Alumni Interview –Class of 2019

6. What are the best and worst aspects of your current role?

The best part of my job is seeing a policy that I’ve worked on be introduced and reading news articles about it. It’s great to see my work having an impact. The worst part of my job is the high turnover of colleagues into new roles. Most graduate level roles ‘rotate’ into new roles every year. This is great for development and meeting lots of new people, but it can be hard when you have a great team as the team dynamic changes when people move. One benefit of the apprenticeship scheme has been being able to stay in the same role for 2 or 4 years; as I’ve had the time to really get the most out of the job and build confidence.

7. What are your career goals for the future?

I’m planning on staying within the civil service after graduation.

I can choose to join the graduate scheme or can apply directly to roles that interest me. I’d like to take a year out of studying and then complete the Masters apprenticeship that’s offered to economist. I have an interest in Defra policies so would like to stay within the department or one of their agencies. I’m also reducing my working hours and going part-time which is another perk of working in the public sector.

8. What was your best memory of CGS?

It’s hard to choose just one best memory of CGS. I was really fortunate to be involved in lots of clubs and go on a number of trips abroad. One memory that I often reflect on is a particularly awful French exchange, which involved eating courgette as the main component for every meal, packed lunches that consisted of a single slice of bread and a whole carrot, no WiFi and a weekend of hiking with the fittest family in France. But I came away with some excellent stories and looking back, it was a great trip!

9. What are you currently reading or watching on Netflix?

I’ve just finished reading The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. It’s the first fiction book I’ve read in a while and I got really into it. The chapters are also only one or two pages long. I don’t watch a lot of TV but my postwork guilty pleasure is reality shows. I’m looking forward to the new season of Selling Sunset on Netflix this week.