Public sector and government sector

There are a wide variety of roles for graduates in local government, covering the broad range of service areas provided by local authorities, including education, environmental services, housing, policy, and social care. 

Most graduates who work in local government either qualify in a specialist role, such as trainee accountants, or work in a non-graduate role before applying for promotion. These roles are often advertised throughout the year. A period of work experience or internship while you are still a student in a local government directorate is advantageous and some councils such as Birmingham City Council offer opportunities. We are also seeing an increasing number of graduate internships being advertised.

The National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) is a popular two year programme for graduates that combines placements, the chance to gain a management qualification via online learning and development and residential events. Fifty- six local councils are currently involved and applications to join the next cohort open in Autumn 2018. The application process includes: online tests, video interview, assessment centre and a final interview with a local authority. 

A small number of councils run their own graduate programmes, including Kent County Council whose Kent Graduate Programme offers strands including Management and Operational Research. In 2018 Birmingham City Council’s Graduate Development Officer scheme offered opportunities across a number of departments. 

Further resources

• Gov.uk - Understand how your council works – provides information on how councils work.
• Local Government Association – information on local government.
• Prospects: Public Administration – provides a useful overview of public sector jobs.
• LGjobs – website advertising local council vacancies.
• Jobs Go Public – website advertising council vacancies.
• WM Jobs – website advertising local authority vacancies in the West Midlands.
• UK county councils – a list of county councils in the UK.
• Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) – a think tank which focuses on local democracy.
• Institute of Local Government Studies – research centre on local governance at the University of Birmingham.

The function of the Civil Service is to support the government of the day to develop and implement its policies in an effective manner. It works in central government departments, government agencies, and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) including: Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Cabinet Office, and Department for Communities and Local Government. Despite implementing central government policy, the Civil Service is politically independent and is not controlled by the Government.

Recruitment to the Civil Service Fast Stream is currently paused, but many graduates work in the Civil Service without following the graduate scheme route. Jobs across the numerous departments can be found on the Civil Service recruitment website. The Civil Service operates a banding system for its various opportunities across all departments. Graduates can expect to enter at EO (Executive Officer) or HEO (Higher Executive Officer) level. Recent opportunities included: Statistical Officer, Business Support Officer, Asylum Casework Decision Maker, Economic Analyst, Communications Officer and Policy Adviser.  

Individual departments also have their own graduate schemes, e.g. The Security Service MI5 has an Intelligence Officer Development Programme and a Technology Graduate Development Programme which graduates are recruited to.

Further resources

• Civil Service - UK Civil Service website
• Gov.uk - List of government departments in the UK
• Understanding the Civil Service - Useful blog providing information on the Civil Service
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• GCHQ
• MI5 graduate careers
• MI6
• Government Statistical Service
• Department for Work and Pensions

Social Policy graduates develop knowledge and skills that are attractive to wide number of graduate employers. The common starting point for looking at options is to think what you can do with your subject. However approximately 70% of graduate recruiters don’t specify a degree subject, which makes it really important for you to understand your skills, strengths and interests (Prospects Planner is good for this).

Working with people

Perhaps most obvious are roles linked to the issues and pathways identified in your course. Many graduates from Social Policy have pursued careers following their interests and passions. Examples of this include social work (and remember the varied opportunities to work with different groups), youth work, community work and development, drug and alcohol recovery support, work within the criminal justice system as Prison Officer, join the Police or Probation Officer and with organisations such as NACRO.

Working with Policy, Projects and Charities

Graduates have found roles in local and central government, research and campaigning organisations as well as jobs in charities in jobs ranging from Local Government Officer, Policy Officer, Business Project Manager and Partnership Coordinator.

These roles allow you follow your areas of interest and knowledge as well as using your skills in research and critical thinking. Graduates have also worked in charity fundraising, events management and charity officer within charities such as the Children’s Society. Again this could provide a good blend of interest and skills if you are passionate about a particular issue.

Working in the classroom

Getting into teaching is another popular career option for Social Policy graduates. As well as lecturing within universities (for which you will need a higher degree), teaching opportunities exist as a primary school teacher, secondary school teacher and as a further education teacher.

You need to think about what and who you want to teach and it is very important that you gain the necessary work experience). 

Further study

You will find that some of your options, for example Social Work or Teaching, require further study or you may wish to continue in learning because of your passion for a subject area and the desire for a new challenge. Social Policy graduates in 2017 chose further study options including: MA Public Relations, MSc Public Leadership, PGCE Computer Science and MA International Relations.

Sociology graduates develop knowledge and skills that are attractive to a wide number of graduate employers. Research and analytical skills developed through your course enable you to analyse data, report and make recommendations.

An appreciation of the diversity of society, a global outlook and awareness of traditional stereotypes enhance cross cultural understanding, are essential for many roles. Sociology graduates develop effective interpersonal, critical thinking and written communication skills and are able to influence and motivate

Studying sociology develops your understanding of how society is organised, how we experience life, and the social changes reshaping the world today. Sociology graduates develop the knowledge and skills needed to critically engage with key issues facing contemporary societies.

Sociology graduates have taken up roles in accountancy, banking and finance, human resources, marketing, sales and event organisation, and have undertaken legal training, in addition to careers involving working with people, policy roles, and within the classroom.

Many Sociology graduates go on to roles linked to the issues and pathways identified in your course, and graduates from Sociology have pursued careers following their interests and passions. Examples of this include social work (along with other varied opportunities to work with different groups), youth work, community work and development, drug and alcohol recovery support, work within the criminal justice system, such as a Prison Officer or Probation Officer, and with organisations like NACRO.

Relevant work experience is critical to getting into roles and training and also really important in testing your ideas and commitment to these careers. We can support you in finding opportunities and discussing ideas on how to get started.

Working with Policy, Projects and Charities

While the jobs above will bring you into direct contact with people you might be keen on looking at other roles in these areas that focus more on policy, research or supporting these activities in other ways. Sociology graduates have found roles in local and central government, research and campaigning organisations, and charities and voluntary work. Roles undertaken include Local Government Officer, and Project Co-ordinator.

These roles allow you follow your areas of interest and knowledge as well as using your skills in research and critical thinking. Graduates have also worked in fundraising, events management, and charity work within charities such as the Children’s Society. Again this could provide a good opportunity to make the most of both your interests and skills, especially if you are passionate about a particular issue.

Working in a classroom

Some graduates have gone straight into teacher training (after securing the necessary work experience) while others have moved into teaching support roles, such as Teaching Assistant or Learning Mentor, to build experience prior to undertaking teacher training. Have a look at our resource on the Teaching sector for more information.

Henry Walker

Director’s Personal Assistant at Department for Transport

“Working so closely with Senior Civil Servants means that I am able to attend high level meetings and learn quickly how the mechanisms of government work, which as a History and Politics graduate, I find most interesting.”

Many of our graduates from University of Birmingham have gone on to pursue careers in the public sector or government. 

Read, watch and listen to graduate stories from the following areas:

• Government stories
• Public sector stories
• Civil Service stories
• Social policy stories
• Sociology stories

Public sector and government events

If you have questions and want to find out more about pursuing a career in public sector and government, have a chat with one of our Careers Advisers. 

Book an appointment through your Careers Connect account. 

LinkedIn Learning has over 13,000 courses to enhance your CV and stand out from the crowd when thinking about a career in public sector and government. 

University of Birmingham students get free access to LinkedIn Learning.

Some Government departments offer internships, e.g. the Government Economic Service summer student placement scheme.

You may also find graduate internship opportunities with certain departments advertised on the Civil Service recruitment website. 

You may be eligible to apply for work experience bursaries through The University of Birmingham. For more details visit the internship funding pages. 

• View all vacancies in Careers Connect

When you have a clear sense of where you want to apply, the final step is getting the most out of your application. Our Employability Advisers are here to help review your application documents. 

• Access application support on Careers Connect