National Government and Civil Service Fast Stream

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here.  These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring role requirements outlined in person specification, job description and advert for each role you consider applying for. 

• Prospects have compiled a list of skills necessary for the Civil Service Fast Stream.
• Explore the skills needed to work in government - part of the Government Campus learning curriculum.
• Read about the Civil Service competency framework, which encompasses skills, knowledge and behaviours.
• Find out more about how the Civil Service recruits using Success Profiles.  

In order to develop these skills, remember Career Zone also offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term.  Please also read through the sections about Gaining Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications.

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. You may wish to consider:  

Volunteering 

• Involvement in university committees and representative roles can help you demonstrate leadership and advocacy skills. Explore opportunities with the Falmouth & Exeter Students’ Union and Exeter Students’ Guild.
• You can also find opportunities to volunteer in the local community on the Falmouth & Exeter Student’s Union and Exeter Students’ Guild websites.
• Volunteer with organisations such as the police and get involved with the University’s Community Engagement Team.
• Engage in governance by becoming a trustee. Young Trustees Movement advertise trustee vacancies and GOV.UK explain what’s involved in being a charity trustee.
• Volunteer with the NHS Youth Forum (open to those up to the age of 24).
• Volunteering with Citizens Advice can help you gain work experience in a range of areas like advice, administration, marketing, media and IT.
• Reach Volunteering list volunteering opportunities in Mid-Devon and run a range of community projects offering wellbeing and community support.
• Volunteer Cornwall offer a range of opportunities connected to health and social care, education, outreach and more.
• Falmouth Town Council advertise volunteering opportunities on their Love Falmouth Volunteer website.  

University of Exeter Employability Schemes 

•  Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be extremely useful, so try and get relevant vacation work or placements. 
• The Exeter Award will help you stand out from the crowd and give you the confidence to shout about the experiences you've had at university.
• The Exeter Leaders Award is for students who are keen to develop their leadership skills. It will help you reflect on your leadership style and techniques, and set clear, achievable goals for self-development.
• The Global Leaders Experience is a unique opportunity to develop your intercultural skills as part of a short, outbound mobility experience.
• Green Consultants is an award-winning programme designed to provide students with additional skills and experience required to work in the highly competitive environmental and sustainability sector. 

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities 

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and apply speculatively. Before visiting the sites below you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. 

• If there's a particular local MP or party you'd like to work for, sending a speculative application can signal your interest. You can find a list of MPs here.
• Consider contacting local authorities such as Cornwall Council and Devon County Council.  

Finding part time work 

• General job sites such as Find a Job, Indeed and LinkedIn advertise part-time work.
• You could also have a look at Handshake, our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students.
• Employers looking for part-time and casual staff attend events such as careers fairs on campus.
• Attend the ‘Finding a Part-Time Job’ advice session which explores the benefits of gaining part-time work, where you can find these opportunities and top tips for your applications. This session will be listed on Handshake.
• Listen to this episode of the Career Zone podcast for more advice about finding a part-time job.  

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.  

•  You can find a range of graduate roles on Civil Service Jobs.  

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page. 

Graduate schemes and internships 

 Find out more about the Civil Service Fast Stream.  

• On the Houses of Parliament Graduate Scheme, you’ll be based in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
• The HM Treasury Graduate Scheme is designed to give you the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to be an expert professional Policy Adviser.
• The Assistant Economist Graduate Scheme offers a competitive salary and plenty of support to further your development as an economist.
• Gain an insight into working in the Civil Service by completing the Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme (SIP). 
• Search for internships on Civil Service Jobs. 
• Operation Black Vote (OBV) pairs participants – called parliamentary shadows - with members of the House of Commons and Lords. The scheme aims to increase the number of minority ethnic MPs in Parliament.
• W4MP advertises internships and job vacancies in politics, social research, and think thanks.
• Search Handshake for internships.  

Placements  

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad.  

• Search for placements on Civil Service Jobs.  
• The Government Economic and Social Research (GESR) Team run a 12-month sandwich student placement scheme aimed at students interested in the Government Social Research (GSR) profession.
• Explore the Sandwich Student Scheme offered by the House of Commons.
• Find out more about Industrial Placements with HMRC. 
• Join the Office for Product Safety and Standards on their year in industry programme.
• The Government Operational Research Service (GORS) summer placement scheme is open to students studying a numerate degree and interested in a career in government analysis.
• The Government Operational Research Service (GORS) sandwich placement scheme is open to students who are looking to complete a year in industry during their degree course and interested in a career in government analysis.
• Experience a summer placement with the Government Economic Service.

Further sources of support 

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal.

For help with making speculative applications you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. 

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options.  

• Use the Prospects website to search for postgraduate courses in fields such as policy and governance.
• FindAMasters.com and mastersavenue.com offer comprehensive databases of postgraduate Masters courses, featuring a wide range of Master’s degree programmes from universities in the UK and across the globe.
• Find further information about Choosing Postgraduate Study on the Career Zone website.
• For more information on continuing onto further study (taught programmes and research degrees) visit the Prospects website, or the Target Postgraduate site. 

Advice

If you are considering postgraduate or doctoral level study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study.

Information and links from professional bodies 

If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector.  

• The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) offers training and qualifications in leadership.
• The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) is an accountancy body for public services, providing education and learning in accountancy and financial management.
• The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) is the world’s largest professional body for public affairs, PR, and communications.
• The Social Research Association (SRA) is the membership organisation for social researchers in the UK and beyond.
• The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) is a professional body for statisticians and data analysts.
• The Royal Economic Society (RES) is the professional membership body and learned society for the study and application of economics.
• BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT) aim to lead the IT industry through its ethical challenges, to support the people who work in the industry, and to make IT good for society.
• Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) is an awarding body for the profession and leads in education and training.