AIBU to use very old examples for the Civil Service

[Inneedofglasses]

I have seen a really interesting SEO job I’d like to apply for. I’m trying to decide how best to complete the competencies. I’ve worked in a part time role for the last few years as it fitted around the school day but there were very limited opportunities for leadership etc. I was a g7 in the civil service but it was 16 years ago. I don’t know if I should dredge up examples for my previous experience or use more recent examples which might seem weaker.

Unless the examples are truly spectacular, I think 16 years is pushing it. They may get you through the sift, but when you’re asked more context at interview you might struggle.

My feedback on a few CS interviews was that my competencies were too old and I needed to use ones less than 2 years old. I had used some from my old job from about 8 years ago.

No chance of any good ones from my current job unfortunately.

It's really hard isn't it. I've had the same thing applying for SEO jobs, with recent examples being fairly weak and ones from a f/t career pre-kids being outdated. I've done a mix for recent applications and interviews. Have you got a trusted colleague who could look through your competencies at all? A great piece of advice I was given is to structure it as STAR - Situation, Task, Action and Result. Make sure you use 'I' as much as possible - no-one will know if you take some credit for things done as part of at team. Good luck!

Thank you - I had thought the same, try & find things in the more recent role, but it is really hard. I could have kicked myself so many times over for putting my career on hold in order to raise my kids. It’s easy to feel completely trapped in low wage & low aspiration jobs but that’s just not me. I’m so frustrated but I know now that I’ll go mad if I can’t get my teeth into something more demanding.

I left the Civil Service as an HEO, and came back in 10 years later at the same grade. It's driven me crazy, especially as I know how much I have to offer that I'm not able to. It's taken me 8 months and loads of applications, but I've now been offered a p/t SEO role in a different govt dept. I decided to be fairly honest in the interviews, and say that I have taken a step back since having kids, but have gained loads of experience in different roles. I have also spoken about my frustrations and my keen-ness to get going again - and my abilities to knuckle down and not be precious about doing work that is 'beneath me'. It has worked both for and against me tbh, but I feel I feel that the job I've been offered is one where both sides know exactly where we're both coming from.

Congratulations on your new job and thank you for your thoughts. I need to wrack my brains for some leadership examples.

@Inneed, I have done recruitment for SEO grades, and wouldn’t be bothered by an example that old, if it was clear it was from a G7 role and clearly was a G7 example (make sure it meets that part of the competency framework)! Normally however I would be one to try and use vaguely recent competencies where possible.