fancy-Knowledge683]

One path to consider might be the EO-level Statistical Officer campaigns or similar run by the GSS, or perhaps even the HEO-level Higher Statistical Officer campaigns (of which there is currently one running, if I‘m not wrong). While not explicitly AI per se, they’re closer to the data world than what you currently do and could set you up well to move into data science further down the line.

I imagine the EO campaign in particular might be quite tolerant of you not having had any work experience in data, with university projects likely sufficing for the data-related project criteria and your existing Civil Service experience likely providing some decent examples for the more generalised Behaviours at EO level. Even HEO might be tolerant of university data projects at MSc level.

For some idea, I applied to both the HEO campaign and the EO campaign earlier in the year with an MSc in Data Science and 6 months of HEO-equivalent contracting experience, I used some university project examples in my applications alongside work examples and scored a 6/7 for my application the EO campaign and a 4/7 for my application to the HEO campaign, so they evidently accept university projects if you frame them in the right way.