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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.

Training
UK-wide8 min read

AAT and a career in public-sector finance

How AAT can start a stable finance career in councils, the NHS and government departments, from your first admin job through to chartered study with CIPFA or ACCA.

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Training
UK-wide8 min read

First aid and mental health first aid qualifications: are they worth it?

What first aid at work and mental health first aid courses actually cover, when public sector employers value them, and how to present them honestly on your CV.

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Councils
UK-wide9 min read

The NGDP: local government's graduate development programme

What the National Graduate Development Programme offers, who can apply, how the assessments work, and where local government's own graduate scheme can take your career.

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Careers
UK-wide9 min read

Job sharing and part-time working in the public sector

Part-time roles and job shares are easier to find in the public sector than almost anywhere else. How they work in practice, how to ask for one, and what they mean for pay, leave and pension.

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Training
UK-wide9 min read

CIPD qualifications and HR careers in the public sector

What CIPD qualifications mean, how the level ladder works, and how to start an HR career in the NHS, councils or the Civil Service, from admin jobs to senior people roles.

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Training
UK-wide8 min read

T Levels and public-sector industry placements

What T Levels are, how their long industry placements work with the NHS, councils and schools, and how they compare with A levels and apprenticeships after GCSEs.

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Careers
UK-wide7 min read

How to ask for flexible working in a public-sector job

You can ask for flexible working from your first day in most jobs. Here is how public-sector employers handle requests and how to make a case they can say yes to.

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Careers
UK-wide9 min read

Mentoring and talent schemes that can lift your public-sector career

How formal and informal mentoring, reverse mentoring, staff networks and talent schemes work in UK public services, and how to find a mentor who will back you.

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Applying
UK-wide7 min read

Security clearance explained: BPSS, CTC, SC and DV

BPSS, CTC, SC and DV explained in plain English. What each level of security vetting involves, what clearable means in a job advert, and why honesty is the golden rule throughout.

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Pay & pensions
UK-wide7 min read

Unions in the public sector: what they do and whether to join

A fair, plain-English look at trade unions in the public sector. What they do, what membership gives you, how pay bargaining works, and how to decide if joining is right for you.

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Applying
UK-wide9 min read

Assessment centres explained: what happens on the day

What actually happens at a public-sector assessment centre, from written exercises and group tasks to role-plays, what the assessors are scoring, and how to prepare without over-rehearsing.

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Training
UK-wide8 min read

Functional Skills Level 2: the qualification that opens public-sector doors

Functional Skills Level 2 gives you a recognised alternative to GCSE English and maths, and it can open the door to apprenticeships, NHS roles and school jobs.

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