To be terrified of civil service job interview

[user1991]

Ok admittedly a slightly shameless shoehorn into aibu there, but still no idea where to start on prepping for civil service interview next week. It's for a SIO level role so mid-seniority, and I usually get jobs based on being the 'wild card' candidate and being hired on personality/ attitude etc rather than "well when I worked on this project I (blah blah blah very clear example about how I'm the bee's bollocks).
What to wear? What weird wildcard questions will I get? Should I be a humourless robot to the panel of po-faced beaurocrats?!
Really really want this job - would like to "make an impact" ~and I have my nanny share all sorted to start in a month~.
Any advice, wise mumsnetters?

@Greenmeerkat has typed very good advice of exactly the format for a civil service interview. They not like usual interviews, there is a very set format. Try and think of two examples for each competence based on the STAR format. Use I not we in your responses. Talk about your contribution specifically.
Not much more to add, you've had so e good advice.

Don’t wear a suit but do wear a jacket.

Dress/jkt or smart trousers/top/jkt.

I’m former civil service. I left two years ago and my experience of interviews was v similar to xici’s - the last interview I went through, and the last panel I sat on asked a mixture of competency based questions and the ‘what would you do if...’ sort, too.

Oh my goodness I can't believe how generous you've all been with your responses - thanks so much I'm so touched! This is amazing!

I feel like my 'wild card' comment has made me sound way more exciting than I actually am. But yes, obvs I am practising my grapevine!

@missm0ppett - yes, private sector background but last role was for an organisation that had been publicly funded but moving to membership model; so more familiar with public sector culture than I might otherwise have been. Do I need to stress this at interview? That it won't be a huge culture shock to me (it was, when I took my last job!)

@mrsSF This is amazing - wish I could sit on a bus with you and play the "tell me all about that stranger based on their appearance" game! Very helpful for next week too.

@Pollaidh - thank you. Yes I expect I will need to "be taken seriously" which is fine, and your comment has given me a good steer on remaining more 'corporate' than overly 'collegiate' (ie chummy!)

So much invaluable stuff here I can't thank you guys enough!

The only SIO I know is Senior Information Officer which is SEO equivalent in the Government Communication Service. If that's the case you may want to brush up on the GCS competency framework too.

XiCi - I suspect I might have to do the same. Interview bumf describes an "exercise to be given on the day" that I will have time to prep for. Then that will be followed by 30 mins of questions. I'm pretty decent at presentations generally, but haven't the faintest idea what it might be regarding. What homework can I do? Can you give me a clue as to the topic(s)?

The topic will be about the job. Tell us the job or department and we might be able to help,

Actually the topic wasn't anything about the job at all. It was a scenario of a flood disaster in a caravan park and you had to outline what you would do, which staff you would use and why etc. I was talking to a friend who interviewed at heo level for a different dept and he had to present on the topic of 'the sky'

Oh cripes, wacky interview questions! How did it go XiCi? There's no way I can really prepare for those is there?! I will do the usual competency based question prep, but otherwise I will have to google 'nightmare interview questions' and see what they might be looking for. I guess it's to see how you think and 'showing your working'... and maybe to see if you can blather on about a random topic for ages?!

You will have the same competencies you had on the application. Nothing wrong with using the same examples, but I like to prepare at least two exemplar questions for each because sometimes the questions are worded a bit weirdly and it's good to have a couple of options to choose from.

Update on my interview, as promised...!
I think it went well. It over-ran, and that's a good sign, right? The 'task' was to write a strategy doc in 35 mins (they gave me 30!) but I managed to scribble down something that I wasn't completely ashamed of, and went into the panel interview. The interviewers (only 2 of them - was expecting 4 or so!) were really personable and 'nice', not at all corporate and 'stuffy' as I feared. I used the STAR technique to respond as much as poss and gave an amazing answer to 'why this dept/ why this job?' about bringing my professional expertise to a role that impacts a community that relates to my personal background etc etc. Possible downsides - waffled slightly on a couple of questions, don't know if they'll 'mark' my strategy and obvs don't know how good other candidates are...job was advertised nationally. I guess it will be a couple of weeks til I find out how it really went, but thanks so much all for your invaluable advice.

Ps I wore ankle grazer smart grey trousers, cream chiffony blouse and navy blazer. Felt nice, professional and that.

Good afternoon all, new user here.

I have a civil service interview scheduled for Thursday. Grade 7, so fairly senior position. Needless to say, I am very surprised I was offered an interview, as I have never worked nor applied for the civil service, so the entire format is new to me.

Anyway, I have a couple of questions and I hope someone who has experienced similar issues in the past might be able to shed some light.

1. The job ad specified 5 competencies, and was told I would be tested against them. Would it be wise to prepare for the other competencies as well, in case they ask?
2. I was told I would need to make a presentation on a topic that will be assigned on the day. I have absolutely no idea what to expect. If someone has gone through this, my question is: will the presentation be about a policy area covered by the department (thus testing my technical knowledge) or will it be on an unrelated topic (for example, presenting on a research project I have conducted)?

Thank you so much to anyone who can help :)