When the time comes to leave university, students are faced with a myriad of options. The idea of going to university and obtaining a degree is designed to open doors for an individual’s future. One of the options that becomes available is the opportunity to apply for Postgraduate schemes which are designed to propel former students into a long and successful career in their chosen field. One of the biggest of these is the Civil Service Fast Stream which is designed to pluck some of the best minds from universities and place them in positions within UK government departments. So my question is, is it really worth it?
Postgraduate schemes are designed to allow former students to bypass some of the lower-ranked roles within any specific company or department and begin their career in work from a fairly lofty position. This not only means more money, but also a better chance to progress up the ranks faster. However, you can always take the other path without university and start from the very bottom at a much younger age. This is most certainly true of the civil service which begs the question, what is the better path?
Luckily, I had the opportunity to sit down with two civil servants who had worked within their respective departments for nearly 40 years. Both of them came up through the ranks without the use of university and the subsequent fast stream.
Success varies
Firstly, I sat down with Lucy, who didn’t join the civil service via the fast stream but does work with many other people who did. ‘It is a difficult process to get through, but once you do you are guaranteed quick promotions, which offers a handsome wage at a young age’, she said.
When asked about the alternative Lucy said, ‘Working your way up takes a lot longer. You can certainly be successful, but that can vary greatly from department to department. Fast stream also allows you to experience a variety of different departments which you wouldn’t get starting from the very bottom’.
It would seem that Lucy, despite working her way through the ranks, is a big supporter of the scheme.
More flexibility
Secondly, I had a chat with Mark who has spent his entire adult life working his way through the civil service ranks.
‘The fast stream allows you to have more flexibility about where you work,’ he said. ‘The only downside from this is you’d be expected to move with the roles meaning it can be difficult to settle down in one place after university’.
Despite this, Mark was keen to point out how he felt the fast stream was still the better option.
‘Going through the ranks has its many disadvantages,’ he added. ‘The fast stream allows you to challenge the status quo of the civil service, which can be quite process-orientated and even bureaucratic. This isn’t something that someone working their way up slowly wouldn’t have the chance to do’.
Once again, quite a convincing conclusion.
After being able to chat with these two it has painted a much clearer picture for me regarding this queston. The fact that it is so difficult to get on to the Civil Service Fast Stream shows you how popular it still is as a scheme, which must say something about its quality.
You are guaranteed a job at the end of it and a well-paid one at that, which can be one of the most important factors for a student exploring postgraduate options. So to answer my question quite clearly, yes. The fast stream is certainly competitive. But, once you’re there, you need never look back.