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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to use very old examples for the Civil Service

7 replies

Inneedofglasses · 15/07/2018 16:01

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.

OP posts:
randomthoughts · 15/07/2018 16:07

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.

bettyboop1000 · 15/07/2018 16:07

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.

sensesensibility · 15/07/2018 16:10

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the same thing applying for SEO jobs, with recent examples being fairly weak and ones from a f/t career pre-kids being outdated.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!

Inneedofglasses · 15/07/2018 16:18

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.

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sensesensibility · 15/07/2018 16:39

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.

Inneedofglasses · 15/07/2018 16:46

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

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Dinosauraddict · 15/07/2018 17:28

@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.

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