Where to start
The public sector is the part of the economy owned and operated by the government. It includes military, law enforcement, infrastructure, public transit, public education, health care, elected officials and the supporting structures (the Civil Service in the UK)- it includes local, regional and national government and federal if you’re in a country with states. It’s funded by taxation and work generally doesn’t have a requirement to produce profit.
The public sector is the largest employer of graduates in the UK and traditionally offers a number of graduate schemes as entry route. You can find inspiration beyond the best known routes in our directory of public sector graduate schemes. Remember that graduate schemes are not the only way to get a job in the public sector (some useful vacancy sites are listed below).
Our YouTube playlist Careers in government, policy and the public sector will give you more context.
Careers in the public sector are, by definition, focused on public good. Beyond that basic remit there is a huge range of jobs. The sense of being ‘close to the action’ and of making a difference can vary widely depending on the role and organisation you work for.
Internships can be harder to find in the public sector than the commercial sector. However, an internship is not essential to getting a graduate job and public sector organisations use hiring practices designed to recognise and give credit for strengths and competencies gained through a variety of experiences. These include internships for private sector organisations, volunteering, ‘casual work’ and extracurricular activities. For some positions, experience working with the general public or more specific groups can be helpful- for example experience of volunteering with vulnerably housed adults might help you demonstrate your commitment and interest for a role in local government housing policy.
Whatever your experience, spend time reflecting on what you did, why it mattered and what skills it helped you develop, for example teamwork, analytical ability, communication - and your commitment to furthering the public good.
With some exceptions the public sector tends to value experience over additional academic qualifications. Many of the graduate programmes allow you to study for a master’s part-time alongside your work.
Complete your “Career Industry Interests” on Handshake to be notified about appropriate jobs, graduate schemes, careers briefings and employer presentations.
For direct recruitment into the Civil Service see Civil Service Jobs and consider setting up an alert.
Some useful sources for vacancies include: Working for an MP website for a variety of public sector and politics-related opportunities, Civil Service job search for graduate scheme and immediate-start jobs in the UK civil service and Jobs Go Public for jobs in local government plus housing, education and other areas of social policy.
It is vital that you give evidence of the competency requirements. Watch this two-part talk on Successful Application Forms for some help.
You may be required to complete psychometric tests. You can practice these for free here with Graduates First.
Assessment Centres are common in this sector. See this four-part video on Succeeding at Assessment Centres and use Shortlist.me for help with video interviews.
You will find public sector jobs and graduate schemes advertised on Handshake. Some employers will also give presentations at Cambridge.
Public sector graduate scheme recruiters will feature at our Graduate Schemes and Internships Fair in Michaelmas.
The Public sector graduate scheme directory is a resource on Handshake.
You can join the public sector at any stage in your career. Even the graduate schemes are not just for those straight out of university, and the personal and professional skills you gain in other areas may well be transferable to the public sector.
The Institute for Government has an explanation of the internal structure of the civil service - which might help to demystify it.
Now you have looked at this page, think about your next steps. Everyone's journey is different. There are many ways to move forward. Here are some actions you could take now:
- Look for roles using the resources above.
- Talk to alumni working in this field via Alumni Careers Connect.
- Talk to a Careers Consultant - book a 1:1 appointment through Handshake.
- Attend events - watch for relevant events.
- Ready to apply? Use the CV and cover letter guide to draft a CV or an application. CareerSet is a tool you can use to review your CV and cover letter. Write a speculative application.
- Subscribe to the Government, Politics & Public Sector Careers Newsletter