I graduated from the University of Leicester in
2004 with an LLB in Law with French Law. I
really enjoyed my degree and the knowledge
base it provided me with, but I chose not to
go down the route of becoming a solicitor
or barrister. Following a fantastic year out
travelling around Asia and Australia after my
degree, I began to explore other career options
where I could apply what I learned from my
degree in a practical way. I saw an advert
for a national recruitment drive run by the
UK Border Agency which really peaked my
interest. The role was for a Higher Executive
Officer Asylum Case Owner in a brand new
Asylum Office.
The recruitment process was quite lengthy
- but well worth the wait! The role was
incredibly wide; I was dealing with asylum
claims from end-to-end which saw me
interviewing asylum applicants, making
decisions, acting as a Presenting Officer
for the Home Office in the Asylum and
Immigration Tribunal and carrying through
the final decision through either integration
of the refugee or removal of those not
entitled to be here. The role was demanding
and challenging (both professionally and
personally) but by far the steepest learning
experience I have ever had. My general
knowledge increased enormously as I had to
become familiar with the historical, political
and general situation of a wide selection
of countries. As a Presenting Officer, I
became a legal advocate for the Home
Office, conducting asylum appeals in front of
immigration judges and using my degree skills
in a practical way. As well as the operational
experience, the learning and development
opportunities were wide ranging and senior
managers provided excellent support for our
professional development. In addition to my
'day job' as a Case Owner, I also volunteered
for roles working as a UKBA representative
to local authorities who are key stakeholders
in the asylum agenda, and working on policies
relating to Asylum-Seeking children - an
area of incredible sensitivity. From this, I
learned a lot about how my role in the UKBA
resonates in the wider community and also on
a national level.
After a brief but incredible 18 months in
this role, I moved on to a new role in the
Ministry of Justice. Thanks to the skills and
knowledge which I had gained at the UKBA,
I was successful in gaining a promotion to
Senior Executive Officer level. My new
role in MoJ was very different; working in a
busy Private Office for the Director General,
dealing with senior civil servants as well as
liaising with Ministers and the Permanent
Secretary. After six months in this role, I was
ready for a new challenge - and my previous
experience of the UKBA being a dynamic
and fast-pace environment made it my first
choice of Agency.
I applied for and was successful in a Desk
Officer role in International Policy for the
UKBA. Working on a number of EU work
streams, I am responsible for ensuring UKBA
priorities are carried forward in the EU
arena. What drew me to this role is that I
am able to apply my French language skills
in a professional capacity, as well as using
the knowledge I gained from my degree in
European Union Law. My first impressions of
the role are excellent and I am really looking
forward to the next six months as I learn
more about working with the EU through
work shadowing opportunities in Brussels,
to Whitehall training courses and attending
different kinds of meetings to gain first hand
experience of EU negotiating.
As well as the varied nature of the work, the
developmental opportunities, the support and
encouragement by managers - what really
animates me is the Agency's business. The
world of immigration is never out of the
papers, and the general public have incredibly
strong views on what UK immigration should
be. Working for the Agency means that
you are always brought into a conversation,
and always introduced by your friends as
the person with the 'really interesting job'
- something which I never tire of hearing!
Invariably, the work of the UKBA affects
every member of the public at some point,
and the pressures on the Agency are huge,
particularly as the world moves towards
further expansion. That said, these pressures
only lead to greater challenges for people like
me who thrive on a variety of interesting and
high level work in a supportive and friendly
environment.
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