Civil service

What opportunities are there?

You could use your medical experience in an advisory capacity or as background knowledge for working in a central government department, such as the Department of Health. You could also consider working in an executive agency, such as the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA [1]).

What skills and qualities do I need?

Most roles are in central administrative departments, so the following skills are particularly useful:

• good verbal and written communication
• team working
• management and leadership
• policy and strategy development

Bear in mind that to be eligible for Civil Service posts you need to be one of the following:

• a UK National
• have dual nationality (one half British)
• a Commonwealth citizen
• a national of one of the member states of the EEA

• Getting in

  Experience of NHS policy, strategic or management activities would be useful. Vacancies can be found on the Civil Service website, at job centres, in local and national papers and in trade journals.

• Further information

  • The Civil Service [2] 
  • Department of Health [3]
  • Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency [4]
  • Medical Research Council [5]
  • Graduate Prospects: profiles of Civil Service roles  [6]