Hilary Douglas (nee Black) - Wimbledon High School 1961 - 1968

Working in Government - Civil Service the Fastrack

I did not join the Civil Service after graduating : it sounded a bit staid  to me. But various friends had no such inhibitions, and were soon reporting on a much more interesting life than I was experiencing in my first job. So I applied for the “Fast Stream” competition, along with a few thousand other graduates. There was a qualifying test to sift down to a smaller group, and then a rigorous two day assessment centre, consisting of individual and group exercises. I emerged with the offer of a place at the Department of Education, which is where I have spent the majority of my career, -  but I have also worked in the funding body for Further Education, at OFSTED, and in the Cabinet Office, and for the last two years I have been the Corporate Services Director on the Management Board of the Treasury. Even within the DFE, I  covered a wide range of responsibilities, from working on school government issues, to teacher training and supply, to supporting the Minister’s Private Office, and preparing new legislation. Over the last few years I have become increasingly involved in organisational change within Government, which is what has led me to switch into Human Resources, Information Management and Finance. So in some ways, it is not one career, but many – with supporting training along the way, and increasingly with the understanding that many people will move out of central government in mid – career, whilst others are recruited in.

Incidentally, I had two spells of maternity leave for the birth of my sons, and a two year break when they were junior school age and my husband was posted abroad. Whilst I have otherwise chosen a full-time working pattern, most Government Departments offer the chance of flexible and part-time working and job- shares , on the basis that this is what you need to do to keep good people.

Fast streamers come from a wide variety of backgrounds , but there are certain attributes which you have to demonstrate to get selected in the first place, and then to progress. You must be open-minded , and ready to challenge conventional thinking, as well as being prepared to be challenged yourself. You must be a clear communicator, whether orally or in writing. You must be a team-player, but also show the potential to manage and lead others. You need to be ready to deal with the unexpected, and always committed to your own learning and development. Finally , of course, this is not the career for the budding politician. We work for  Ministers, and help them to deliver on their promises to the electorate, but we have to be ready to serve a Government of any political persuasion, and Ministers must be confident that we will provide impartial advice, whatever our personal beliefs may be.

 There are 5 main options for successful applicants to the “General  Fast Stream” : policy analysts , the science and engineering specialism, the European Fast Stream , the Diplomatic Service and the Parliamentary Clerkships. There are also specialist competitions for economists, statisticians and people who want to work at the Government Communications Headquarters ( GCHQ). You can find out more from the website :  www.faststream.gov.uk  which will also offer you a self assessment test to help you judge whether this could be the career for you. If the website does not tell you what you want to know, try   Emailing me at home - I am particularly keen to persuade more young women that the Treasury is not the male bastion they may assume!