GovJobsIndependent · not a government site

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-wide8 min read

Border Force and immigration careers

What Border Force and immigration staff do at ports and airports, the roles and grades on offer, shift and vetting realities, and how to apply through the civil service system.

Read article
Careers
UK-wide7 min read

Careers in the intelligence services: MI5, MI6 and GCHQ

MI5, MI6 and GCHQ recruit far more widely than the films suggest. What each agency does, who can apply, and why discretion and patience matter from the very first step.

Read article
Civil Service
UK-wide8 min read

Getting promoted in the Civil Service: from AO to EO, HEO and beyond

Civil Service promotion works by open competition, not time served. Here is how to build behaviour evidence at the next grade and apply well, inside or beyond your department.

Read article
Careers
UK-wide8 min read

Secondments: try a different public-sector job without quitting

A secondment lets you try a different public-sector job while keeping the right to return to your old one. Here is how they work, how to find one, and how to make it count.

Read article
Careers
UK-wide9 min read

Moving from the private sector to the public sector

Thinking of leaving the private sector for a public-sector role? What transfers well, how the culture really differs, and how to translate a commercial CV for Success Profiles and competency forms.

Read article
Careers
UK-wide8 min read

How to become a prison officer

An honest guide to becoming a prison officer, covering entry requirements, the selection tests, fitness and health checks, initial training, progression and specialist roles.

Read article
Training
UK-wide8 min read

Free digital skills courses that strengthen a public-sector application

Digital skills now sit behind almost every NHS, council and Civil Service role. Here is how to build yours for free and show them off in your next application.

Read article
Applying
UK-wide8 min read

Using LinkedIn well when you want a public-sector job

LinkedIn will not replace the application form in public-sector hiring, but used honestly it can help you research employers, spot openings and prepare for interviews.

Read article
Careers
UK-wide8 min read

Museum, gallery and heritage careers

Museums, galleries and heritage sites offer rewarding public-facing careers. An honest look at the main roles, the competition for posts, and the practical ways people actually get in.

Read article
Councils
UK-wide8 min read

Environmental health careers in local government

Environmental health officers keep food safe, homes healthy and neighbourhoods liveable. Here is what the job really involves, how to qualify, and why councils always need these skills.

Read article
Teaching
UK-wide8 min read

Teaching assistant qualifications: Level 2 and Level 3 compared

Do you need a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification to work as a teaching assistant, what the courses actually cover, and how schools weigh certificates against classroom experience.

Read article
Civil Service
UK-wide8 min read

Communications and campaigns careers in government

Press offices, campaigns, internal news and digital content. Here is what government communicators actually do, where the jobs sit, and how to get your first role in the profession.

Read article