Career Changer
“Before I booked sessions with Nathan, I had applied to 20+ jobs in the Civil Service. I was looking for a career change.”
Start and Build Your Civil Service Career
My Mission
I help ambitious, passionate and proactive people feel clearer, more confident and more capable of taking their next step in the Civil Service.
If working in frontline and policy roles across local and national government for 7+ years, and co-founding The Unofficial Guides CIC has taught me anything, it’s that the biggest barriers to realising your potential aren’t always a lack of ability, skills or experience.
For many of us, the biggest barriers are not being able to work out what we want, work out what’s really stopping us, see the value we can offer or communicate that value to colleagues, managers, senior leaders or recruiters.
My mission is to give 100,000 people the tools, step-by-step guidance and support they need to feel clearer, more confident and more capable of taking the first, fifth or fiftieth step in their Civil Service career.
My Work in Numbers*
- 20,000+application guide downloads
- 6,000+registrations for careers, applications and interview events
- 50+organisations and networks
- 4.7/5on Trustpilot (opens in a new tab)
- 23,000+social media followers
- 1,000+newsletter subscribers
* Downloads, event registrations and organisation figures cover Nathan White Careers and The Unofficial Guides combined. Social figures combine accounts, not unique people.
Who I Help
I want to work with ambitious, passionate and proactive people who want to invest in themselves, make a difference in the world and build skills for long-term success.
Career Changers
If you're moving from another sector or returning after a break, it can be hard to know where you fit or how your experience transfers. I'll help you explore suitable roles, recognise what you bring and explain the value of your experience to recruiters.
Early Careers
If you're a student, graduate or early in your career, the different routes and application processes can feel confusing. I'll help you find opportunities, understand what employers want and recognise the experience you already have.
Existing Civil Servants
If you already work in the Civil Service but feel unsure about your next step, I'll help you explore your direction, identify what to develop and prepare yourself for whatever level you want to reach.
Organisations
If your staff, students or community need clearer advice about Civil Service careers, I can provide tools, guidance and workshops that help them take practical steps forward.
How I Help
Applications and Interviews
Putting lots of effort into applications but still unsure what to change? You’re in the right place!
Writing strong applications or giving good interviews takes more than most people think. To perform well, you don’t just need to write or speak well. You need to understand what the recruiters are looking for, highlight your transferable skills and explain your achievements in a way that shows the value you could add to their teams.
These toolkits bring together everything I’ve learnt about building strong Civil Service applications, and break the process down into six step-by-step toolkits.
Careers
Unsure what you want from your next step, which options fit or how to move forward? My Civil Service Careers Toolkit will help you understand how the Civil Service works, choose your level and profession, and recognise the experience you can bring.
It draws on my own move from frontline work into policy and strategy across local and national government, including progressing from AO to Grade 7 in the Civil Service. It also draws on what I learned from interviewing 30+ public servants, including diplomats, Directors General and Permanent Secretaries, about their careers.
Organisations I've Worked With
Who I’ve Helped So Far
Find feedback from people at a similar stage to you.
37 stories
Kate Seow
“Before I started working with Nathan, I was struggling to get past the sift. My scores suggested I was close, but I didn't know what I needed to do to improve them.”
Early-Career Applicant
“Before receiving support from Nathan, I found the application process quite difficult to navigate, particularly when it came to understanding how to present my experience and approach applications strategically. I sometimes struggled to see how my skills and experiences could translate effectively into an application.”
Leo
“Before talking to Nathan, I had completed countless Civil Service job applications, with most being unsuccessful, and a few having reached reserve lists.”
Career Changer
“Before the calls with Nathan, I'd felt really uncertain about what the civil service was looking for in written applications, given over 15 rejections.”
Civil Servant
“Before working with Nathan, I came to him with a (really bad!) application that didn’t highlight my skills or showcase the experience I had.”