A civil servant is someone who works for the government in a variety of roles, helping to implement government policy, manage public services, and support ministers. Civil servants work in departments such as the Home Office, Department for Education, and the Treasury. The work can include developing policies, managing projects, providing advice to government ministers, and ensuring the smooth delivery of public services. Civil service roles vary from administrative support to highly specialised areas like economics, digital services, and communications. Entry is possible with GCSEs or A-levels for junior roles, while many graduate schemes are also available. Civil servants are expected to be impartial and serve the government of the day, regardless of political affiliation. There are structured opportunities for progression and professional development within the Civil Service.
Entry-level civil servants (Administrative Officer grade) typically earn between £20,500 and £25,000 per year, while senior positions such as Senior Civil Service roles can exceed £70,000 per year.
There are over 470,000 civil servants working in the UK, across multiple departments and agencies.
While many civil service jobs are based in London, there are significant opportunities throughout the UK, including regional cities such as Manchester, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.
Work within a government department to research, develop, and recommend policies on key public issues such as education, health, or the environment.
Help manage the UK's borders by checking documents, interviewing people entering the country, and ensuring immigration laws are followed.
Support Members of Parliament by researching topics, managing correspondence, and helping to draft reports and speeches.
Learn about the variety of roles within the Civil Service to understand which area interests you most.
The Civil Service covers many departments, such as the Home Office, Department for Education, and HM Treasury. Roles include policy advisor, administrative officer, communications, and more. Visit the Civil Service Careers website to read job profiles and watch video case studies.
Find out what qualifications and skills are needed for entry-level positions.
Most entry-level roles require at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English and Maths. Some positions may need A-levels or a degree, especially for specialist or fast stream schemes. Good communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills are highly valued.
Work towards the required GCSEs and consider A-levels or a degree if aiming for higher-level roles.
Focus on subjects like English, Maths, Politics, or Economics if you are interested in policy roles. Many departments also welcome degrees from any discipline. For apprenticeships or junior roles, strong GCSE results are often sufficient.
Take part in activities that build your teamwork, communication, and organisational skills.
Getting involved in school councils, volunteering, or part-time jobs can help you develop skills valued in the Civil Service. You could also look for work experience placements or internships in public sector organisations.
Look for vacancies on the official Civil Service Jobs website and apply for suitable positions.
There are a variety of routes into the Civil Service, including administrative assistant roles, apprenticeships, and the Civil Service Fast Stream graduate programme. Review the job descriptions and tailor your application to show how your skills and experience match the requirements.
Get ready for online assessments, interviews, and assessment centres as part of the selection process.
The recruitment process may include situational judgement tests, online assessments, and interviews. Practise with sample questions and research the values and behaviours expected in the Civil Service. Be ready to provide examples of how you have demonstrated these in your studies or other activities.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Civil Servant. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
A Civil Servant often performs administrative, policy, and operational duties within government departments, which aligns closely with the responsibilities of a Civil Service administrative officer. Both roles require familiarity with government procedures, organisational skills, and the ability to support departmental functions.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a course to give you some of the administrative skills needed for this job.
You could do a business administration course or a T Level in Management and Administration.
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
You could do an apprenticeship like:
You'll usually need:
You could join the Civil Service as an administrative assistant. You'll usually need at least 2 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C).
You could then apply for a post as an administrative officer when vacancies become available.
You could apply directly to join the Civil Service as an administrative officer. You'll usually need at least 5 GCSEs. You may need A levels, or equivalent qualifications, for some administrative jobs.
You may also find it useful to have experience in related work like office administration or customer service.
As part of the application process, you'll be tested on your ability to:
Movement to Work offers work experience opportunities in the Civil Service for unemployed young people.
You can find out more about working as an administrative officer from Civil Service Careers.
Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.
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