Public services and administration

Jobs in this sector involve working in a variety of areas that deal with government on both a national and local level. This sector is suited to those who enjoy cooperating with others to solve challenges while contributing to how their communities are managed.

Typical jobs in this sector include:

  • company secretary
  • facilities manager
  • personal assistant
  • policy offer
  • information officer.

Key skills that are useful in this sector include:

  • the ability to work diplomatically with others
  • problem-solving skills
  • good time and project management
  • the ability to work across boundaries within your organisation
  • in some roles, working in the context of limited resources.

For job profiles and detailed information on pursuing a career in the public services and administration sector, see the Prospects website:

Public services and administration profile

Contents

How to get a job

To prepare for a career in public services and administration, you should research the sector carefully. You should also talk with people who are in the sector already.

Work experience is also essential for gaining employment in this sector. You can get this through internships, part-time, temporary work, and placements.

Make a connection

To connect with people already working in the sector, consider joining Saint Connect, the University of St Andrews’ exclusive, global, online community for networking and career mentoring.

You could also consider joining relevant student societies, such as the Foreign Affairs Society, to help build your network and demonstrate an interest in the sector to potential employers.

See more ideas for making a connection.

Internships and part-time work

Several large, publicly funded organisations in this sector, such as the Civil Service , Competition and Markets Authority, and Bank of England, offer paid internships, usually lasting six to eight weeks.

You might also consider the St Andrews Summer Internship Scheme, which offers challenging and paid work experience within professional service units of the University of St Andrews.

However, internship opportunities in this sector are more limited than in other sectors. You may find it helpful to look for temporary work opportunities instead, including within the University itself. For advice on how to do this, see the part-time local jobs page.

Find internships (Careers Centre)

Attend events

The Careers Centre often puts on events where you can talk to employers visiting St Andrews. Visit the events page for more information.

Further study

Further study is not needed for most roles in this sector. However, a small number of roles do require an additional qualification, and for others further study may be helpful. For details on which areas of this sector this may apply to, see Prospects’ getting a graduate job in public services page.

For further information on further study in general, see the further study pages.

Finding a job

Check out our job listings for vacancies or see the resources below for jobs in the public services and administration sector.

Find jobs (Careers Centre)

Jobs in the UK

Graduate training schemes

A graduate training scheme is a paid, entry-level job that also acts as a training programme. Graduate training schemes are common in this sector and are one way of acquiring a graduate-level position. They are offered by a wide variety of large graduate employers, usually those that offer placements and internships.

Examples include:

For more organisations offering graduate training schemes, see Student Ladder’s public sector graduate schemes page.

Jobs outside the UK

Applying for a job

When applying for jobs in this sector, you can expect to do at least some of the following: 

In addition, for graduate training schemes, you can expect to take psychometric tests or attend an assessment centre.

The application process for public sector and administration jobs may vary according to which organisation you are applying to. Research the organisation to understand the skills, competencies and values they are looking for. Also check the organisation's website, as many provide details on their recruitment and selection processes.

If you would like personalised help on any aspect of applying for a job, you can book an appointment with a careers adviser.    

Applying for a job