Tue 30 Aug 2022
From a working-class family in Nottingham, the Head of Africa for Engagement at Home Office looks back on her career in the civil service
By Murielle Gonzalez
A story of perseverance and determination is that of Nottingham-born Azita Abolhasani in the civil service. She started in Home Office as an administrative assistant and a decade later became Head of Africa, International Strategy & Engagement, a post she took in January after almost two years as the Private Secretary to the Home Secretary, and a brief stint as the Deputy Principal Private Secretary. International work experience is also under her belt, having worked as the Second Secretary for Migration at the British Embassy in Afghanistan. Other London and regionally based migration-focussed roles are also part of her career.
Now a budding leader, Abolhasani is proud of both her working-class and diverse background and speaks to Dods Diversity & Inclusion about career progression and personal development ahead of the September conferences Women into Leadership and Unlocking the Senior Civil Service.
"My determination comes from my parents," she says. "My dad, who started studying in the UK before the Iranian revolution, built his businesses from the ground up, making many sacrifices along the way. Even to this day, he is an incredibly hardworking man, as is my mum, who has shouldered the responsibility of both work and taking care of our family," she adds.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Abolhasani explains: "Now, whenever I feel I want to give up, or whenever I feel 'this is all too much', or I can't do something, I just think about the opportunity my mum and dad have given me and the sacrifices they’ve made and find the strength to power on."
Abolhasani didn’t go to university or any other higher education but has always been a naturally curious person who enjoys interacting with new people and making connections, skills which have stood her in good stead over the years. "I don’t look at job opportunities in the civil service as a next step up the ladder but as a chance to learn something new and pursue something in an area of work I have an interest in," she explains. "Overall, adopting an interest-focussed approach has positively influenced the way I view my work and stay motivated alongside the thing that motivates all civil servants: making a difference and delivering for the public we serve.
Seize the moment
It was not her lifelong ambition to have a career in the civil service. Abolhasani was in her early 20s when she was made redundant from a call centre role before seeing an opportunity to join as an admin assistant. Since then, her civil service career has been tailored to her measure.
At the end of her first year in the Home Office, Abolhasani sought opportunities to work in London and eventually became a Border Force Officer at Heathrow Airport. "I had never lived away from home, so this job opened a whole new chapter of my life and a world of opportunities", she says.
How did you become a Border Force Officer?
I saw a job offer on the civil service jobs site, and after speaking with colleagues who worked at the local Airport in the East Midlands, decided to apply. I was familiar with the immigration system and supporting operations as a migration caseworker, so I thought I might stand a good chance.
My manager helped me get my application together, and before I knew it, I was moving to London to start the training. This was a huge change coming from a relatively small city into the capital, where I would meet new people from a wide range of backgrounds. It was like opening the door to a whole other world, and I was excited to explore what it had to offer.
What was it like to work there?
Working within a diverse workforce with colleagues from up and down the country and of all backgrounds, combined with the exposure to the hundreds and thousands of passengers from all over the world, helped me understand first-hand how important it is for the civil service to represent the public it serves and interacts with. The hours could be a little anti-social, but I really enjoyed working.
What was it like to work at the embassy in Afghanistan?
This was the first time I had worked closely with civil servants who were from other government departments, and whilst it was interesting to understand more about what they did, most were university educated and seemingly from a more privileged background. Through the lens of my own self-doubt, I considered them to be more intelligent, and so I felt like I wasn’t good enough or deserved to do this job.
Soon into the role, I thought that perhaps this was the impostor syndrome kicking in. I worked hard and quickly became a trusted and reliable ‘go-to’ person for all migration-related subjects. My confidence grew, and I realised that regardless of background and any perceived barriers that relate to this, showing others you care about the work you do and are good at your job will always prevail.
Did that help you make your next career move?
I saw an expression of interest for the role of the Assistant Private Secretary to the Immigration Minister. I’d worked in a number of migration focussed roles by this point, and with my newfound confidence, I threw my hat in the ring with an application. It was not a promotion, but to work in a Ministerial Private Office was an opportunity of a lifetime and a well-beaten path for many successful civil servants.
Was it what you expected it to be?
It was extremely busy and like no other job I had ever done before. It was a particularly difficult time to join and was thrown right into the deep end with the Windrush story gaining momentum and working out what Brexit meant for the immigration system. So, while it was hugely challenging and all-consuming role, it also gave me a front-row seat to see how both the department and wider government works with Ministers and within the political landscape it operates.
Working well outside of my comfort zone in a pressurised environment alongside fast-streamers and exceptionally talented civil servants meant that the dreaded impostor syndrome returned to cast doubt on my ability and, at the same time, test my resilience. I felt worse than ever: isolated and overwhelmed. I just wanted to give up as it seemed like the only and easiest way out.
How did you deal with self-doubt?
I did not want to be seen as weak, but I also began to accept there is only so much I can deal with by myself, so I decided to seek the support of my line manager, who was incredibly understanding and would challenge and attempt to counter my impostor syndrome-like concerns. She would highlight examples of where I had done something well or exceptional and coached me on the areas she thought I could develop.
How did that help you?
My line manager dispelled any notion that I wasn’t good enough, and from there, I continued to excel in the role and in Private Office. I realised that I was often too hard on myself and focussed on the negatives rather than what I had achieved or was good at. I also began to realise that others were going through their own challenges, and I was not the only one, which helped foster closer relationships within teams and raise awareness of the types of support available.
I am truly grateful for the patience and support given by my line manager. I learned a lot from her approach to leadership and her genuine care for people, which has greatly influenced how I support my own team.
How did you get to work in Home Secretary’s Private Office?
After making it to Deputy Private Secretary in the Immigration Minister’s office, I was thinking of leaving the fast-paced life of the Private Office but saw the role of the Private Secretary to the Home Secretary advertised. I wondered if I could take on such a prestigious but incredibly demanding role. Before I knew it, the general election was called and took this as a sign to seize the brief lull in work to make an application.
I was very surprised to get an interview, and once done, I thought it had gone terribly. With little notice, I was told I had passed the interview and then put in front of the Home Secretary for questioning who, as per Private Office protocol, ultimately gets to decide who will join their office.
I was incredibly nervous, and I don’t think I can even recall many of the questions asked, but I’d like to think she was impressed by my brute determination and strong work ethic shown throughout my career.
Did you always get the job you wanted?
No. When I lived in Nottingham, I applied for a case-working role in the Home Office and another similar role in another government department but didn’t get an interview for either. I felt like I would never be offered a job in London because I didn’t have the right skills or educational background they were looking for.
How did that feeling affect you?
I felt deflated and questioned my own ability or whether I was being too ambitious, but then I just thought, ‘you have to be in it to win it’ and take chances. The worst anyone can say is ‘no’. Now, when considering a new role, I look at my skills and experience, then focus on what I might need to do to enhance them and how I can do this in my current role, that way you have a better chance of getting the role you want in the future.
Have these experiences helped you shape your leadership skills?
We have all experienced different approaches to management and leadership. Reflecting on this and my own career journey, I truly appreciate the value of difference and recognise the importance of giving people from diverse backgrounds the support and opportunity to realise their full potential and excel in the civil service. If I can land a role in a Secretary of States Private Office, I believe that with the right support, everyone should be given the opportunity to make progress towards their career goals.
I am really pleased to see there is a lot of work taking place both within the Home Office and wider civil service to look at social mobility and, more generally, to create a more diverse and inclusive environment. However, there is still more work to be done. Current and future leaders have an integral role to play in turning good intention into tangible action.
How do you feel about moving into the Senior Civil Service?
Working in the Home Secretary’s Private Office has been the pinnacle of my career. It wasn’t until that moment that I realised how far I’d come and that your background shouldn’t restrict or determine your future.
In the beginning, my career goal was to be an Immigration Officer. That was as far as I could see sitting in a small office in the East Midlands. Having learned so much more about the development opportunities and career paths available, I have a much broader view of what is out there.
I think the most brilliant thing about the civil service is that there is a broad spectrum of career paths you can pursue. However, as leaders, we need to do more to champion the range of job opportunities, share stories of success and promote the types of learning available to ensure people understand that your background shouldn’t restrict or determine your future. Naturally, I feel very passionate about this and have since taken up the role of the Learning & Development champion for my unit.
What is your message to colleagues in the civil service?
You are never alone or the only one feeling like an ‘impostor’. There will be many situations that will test your resilience and push you out of your comfort zone. Believe in yourself, invest in yourself, and do not let your perceived ideas or self-doubt hold you back. Nothing is lost on having a go by throwing your hat into the ring for a role or explicitly asking for development opportunities. You have to be in it to win it!
Be inspired by your peers in the civil service at the conference Women into Leadership and Unlocking the Senior Civil Service taking place in September!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Murielle Gonzalez, content strategy manager at Dods Diversity & Inclusion, is an experienced journalist and editor. She can be reached on murielle.gonzalez@dodsgroup.com.
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