Confessions of a born Confessions of a born again candidateagain candidate

Pat BellPat Bell

HM Customs and ExciseHM Customs and Excise

ContentsContents

How I came to charterHow I came to charter Doing itDoing it What I got out of itWhat I got out of it

Dos and Don’tsDos and Don’ts

How I came to charterHow I came to charter

ContextContext

Qualified in 1994Qualified in 1994 Continuous professional work at Continuous professional work at

DTI, DoE (DETR, DTLR, DTI, DoE (DETR, DTLR, ODPM), HMCE since 1995ODPM), HMCE since 1995

Registered (Route B) in 1997Registered (Route B) in 1997 Did nothing else for six yearsDid nothing else for six years

Why?Why?

CDL initiativeCDL initiative Head of profession was keenHead of profession was keen Bit of timeBit of time … … … … Look, can I get back to you Look, can I get back to you

on this?on this?

CharteringChartering

Getting down to itGetting down to it

Do … Get helpDo … Get help

ProcedureProcedure MentoringMentoring Gathering Gathering

materialmaterial ReviewingReviewing

Line managerLine manager Head of Head of

professionprofession Regional Regional

Liaison OfficerLiaison Officer SupervisorSupervisor FriendsFriends ColleaguesColleagues

Don’t expect them to do it for youDon’t expect them to do it for you

1.1. Check what is neededCheck what is needed

Administrative requirementsAdministrative requirements Documents you must includeDocuments you must include What you need to coverWhat you need to cover

Do ... readDo ... readthe regulationsthe regulations

Don’t…Don’t…

Forget to read the regulationsForget to read the regulations

(Sorry)(Sorry)

2.2. Gather materialGather material

Organisation chartsOrganisation charts Departmental objectivesDepartmental objectives Service objectivesService objectives Job descriptionsJob descriptions Work you’re proud ofWork you’re proud of Annual appraisalsAnnual appraisals Training recordTraining record

3.3. Map your evidenceMap your evidence

Don’t get disheartened – get helpDon’t get disheartened – get help

Do… the bestDo… the bestyou canyou can

Map the evidence you’ve gotMap the evidence you’ve got Show awarenessShow awareness Plan to fill the gapsPlan to fill the gaps

Don’t … get paranoid about Don’t … get paranoid about the odd gapthe odd gap

Do … look atDo … look atother candidates’other candidates’submissionssubmissions

Required standardRequired standard Ideas for structureIdeas for structure

Don’t … use them as a substitute for thought

4.4. Get started…Get started…

… … but be prepared to make but be prepared to make mistakesmistakes

Do … make theDo … make thesubmission forsubmission foryourselfyourself

Analyse your developmentAnalyse your development And your impactAnd your impact

Don’t … be self indulgentDon’t … be self indulgent

Save it for your autobiography or Save it for your autobiography or State librarianState librarian

5.5. Get a reviewerGet a reviewer

Supervisor / mentorSupervisor / mentor Regional Liaison OfficerRegional Liaison Officer ColleagueColleague FriendFriend

Choose them for the expertise Choose them for the expertise they can offerthey can offer

6.6. Revise, print, bind, Revise, print, bind, submit ….submit ….

… and wait … and wait

Let go

Why?Why?

RevisitedRevisited

It’s the process, not the It’s the process, not the productproduct

Look back at what you’ve doneLook back at what you’ve done Pat yourself on the backPat yourself on the back Identify strengths and Identify strengths and

weaknessesweaknesses … … and interestsand interests Where you are, and where you Where you are, and where you

want to bewant to be

Do … CharterDo … Charter

Don’t fixate on getting Don’t fixate on getting charteredchartered

pat.bell@hmce.gsi.gov.uk