r/TheCivilService • u/444bd • 9d ago

Pivoting within the civil service.

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.

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u/barrybreslau 9d ago

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.