Dear Reader

Well, that was quick. Summer really was too short. And now, just like that, we’re back in the thick of it. Luckily, we’ve got some big things to share with you this month.

Harry here – Co-founder of Unofficial Guides with Nathan. It’s my first time emailing you. Generally, I’m behind the scenes, but Nathan thought it would be a good idea for me to send an email every now and then.

Career Conversations: Season Two

After a brilliant first season, Career Conversations is back. Season Two starts this month, and we’re going even bigger. Like last season, expect frank, honest chats with civil servants and ex-civil servants who’ve been at the heart of government.

Some stats from last season, which go to show, you can’t miss this season:

• 10 episodes with civil servants, from Directors General to Policy Advisers
• Over 1,500 people signed up
• Average session rating: 9.3/10
• 92% of attendees said they’d recommend the event to a friend

Episode #11 – Kamila Kingstone - From North Korea to Number 10?

Date: 10th of September (2 days to go!)

Time: 6 pm (sharp!)

We’re kicking things off with Kamila, who’s spent the last eight years working across six government departments, including 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office.

She has worked on domestic and foreign policy, helped lead the government’s effort to provide food to people who couldn’t afford it at the start of the pandemic, and even taught A-Level Politics before joining the Civil Service.

Now, she’s shifting her career towards social campaigning. In our conversation, she shares:

• How to navigate the rabbit warren that is the Civil Service
• Why building a portfolio career matters
• How to launch your career without falling into the unpaid internship trap

Our Unofficial Blog

Apparently, this is the most popular part of our newsletter (who knew?). We’ve been a bit overwhelmed by how many of you are reading, sharing, and replying to our blog pieces. Thank you – we have two more entries for you:

​David’s 3 Keys to Civil Service Career Success​

Former Senior Civil Servant David Francis (Director, West London Alliance) distils three practical keys: aligning passion with purpose, running towards challenges, and keeping a flexible, regularly updated career plan.

​Mel’s 18-Year Civil Service Journey: From Administrative Assistant to Grade 6 ​

Mel sheds light on her path from HMRC to the DfE, where she leads planning and supplier delivery for services paying out £75 billion to education providers.

Summer might be over, but the exciting stuff is only just beginning. Trust me.

Best

Harry Phinda

Co-Founder, Unofficial Guides

PS: If this email has ended up in your spam folder, be sure to mark it as "Not Spam" and drag into your inbox, so you don’t miss any future updates, events, or resources.