I joined DWP in 2001 as a direct band O. I saw the advert in a local newspaper, no real internet in those days! It was the printed Manchester evening news. I saw the role description & thought I can do that. It was a seamless interview and I got the job. I spent 15 years working in busy job centres and as another child came along I went part time term time, it was bliss! I gave 100% at work but gave very little thought to work outside of office hours. I felt I started off with DWP full of motivation but life took over. In 2016 my son was starting secondary school & I wondered what else was out there. I secured a sideways move into L&D but was blocked from leaving Ops, still frustrates me to this day! Looking back I became quite ruthless as knew the only way out was to secure promotion. I started volunteering for any opportunity I could, building a brand almost and getting my name known. I then got a place on a 3 year development programme, like an inhouse fast stream, perfect for my older age. I spent the first 2 years moving from placement to placement before seucuring a substantive SO within just over 2 years as a Policy adviser. I was quite settled then after a conversation on holiday with some friends decided to apply to HMRC. They seemed to be making quite a large investment in people and also had an attractive employee deal. I thought I would test the water & got the first job I interviewed for. No regrets up to now although in hindsight I should have gone for G7

I work on the ISBC People Team. 50% of my role is team leader and 50% doing the actual work as portfolio lead. We are under scrutiny as a team, we have big ambitions and want to make ISBC a better place to work and also encourage retention too. Our portfolios include ED&I, Talent, Leadership and recognition which I lead on. My mission is to embed a recognition culture where colleagues feel recognised for the work that they do.

I am a great advocate of the Civil Service and all it has to offer. My current role is varied, can be reactive at times without much chance to plan but extremely interesting and rewarding. My days include lots of engagement with our wider stakeholders on calls, more virtual connections in this day and age as opposed to face to face meetings. I spend a lot of time talking to my team, ensuring they are supported. I do not work manage my team so also have calls with the work managers to check the tasks they have allocated then cross refer with my team, this enables all to be clear on expectations and I can quickly react to any blockers or confusion.

Don't underestimate the amount of time needed to apply for CS jobs. You will spend hours getting your behaviours and statement evidence right and that's how it has to be. Get a mentor/s to check your applications before submitting. Have the CS behaviour descriptions open when you are writing your statement, this is what you will be marked against. Tell us the how, I sift regularly and it is frustrating when candidates state @i am an excellent communication' for example, that is good but tell us how you communicate, what makes you so good! I like the STAR model but also the WHO, What, How, Outcome. Tell us your personal story, avoid jargon and write to a complete stranger who knows nothing about you or the department you are applying for.

I spent just over 2 years moving from placement to placement, some challenges along the way with colleagues not fully appreciating my role as it was centrally funded so I was essential free resource. I didn't realise how much I had learnt from each placement and the experience until I left them sometimes. I built resilience in droves by having to reinvent myself and establish those big working relationships every few months, Change does not bother me nowadays, if I had to move roles tomorrow, so be it. I am proud of moving from band O to SO in a little over 2 years, not an easy achievement but it can be done!