Tell us a bit about you?

My name is Lara, I’m 30 years old and come from Switzerland. I’ve been living in Scotland for the last six years, now residing in Edinburgh after spending most of that time in the lovely East Neuk of Fife. I love going to a good farmers market, reading books, and cooking.

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What attracted you to apply for the graduate development scheme?

After spending 10 years in the university environment, either as a student or a researcher, I wanted to find a job outside of academia.

I had just spent four years working on power dynamics and autonomy in healthcare. I realised that no matter how much I theorised about how we could improve the patient’s experience, I could not get very far when it came to changing things on the ground. I wanted to do something concrete, where my work could have an impact on people’s lives.

That’s why I decided to change careers and give policy making a try. The programme offered me both the opportunity to get trained in this field, and to discover multiple areas of government.

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What is your current post, and what does it involve?

I’m currently working on my third post of the programme, in Primary Care Policy. It’s an incredibly interesting area of work, ensuring that the development of the new primary care strategy takes into account the specificities and interests of rural and island communities.

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What does a typical working day look like for you?

My typical workday starts by going through my emails to see if anything urgent has come through. Then I usually divide my time between completing business-as-usual tasks like replying to correspondence, preparing briefings for Ministers, or forwarding information to other teams who make requests.

There are usually a few meetings per day with other colleagues. I also spend time on longer-term projects, like collecting evidence to develop policy, writing position papers or inputting into the new strategy.

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What has been your key highlight or achievement so far?

One of my most memorable highlights was helping my colleagues support the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise at the British Irish Council meeting for Early Years last year in London. It was great to learn how to support the Minister and see her interact with Ministers from other UK nations and Ireland.

Another was getting the opportunity to interview the Permanent Secretary, as part of the review I conducted around the Scottish Government’s reporting of fiscal performance and risk. It was amazing to be trusted by my colleagues to interview him and to take on this important piece of work.

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What are your ambitions for the future?

I would like to find a role that combines my love of strategy and problem-solving, that also enables me to help the government resolve some of the challenges it is currently facing around the sustainability of public services and public finances.

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What do you think is the main benefit of participating in the graduate programme?

Being able to see a variety of areas is amazing. It helps you find what you like most, and gives you lots of opportunities to network across the organisation.

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What do you think is the best thing about working in the public sector?

One of the best things about working in the public sector is the sense of job security it offers, especially compared to sectors like academia.

The Scottish Government places a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing and takes work-life balance seriously. There’s also a real sense of purpose in knowing that the work you do contributes to improving the lives of people across Scotland.

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Would you recommend the programme to graduates thinking of applying?

I would wholeheartedly recommend the programme. It offers excellent opportunities for learning, development, and making a meaningful contribution through your work.

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What career advice would you give your younger self?

There are other amazing options outside of academia where the work is fast paced, varied, and interesting. You deserve a job that recognises your contributions, supports your wellbeing, and helps you grow with confidence.