Hayat just received confirmation of her place on the Civil Service Faststream, the graduate route into the Civil Service. She was helped to find the role by the Bright Network website, and will begin in October 2017. She spared the time to have a chat to us about her new role.
Why did you choose the Civil Service Faststream?
I chose the Civil Service because of how crucial it is to society and how important it is for the government to fairly represent its people. The Fast Stream is a prestigious scheme for graduates to develop their leadership skills and progress to the senior Civil Service. The focus on trainee development and the commitment to diversity and inclusion attracted me to the Fast Stream.
What was the toughest part of the application process? And your favourite part?
The toughest part of the application process was the assessment centre. The multiple succession of tasks and self evaluation in short spaces of time made the day challenging and tiring as I needed to stay focused at all times. Having said this, the group exercise within the assessment centre was my favourite part of the process as it provided an opportunity to display my collaborative skills and network with new people who were all in the same boat as me. The overall FSAC day was tough but the tasks were engaging and the staff were considerate of our nerves.
What three top tips would you give your fellow Bright Network members?
My three top tips for making it through the Fast Stream application process would be:
1) Do your research
2) Do practice online tests
3) Stay calm at the FSAC (Fast Stream Assessment Centre) and take each task as individual opportunities to show off your skills.
What's your lucky charm or pre-interview ritual?
Taking deep breaths and reminding myself how far I've come
