I want to be a civil servant
Ranuka Jagpal
Assistant Director, Organisational Development
- “My experience is that it is not hierarchical.” [WAV file, 5.1MB]
- “I've never worked in London.” [WAV file, 6.2MB]
When I joined the Child Support Agency (CSA) in 1993, at the age of 18, I didn't really know what the Civil Service was!
The CSA was just being set up and they were recruiting for people to join the team at their offices in Dudley, in the West Midlands. I had recently decided against going to university, in favour of working locally, and successfully applied for a job there.
Since then, I've really enjoyed the variety and flexibility, as well as the support I've been given through training and development. Not having a degree hasn't prevented me from taking opportunities and successfully competing with others for promotion. In the last 14 years, I've worked my way up from Administrative Officer (AO) to Grade 6 Assistant Director.
The Service places a lot of emphasis on being a top employer, which protects staff's rights and welfare. Although I've had roles in Leeds, Newcastle, London, Blackpool, to mention a few, I've never had to move home or worry about a sensible work/life balance. My colleagues have similar values and aspirations as me - we respect each other and it matters to us that we are close to family and friends.
I am continually surprised by just how big we are as an organisation. Right now I'm involved in a project in the West Midlands, aimed at developing a regional dimension to the Service. I was taken aback to learn that we have 34,500 civil servants in the West Midlands alone, which presents a massive opportunity for people to develop and work in new areas.
I enjoy working in a regional office, as it's close to home, and closer to reality in terms of delivering government services. But I certainly still feel part of the wider Civil Service, and particularly appreciate being able to influence Whitehall policy debates by providing real evidence and input about the potential impacts of new initiatives.
My advice to new recruits is don't be influenced too much by others, and make your own destiny as I have. By believing in myself and taking opportunities as they have arisen, I've already had a challenging and rewarding career and look forward to the future in the confidence that I can continue to make a real difference!