Civil service application

[CivilServiceApp]

I'm tying to complete a Civil Service application and it feels like such an awkward way to apply for a job! (I'm currently in the private sector, so in the past I've just sent a CV)

I've done the CV part, which covered employment history, experience (no word limit) and qualifications.

I have three behaviours to cover, which I understand what's required (250 words each)

The part I'm really struggling with is the personal statement, for which I have a 250 word limit. It says "Your personal statement must demonstrate the essential experience and behaviours required for the post." All the examples I can find online have around 1,000 words, which seems much more reasonable.

Has anyone done a similar application and has some tips?

It's not long, but it's amazing how much you can cover if you're succinct. Check the job description and include in your personal statement anything you've not covered in your behaviour examples. It's basically another opportunity to show you have the skills and experience to do the job, it's not about your personality. Focus on explicit examples of things you've done and how your experience could be applied to the new role, not generic statements. Your aim is to tick off every box in the job description and essential criteria across the whole application. Hope that helps!

Could you do it in bullet form so it's not as wordy.

Thank you so much for you help.

I've done some more work on the application this evening and it's a lot clearer how to approach it now.