I joined the Home Office in June 2020, having previously spent 4 years in another government department. I moved because I saw it as part of my development towards being an experienced HR professional.
My role is extremely varied and although it is a massive cliché, no two days are the same. There is a real mix of driving and supporting significant strategic change in the business areas I work with, but also getting involved in ad hoc issues which come up on a day to day basis. A lot of the role involves needing to work quickly and efficiently to understand this root causes of issues and to identify how these issues can be solved; and who can solve them. There is also a real focus on relationship building, with colleagues across the department who will help you deliver your work.
The variety and the fact that there is always something new happening means there are always opportunities to learn and develop. A large part of the role is about being curious as to why things happen, especially when they go wrong but also being well placed to challenge the status quo and ensure processes and approaches are as effective as possible. It gives me a really good opportunity to add value through making changes and influencing senior leaders to take particular courses of action which they may not have considered.
I enjoy the fact that there is so much expertise across the department and people are always willing to help. If you are not sure how to deal with an issue, or you want to talk through your approach, there is always someone you can approach. I have also found that senior leaders are genuinely committed to ensuring that all colleagues develop and are able to thrive.
The Home Office can be a challenging place to work given there is always so much media scrutiny of the department. However, the things I see in the media do not reflect what I see on a day to day basis. The Home Office is an interesting place to work where the staff really care about what they are doing and why.
