In brief
The Public Sector and Government offer a wide range of opportunities, including influencing, creating, researching or delivering policy at local, national or intergovernmental level, or supporting the work of political organisations. Working in politics can involve lobbying, gathering information on policy, and administration to support political activity. People do not enter these sectors for financial reward, but are motivated by a desire to contribute to the public good or to promote a particular cause or set of values.
These are popular sectors with LSE graduates and you’ll find alumni working in roles all over the world. Some will have done a Master's qualification and most will have gained relevant experience through student volunteering, campaigning or internships.
Where can you work?
Public Sector & Government
The Prospects overview of the public sector provides further details.
- Civil Service – in departments, agencies or public bodies such as the Diplomatic Service; HM Treasury; Government Economic Service; and security and intelligence services.
- Defence, law enforcement and public protection – including the armed forces, police, health & safety, cyber-security and prisons. The Prospects overview of Law enforcement and security provides further details.
- Health, social and community work – including organisations managing or delivering healthcare, social care or youth services.
- Education – teaching in primary, secondary, further or higher education, or supporting the provision of education. To find out more, read our Careers in Education and Teaching profile.
Politics
Key employers are political parties, trade unions, charities and public affairs consultancies. Organisations involved in campaigning and activism also come into this sector.
Find the names of organisations interested in recruiting LSE students by searching the Organisations section on Career Hub. The industry search box includes: Defence and public protection; Education and teaching; Healthcare and wellbeing; International organisations; Politics and political communications, Public Policy; Public sector and government; and Research.
What’s changing in the sector?
Charity and private players are increasingly involved, both in delivering services and collaborating. Examples include, the NHS, which buys services from private health and social care providers and charities; government social research, which commissions work from private research organisations; and many government departments, which outsource work to commercial organisations such as Serco and Capita. Recent crises in the functioning of this market mean that more changes are likely.
Useful Websites
CareerHub – jobs board targeting LSE students, including events and networking opportunities.
Civil Service
Civil Service Fast Stream
Civil Service job search – most departments advertise their jobs here. Some also have their own job sites, e.g. DfID, DEFRA, FCO, HM Treasury, IPO, Ministry of Justice, HMRC, Forestry Commisssion, GAD.
Public sector recruitment sites
Jobsgopublic – focus on public and not for profit sectors.
EuroBrussels.com – jobs in Brussels, EU institutions and international organisations.
GraduateForward Jobs Board – public affairs and communications vacancies.
PR Week jobs
PubAffairs Jobs Board
W4MP Jobs – jobs working for MPs.
Lobbying and public affairs consultancies
Public Affairs Board
European Public Affairs Consultancies’ Association (EPACA)
Dods People – provides details of people and organisations active in politics and public affairs.
Pub Affairs Resource Centre
Useful initiatives
Operation Black Vote - OBV's MP Shadowing Scheme gives black and ethnic minority people a chance to work shadow an MP.