Hi there! My names Yasmin and I am currently a second-year economist on the fast
stream.

Before the fast stream

I studied politics and economics at SOAS, University of London. During my degree, I
juggled a few different jobs to support myself (working as a nanny, waitress, bartender,
barista…). I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my degree after uni, so tried to
use the time to figure this out.

I think I’ve always had quite a strong moral compass and and a desire to try to make the
world ‘better’. This led me to roles working as a production assistant, interning in
Parliament and working for an NGO. Whilst I found these roles interesting, I felt like I
missed analytical challenge of provide solutions and problem solving analytically, as
opposed to reiterating research and lots of emails (a dyslexic’s nightmare!).

I was also extremely fortunate to have received scholarships to study on economics
programmes in Singapore and the US, which gave me a lot of exposure into different
areas of economics, and likely solidified my interested in going via the economics path.
The majority of my modules in third year were pure economics; and so I made the
plunge, put all my eggs in one basket and applied to the economist stream.

Current department/job title

I am currently working at the Department of Transport (DfT), in the low-carbon fuel
analysis team, where I focus on the modelling a RCM (Revenue certainty mechanism)
for the UK’s Sustainable-Aviation fuels (SAF) mandate. This is essentially a government
mechanism to try to promote production of SAF in the UK.

Training/qualifications

In terms of training, last year I did the mandatory Fast Stream courses, and this year I’m
hoping to go on some training on best economic modelling practises and coding R
which is organised by DfT.

In my previous role, I did the No.10 Delivery Academy course, which I would
wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who’s given the opportunity to pursue this. I
found this thoroughly helpful for understanding how policy is executed, how the wider
system of how government operates and innovative approaches to communicate policy
options to senior stakeholders.

Quick intro into the day in the life of my role

I usually start my day by biking into the office in the morning. Once I arrive, I check my
emails and review the priorities for the day ahead. Throughout the day, I might attend a
hydrogen cross-government working group, participate in a Fast Stream DfT committee
meeting, or join a check-in meeting with consultants who have been commissioned for
a specific part of the project. I might also enjoy lunch with my colleagues in the
canteen.

In the afternoon, I might have a meeting with my manager to clarify new information
from papers from policy colleagues (or think tanks/ other governments) and discuss
ongoing work on a particular area of the model. This might include reviewing new
numbers and integrating updates into our analysis. If it’s a Thursday, we might go to the
famous Barley Mow after work.

What I enjoy about my role

The driving force behind my desire to work in the civil service, as cliché as it sounds – is
the opportunity to make the world a better place. I feel immensely privileged to hold a
role where I am intellectually challenged, have the chance to continually enhance my
skills, and build a fulfilling career, whilst contributing meaningfully to society.

What I value most, however, is being surrounded by amazing, talented colleagues, who
are so willing to help you and share aspirations to serve in the public sector. This creates
a truly unique and inspiring work environment.

Top Tip

My top tip for applicants is to be confident in your own abilities and enjoy the process!
(For economists – go over basic economic principles and make sure you can apply
these, critically, to the real world (we live in the age of an AI revolution: feel free to utilise
Chat GPT and practise interview questions beforehand).