Hello! I'm Lexi and I started serving as JCR Careers Representative this Hilary. We were delighted to have three alumni in the civil service come to speak with Christ Church students on Thursday 6 March. This event continued our ongoing theme on the Civil Service, following Jonathan Edwards' (2002, History) insightful sharing in Michaelmas. Kate Brittain (2009, History), Nick Heath (2002, History) and Imran Shafi (2002, PPE) talked about where their careers had taken them, offering candid thoughts on what they liked about the civil service -- and what they found "tolerable". From managing large teams at a young age, to advising ministers on matters like AI, legal aid policy, and EU affairs, our guests had vast amounts of experience that helped us understand the variety of interesting and challenging work civil servants take on. It was great to hear honestly from Imran, Kate, and Nick as they talked about the highs and lows of a career in the civil service. Hearing from those who have gone before us provides an illuminating picture of the paths we could take, and what that might really look like. 

We are so grateful for the generosity of alumni who share their time and expertise with current students. In particularly, we'd love to host a CV writing or interview skills workshop to help students develop crucial job application skills. If you work in recruiting, or believe you could contribute, please contact the Development and Alumni Office.

Lexi Scholefield (2023, Mathematics and Philosophy).