Jonathan R.

Fast Stream Operational Research Analyst
Happy to mentor
Happy to be contacted

About me

Jonathan R.
Mathematics
Mathematics
Undergraduate
2013
United Kingdom

My employment

Fast Stream Operational Research Analyst
Government Departments
United Kingdom
Government and civil service
2014
£28000

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A day in the life of a Fast Stream Operational Research Analyst in the United Kingdom

How I found out about the job

Personal contacts

The recruitment process

Online questionnaire form to ensure that you meet the right requirements followed by a numerical and verbal reasoning online test. This is followed by a competency based application form. This is followed by a technical based assessment centre. This is followed up by a leadership assessment centre.

Where I hope to be in 5 years

I hope to get promoted to a manager role within four years of working in my current role.

My advice to students considering work

Identify what type of post university job you are interested in as early as possible and then find out the employers that can offer this and find out when their application deadlines are. I would practise online tests before sitting the ones for the jobs you want as these are a big part of graduate recruitment.

About this sector: Read the competency framework that be easily found by Googling 'Civil service competency framework'. I would also go to the GORS (Government Operational Research Service) website to read more about GORS and the GORS specific competencies. This will help you to identify if this is the job you are looking for and prepare you well for the interview!

What I do

My role is to provide analytical evidence to inform decision making. This can be in a variety of things, such as building statistical models to identify where departments should allocate resource or setting up live trials to identify if a department should adopt a certain strategy. It is my responsibility to identify where analysis can inform decision making and ensure that the analysis has a much impact as possible.

Skills I use and how I developed them



Extracurricular skills:
I use analytical skills and statistical techniques that were developed at university. I have also learned new techniques whilst working in my current role through training and on the job learning. I use softer skills just as much as well; I have developed my influencing and communication skills through practical experience and training.

What I like most

Working in the government operational research service for just over one year has been challenging and rewarding. I have enjoyed the fact that I have been able to utilise a lot of the skills that I obtained during my degree and use these in an environment where more is needed then just technical ability! The most challenging and fun aspect of the job has been to convince people that are not analytically minded to support analytical direction.

What I like least

What I like least about my job is that their is not a defined development programme. Whilst it is good that I can go out an identify my own development opportunities, I would like to have more of a tailored development path with a certification at the end of it.

Next steps...

If you like the look of Jonathan’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Jonathan a message to find out more about their career journey.

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