Trinity Ramsden-Board, Class of 2020 Policy advisor at HM Treasury

How did your experience at Trinity shape your interest in government, politics or public service?

Trinity was the first time I had been able to study politics in an academic setting. Not only did it make space in my schedule to dedicate to learning, but it also gave me a foundation to understand the world around me. Those lessons solidified my resolve to work in Westminster.

What aspects of your education or extracurricular activities at Trinity have been most valuable in preparing you for your current role?

Speaking clearly and confidently is a key part of my job. Whether relaying information in a team meeting, or speaking to a Minister, it is important that everyone in the room understands the points you are making. I used to find public speaking very challenging but being a part of a number of societies presented frequent opportunities to speak in front of small crowds, which prepared me for handling higher-stakes engagements at work.

What was the key moment that led you to pursue the career path you are on now?

I had always wanted to work in public service, although I wasn’t sure of the path I should take. My goal had always been to help as much as I could with the skills that I had. I had settled on becoming a prison guard, and was literally in a training session when I received the call saying that I had got the job at the Treasury! It was an easy decision when the alternative was another set of shuttle runs and a career in a men’s high security prison.

How do you think the skills you developed at Trinity have helped you succeed in your current position?

At Trinity, lessons were designed to encourage challenge and debate, which both made things more interesting and forced you to defend your position. In my job, it is important to know both when to fight for your stance and when to acknowledge that you are wrong. It is a difficult skill to hone, and although I don’t always get it right, Trinity provided me with a solid foundation to handle these challenges.

What advice would you give to current students at Trinity who are considering a career in government, politics or the public service?

The best piece of advice I can give is to bring your whole self to assessments and interviews. The civil service in particular is looking for core values that set you up to be a good public servant. It’s nearly impossible to fake these qualities in an interview, but you’ll likely find that you probably already possess many of them without even realising it!