Interview dress code civil service?

[ididntsignupforthis1]

Admin type job
EO level for those who know the lingo
What type of look should I aim for ?
Can go black trousers and jacket with smart jumper
Or with black floral warehouse blouse and burnt orange jacket.
Or black pencil skirt with above
Or black and white boring wrap dress with jacket?

[Rainatnight]

Any of those with a jacket sound good (civil servant here!)

Good luck!

[coolaschmoola]

Any of the above (EO in a previous life).

[ididntsignupforthis1]

Awesome
Thanks

[Wigeon]

Another civil servant - I'd agree, any of those. Unless a private office type role, in which case definitely go with something with a jacket for an interview.

Are you a civil servant at the moment?

[ididntsignupforthis1]

I'm not a civil servant now no.
Work in a semi smart environment.
Leaning towards orange jacket to be more memorable!
Unless of course safe and very conservative had been the way to go.

[Nettletheelf]

The civil service isn't smart, particularly amongst the more junior people, so as long as you look as if you've made an effort for the interview, you'll be fine. Then you can choose to adopt the prevailing casual dress code if you want.

(I'm a former SCS, but I escaped)

[polyhymnia]

Yes also a former Civil Servant who did lots of boarding. Agree with all previous advice and that any of your ideas would be fine.

[Wigeon]

As an interviewer, I promise you I will remember you if you:

Have a decent answer as to why you want the job and sound like you have at least a bit of a grip on what the job actually is

Make sure your answers answer the question

Know how to do competency based interviews - in particular, tell me what YOU did and what YOUR specific contribution was. Not just that you were part of something or the team you were in did something.

More than if you wear an orange jacket. Also think some departments are more conservative than others (eg FCO, MoD, HMT). But basically I'd just be happy as long as you were clean and well presented and not wearing something obviously inappropriate (eg ripped jeans and flip flops).

What's the role?

[ididntsignupforthis1]

Its with DBS

[HandsomeGroomGiveHerRoom]

Is that DBS within the MOD? Not that it particularly matters - I don't think the dress code for EO interviews would vary much between departments.

Any of those outfits would be fine.

Totally second Wigeon's advice re competency based interviews. I not We - all the way.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Any of those outfits would be fine. I often sit on interview panels for MOD, Cab Office, FCO and Home Office.

Why you want the job and what you would bring to it (ie why should we pick you for the job?)?

Second re competence based interviewing and STAR technique - I, not we, all the way.

Think of a good question to ask at the end - eg what are the priority areas the successful candidate should get to grips with in the first three months, which parts of the job are clearly defined and measurable and which bits aren't. Anything you pick out as interesting/relevant in the job spec that you would be the perfect person for. Do not mention flexible working etc until you have the job offer. I once interviewed a woman who said she wanted flexible working and to work from home on a Wednesday as she had no childcare that day - and went into great detail as to why Margaret couldn't look after little Bobby on a Wednesday.

[HandsomeGroomGiveHerRoom]

Find out a little about the structure of the Department (with a capital D, ie MOD, DWP, Cabinet Office etc). Essentially, where does the area you're looking to work fit in, within its Department and even within wider Government. It's all there on the GOV.UK website.

I was once asked how family friendly the organisation is, by an interviewee who was absolutely stellar and leapfrogged me in the hierarchy within 18 months.

The answer is "very", so you don't need to ask

Good luck, anyway

[ididntsignupforthis1]

Thanks
Outfit hung up ready
Just the prep now.
I'm currently in telesales business to business, inbound. The flexibility is a draw as my current employer isn't !
I've to prepare:
'Completion of a case study - The aim of this will be to assess your ability to demonstrate the competencies; Making Effective Decisions and Delivering at Pace. (Please refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework for more guidance) • Part 2 - A panel interview to allow you to demonstrate your ability to demonstrate the competency; Managing a Quality Service. For the interview we recommend you prepare a suitable example for this competency. '

[Wigeon]

In answer to "why do you want this job", don't say "because you offer flexi time" - say something about the actual nature of the job.

Assume you have read the Comptency framework? It's helpful in telling you what your examples need to include - look at the expected behaviours. Have they said what the case study is meant to be about?

You haven't actually asked for advice on the content of the interview, so feel free to say thanks for the clothes advice and bye!

[ididntsignupforthis1]

Case study is 'The aim of this will be to assess your ability to demonstrate the competencies; Making Effective Decisions and Delivering at Pace.'
That's all I've got.
Do we think this is a ' what would you do if...' Thing?
Showing how you prioritise?

[HandsomeGroomGiveHerRoom]

"What would you do differently next time?" often comes up, after you've given an example of you doing something well. It gives interviewees the chance to demonstrate that they learn from experience and look to improve.

A lot of questions start with "can you tell me about a time when you've..."

Absolutely look at the competency framework - it gives examples of what good looks like for each competence at each grade.

[HMF1]

Hi I am serving civil servant & have been involved in sifting & interviewing for staff. Was you application competency based? if so spend some time looking at your statements & thinking about how you would reply to questions about your work & what you learned. BTW all your outfit choices sound fine. Good luck!

[ididntsignupforthis1]

Sitting in waiting area!
Due in at 4

[Wigeon]

Hope it went well OP - let us know!

[ididntsignupforthis1]

Am on merit list.

[polyhymnia]

Sounds good. What does it mean - that you got in with flying colours?

[ididntsignupforthis1]

No, apparently they score you on the competencies they previously stated. They give you a score and at the end of all the interviews (this and next week) they take on the number of people that there are vacancies from the top scores on the list down until they've filled the roles.
So I passed the'employable' bit, depends on how everyone else does.

[HandsomeGroomGiveHerRoom]

Sounds promising

Be prepared to wait though, and don't feel disheartened if it all goes quiet for a while. The wheels turn very slowly in some areas, much to the frustration of those trying to get competent bums on seats.

[Wigeon]

Well done - that sounds like the best possible outcome at this point in the process. And if you don't get it - I need at least one more EO in my team!

[warda2009]

Can I wear this jacket for EO civil service job interview?

www.marksandspencer.com/open-front-check-textured-jacket/p/p60108160?krypto=qhgl%2BbJ8VGDc4dSYbv5b80%2FAhvmRV7bN%2BQjVcjCHUUDhPDDkS9zzuFrPIhSbxG7aRrwjHZrEuE1shBoBVGHh7lQUaQko45vZyHn58dNGPDGqJSJhl8G8sZbSCLLCscyT%2F0Xqd2UZmUIYp3qPh6sPlQ%3D%3D&pdpredirect