Civil Services job application mini-rant.

[HelloPossums]

Hi everyone.

Sorry this is a terrible AIBU!

This is a bit of a rant (and a cheeky plea for advice )

(In honour of a previous poster, I'll call this thread a 'rant-ette' ).

I've been applying for entry-level jobs in the Civil Service as an external applicant.

All of the application forms for the jobs that I've applied for so far (or tried to apply for) have been made up of competency-based questions.

And I'm so confused about how to answer the questions. I thought that I might get used to it over time with the more applications I did, but I'm really struggling.

Could anyone in the know shed any wisdom on the topic please?

Thank you, fab Mumsnetters :)

Give a good strong example to evidence how you've displayed the competence.

What sort of questions are they asking?

You need examples. Lots of concrete examples, using the words in the selection criteria. Things that go "I did X and Y so that the organisation got Z / my team achieved ABC". So if the competency is influencing / persuading others, for example, you'd want to tell them about the time when you marshalled your arguments and got someone else in the organisation to do something that benefited your team, by showing them that it was helpful for them too. If the competency is excellent Excel skills, you need an example of a time when you had to create a really complicated spreadsheet with multiple functionalities and everyone raved about how useful it was. And so on.

Thanks ruddy :)

I don't feel as if I have any particularly good examples of how I meet each competency.

For the applications that I've done so far, the competencies they've assessed have varied quite a lot.

They've included anything from 'seeing the bigger picture', 'delivering at pace' and 'leading and communicating' to 'collaborating an partnering' and 'managing a quality service'.

In the guidance notes given to applicants, they suggest structuring each competency answer in a 'STAR' format (Situation, Task, Action, Result). And it's all got me absolutely stumped 🤔

Any inspiration please? :)

Get a copy of the competencies and tell a STAR story for each. Situation target action result. At ours you can list the competency and give the situation you found yourself in, what competency you achieved, what action you took to achieve it (you not you team) and what the result was (frame it in terms of the department's objectives are)

Is it HCA?

Have you looked up the Civil Service competancy framework? It gives a detailed list of what theybare looking for within the competencies and a break down with each level position.

I've actually given up with applying for CS service positions because of the stupid competency interviews. Mine have been interview based, not on paper beforehand. I don't have specific experience of the competencies they want, therefore to them I am not employable as they ask absolutely nothing else.

You can get the compentency details online - on the Cabinet website I think. Be specific about what you personally did to contribute to the end result for each and even better if it is measurable.

OK, STAR format. Let's say the competency is "leading and communicating". (Some of the ones you mention sound like total drivel to me, which is a separate issue....)

1. Situation. "I manage a team of X people spread over 2 sites, some of whom also work from home some of the time.

1. Task. "All those people need to be aware of changes to X system promptly as it affects the work of the team. Part of my role was to make sure that changes were notified promptly and effectively."

1. Action. "I achieved that using a combination of methods to ensure that no team members were left out. For those working in the office I used IM to ensure that they saw the information pop up on their screens. For those working at home or not using computers I instigated a system of a text "cascade" through the department, and asked line managers to report to me when they had confirmations from all their remote workers."

1. Result. "All team members were promptly and effectively provided with the information they needed to carry out their work."

See? (My example isn't particularly brilliant, but it shows you how the structure works.)

Service competency framework

Agree that STAR format is best ( I am a Civil Servant ) . Use I as often as possible - I did , I arranged etc etc . Good luck .

Use STAR. A sentence or two on the situation, a sentence or two on your task, a big chunk on your actions and a few sentences on the result.

Use the framework but don't try to check off everything for each heading as it's impossible in just one example.

Only ever use one example per competency.

I'm an expert at this (currently a SEO and have been in the civil service for 5 years and moved around a LOT, started as an AO). Please feel free to message me if you need some help. I have a very good track record of helping my colleagues get promotions by reading through their competencies

A MNer was having issues applying for specific roles. I gave advice and guidance, that included specific examples, to show how she could apply her experience and knowledge.
The outcome was she confidentially applied for the post, and the employer got the best suited candidate

Ta da!

Confidently, obvs

And although you only have a limited number of words don't bunch it all up!
Use spaces between paragraphs and may be bullet points!
E.g.
. IM'd the people in the office
. Emailed the people at home
. Telephoned the person with no computer

Makes it stand out about & easier for people to read!

A bit

Hi again everyone :)

Thanks so much for all of your help and advice so far! :)

Just to ask - I applied for an Executive Officer role in the Civil Service recently, and have just been told via email that I've been rejected.

They mentioned for the application that they were initially assessing applicants against the 'leading and communicating' competency. I scored a 3 on this, which apparently showed a 'moderate' demonstration of the competency.

I'm just wondering in general about how to increase my competency scores please, and how to demonstrate the competencies better?

Thanks :)

A 4 is generally considered 'above the line', so you're not too far off. The advice that anyone has given on STAR is good.

Make sure you are being very clear on what YOU did specifically.

I got through the fast stream assessment centre a long time ago so have a reasonable amount of experience. They've changed the competencies since then, but it's the same principle.

If they get a lot of applicants they will judge only on the lead competency (usually listed on the application).

As well as looking at the competencies, you should look at the examples of behaviour that demonstrate those, also found in the competency guide.

Realky go through your career history and your achievements before you start writing and remember all the good things you've done. Pick an example that ticks the boxes and go from there.

Good luck!

It also depends on how many applications they received and how many posts are available. I am recruiting for HEOs and had over 700 applicants so we are doing a two tiered approach where we sift on the leading competency but only those above a 5 will get through to the next stage, which will then be scored against all competencies and they need to get at least a 4 in all.other competencies to get an interview. I have 15 posts available so sifting is taking forever.

I'm a higher officer within the civil service and got in from the outside...which is quite unheard of!

Your competencies need to be based on the STAR technique and be rock solid. You have to sell yourself and really really really blow your own trumpet

Look online for examples of competency-based answers. And look at the Competency Framework for the grade you are applying for (and the one above), and try to address all the 'desirable behaviours' in your answer. Someone will be reading 50 or 100 applications and scoring a competency against the framework.

I recently applied for a civil service job and reached interview and test stage. The feedback was really positive and showed I achieved a range of 4-7 in the competencies and excercises with mostly 5's. Confusingly I got an overall score of 3 and was rejected! This doesnt seem to make any sense does anyone know why?

Wax, ask for specific feedback as to why.

Generally, for others, there’s quite good advice on line about what makes creates the dividing line between good and bad egs or work. Check the good, find examples from your life that fit it, make sure you make it personal to you... I did this,, under my direction the team did, not we did. The latter gives no sense of what you actually did personally to execute the work/ deal with the issue. It’s the area generally I would say most people fall down because we have European modesty and a sense of being part of a team.

Wherever possible show that you understand the use of technology. So..

I had a small team working for me over two sites and I discovered they felt isolated. So I : set up weekly team conversations by conference call; made sure I had regular meetings with my direct reports, including travelling to the sites to see them in person where it was justifiable; created a custom of exchange of Friday emails reporting on key events, ensured we were always represented at the divisional weekly meetings and got feedback from them. After three months I asked for feedback and was told things had improved; by the time of the departmental annual review morale had improved substantially. Whilst communication is never seen as being sufficient, my line manager and countersigning Officer commended my efforts. I have now asked my AOs to join a group across the division to spread our lessons learned.

Wax - civil-ish servant (In a govt agency but we use the same process) manager here with loads of interviewing experience. An end result of 3 equates to ‘moderate’ overall performance. It’s not your average score from all your competency answers, we just have to pick something that sums up your overall placement. (4 = adequate and will be enough to secure the job if there’s no competition, 5= good, 6 = strong and 7 = exceptional (I think can’t remember the exact word, not many given out!)) It does seem odd with a range of 4-7 you’d get a 3, but depends if your 4s were in the most important competencies for the job?

Sadly there’s an art to nailing competency applications and interview. I’ve had team members who are fab performers but just fall to pieces having to present their experiences in interview this way. You kind of have to talk in the third person about your experience when all too often people dive into the thing / task, rather than clearly describe their approach which isn’t the transferable skill bit interviewers will be looking for.

Strength of example counts too, no two experiences are the same even when both presented really clearly using the STAR technique.

Hi.
I have been trawling through the internet for help and yours is by far the closest I've come.
I am applying for a job in the civil service (worked there for 21yrs), but completely stumped with the persuasion and influence. Can you give me any pointers. I just don't know where to begin with it.
Hope you are still around, this post is over 12mnths old 🤔xxx