Profile:
Piece of a Fast Streamer � Laura Jayawardane

For the past 2 years, I have worked on the Civil Service graduate programme, the Fast Stream. I joined the Fast Stream immediately after completing my degree in International Relations and History at the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE). When I applied, I saw the programme as an excellent opportunity to work in a job where I would be given early responsibility, feel challenged and work on issues that matter and more importantly, make a difference in society. When I was appointed to the Home Office as a Fast Streamer, the job lived up to and exceeded my expectations.

Upon joining the Civil Service, all new Fast Streamers are allocated to a department, and I was posted to the Home Office, where I took my first posting working on policy in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (now the Border and Immigration Agency.)  Since joining the Home Office, I have worked on many different projects and policies, which have all
provided me with continuous opportunities for personal development, a chance to experience on a daily basis, new challenges which are usually high profile and overall, interesting work where I felt I was making a real and positive difference/contribution. Projects I have worked on have included an investigation into the disturbances at two immigration detention centres, which looked at how the management of the detention estate could be improved in order to avoid such events from occurring in future. Before working on the investigation, I worked on improving arrangements for the consideration of foreign national prisoners for deportation prior to their release from prison.  These are just two examples of the diversity and importance of the work for which the Fast Stream has given me the opportunity to work on.

I would say that the best thing about being on the Fast Stream programme is that there is no such thing as an average day.  Because Fast Streamers complete a series of short and intensive postings, you are given a range of experiences which quickly broaden your skill set.  Over the course of the past two years, I have found myself working in Ministerial private offices, visiting detention centres and talking to staff and detainees, briefing the Minister before his presentation of a Bill to Parliament and in meetings with stakeholders communicating and engaging in discussions over the Home Office policy.  I must state that I have not seen any other graduate programme which can even begin to compare in terms of the diverse opportunities the Civil Service can offer you in your career.

To anyone considering applying to the Fast Stream, I would say if you want a challenging and diverse career which gives you responsibility and scope to make a positive difference, then the Fast Stream is the graduate programme for you.

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