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Blog

The public-sector careers blog.

In-depth, independent and plain-English articles on working in the public sector across the UK and Ireland — written by GovJobs and free to read. 100 articles and counting.

Civil Service
UK-wide7 min read

Cyber security careers in government

Why government needs cyber security people, the main types of role from monitoring to assurance, how entry routes and vetting work in plain terms, and where the jobs are advertised.

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Applying
UK-wide7 min read

Job references for public-sector applications: who to choose and how they work

Public-sector employers check references carefully, often covering several years of your history. Learn who to choose, how to prepare them, and what happens after a conditional offer.

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Councils
UK-wide8 min read

Library and archive careers in the public sector

Modern library work is about people as much as books, from digital help to community events. Here is how council library and archive careers work, and how to get in without a degree.

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Civil Service
UK-wide8 min read

Civil Service apprenticeships explained

How apprenticeships work as a way into government departments, the levels on offer from school leaver to degree, how they differ from the Fast Stream, and how to apply.

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Careers
UK-wide8 min read

Probation officer careers and how to qualify

What probation officers actually do, how the funded work-based qualification route works, the difference between probation roles, and the skills selection panels look for.

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Training
UK-wide8 min read

IOSH, NEBOSH and health and safety careers in public services

How IOSH and NEBOSH qualifications differ, the health and safety jobs they open up in councils, the NHS and transport, and how to move across from an operational role.

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Training
UK-wide8 min read

ILM and CMI qualifications: stepping up to management in public services

What ILM and CMI qualifications are, how NHS trusts and councils use them for promotion, and how to build leadership evidence before you ever hold a management title.

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Councils
UK-wide8 min read

Housing officer careers in councils and housing associations

Housing officers support tenants, manage estates and help keep people in their homes. Here is what the job is really like, how councils and housing associations differ, and how to get in.

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Councils
UK-wide8 min read

Trading standards careers: protecting consumers

Trading standards teams protect people from scams, unsafe products and rogue traders. Here is what the work involves day to day, how to qualify, and how to get started in a council team.

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Applying
UK-wide10 min read

Interview presentations for public-sector jobs: how to prepare

Asked to give a presentation at a public-sector interview? How to decode the brief, structure your talk for a mixed panel, manage the clock and handle questions with confidence.

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Careers
UK-wide8 min read

AI and public-sector jobs: what it means for your career

A calm, hype-free look at how AI tools are starting to appear in public services, what that could mean for different kinds of roles, and the skills that will keep your career strong.

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Teaching
UK-wide8 min read

School business manager and school office careers

Schools run on more than teaching. Here is how office, finance and premises roles work, how they lead to school business manager, and why experienced admins are welcome to move across.

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