Career Story: Head of Expansion

What does a day in your shoes feel like? And what are the key skills that can make or break a career in your field?

We’ve asked a diverse group of Apolitical members to share their career stories with us and the tips they have for junior public servants. In this article, the Head of Expansion at the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation explains how they secured a promotion to get a rewarding job.

What did you do before?

Head of Income Tax, HM Treasury

What does an average day look like for you?

We have a morning call on Russia/Ukraine around 9 am to cover urgent issues, and our Senior Management Team meets most days at the moment. I typically go on to have a day of meetings covering policy issues (internally with other bits of the UK government, and with other countries) and also the HR/logistical issues with our team. I do corporate work too — for example, mentoring others and organising work experience for school students. Normally, a curveball (good or bad, usually bad) will hit by mid-morning and change whatever I was planning to do. We work late — international work with the US and others generally means a post 6pm finish, at which point I drag myself to the gym.

What's the best part of your job?

Problem-solving — the benefit of working on a crisis is that everything is urgent, and there are lots of difficult issues, but you can solve a few issues each hour on a good day (which is a great feeling of achievement you don't always get in the public sector).

What have you done to advance your career or gain a promotion at work?

Do work at the level above — take opportunities, shadow people, do locum cover for others, get the experience before you go for promotion (this makes it much easier for a manager to have the confidence to hire you, and lets you know what you are in for).

What advice would you give to future public servants interested in a career in your field?

Do it! And "try before you buy." Public servants are always happy to explain what they do, there are lots of internship and placement opportunities, short-term contracts, shadowing opportunities, etc. Do some of it first to get a feel for it.

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