civil service job interview help

[changedmyname12345]

Hello, I really would like some help please. I have an SEO job interview with the Civil Service tomorrow. I have looked hard at all the essential criteria and how I meet them with examples plus all the competencies.

Could anyone who works within the Civil Service (particularly if you do interviews) tell me if it is a good idea to bring notes in? I have lots of notes that I've written but I always believed that you shouldn't bring notes in. However, I've been told the opposite is true?

Can anyone please advise?

I've recruited for the civil service, brief bullet point notes are fine, don't take in pages and pages as they will distract and possibly fluster you. Give yourself prompts rather than a script, difficulty is if you rely to heavily on them and a question you don't expect comes up it will throw you. I've seen it happen. Most people who bring in notes relax and don't even look at them, but it's a good safety net

well that's really helpful - I really thought I shouldn't take notes in but now feel reassured

The CS is one environment where notes are encouraged. You won't be judged or penalised for having them.

Good luck!

Agree with above. Bringing in notes is fine. Also fine to ask for time to think of your best example or to ask to repeat or clarify question. In my experience as interviewer, you really are trying to get the best evidence, not check someone can speak off the cuff confidently. I have had very nervous candidates do very well (and the opposite! Over confident windbags!) Best of luck

Hmm probably depends on what part of the CS as I was asked to put mine away when I had an interview ha. As long as you have looked over the framework and know examples which link back and feel confident in them just be honest.

Thank you all so much.

You've obviously prepared loads, so you probably know this already, but just a reminder to always talk about the outcome for each competency.

So often good candidates lose out by only talking about what they did in that situation, rather than what the outcome was and how their actions affected it. And yes, notes are fine as long as you use them as quick reference rather than reading an essay. Good luck!

I always bring in 1 page of notes per competency with the positive indicators listed underneath so that if you get asked questions you can work out which bit they're aiming it at

I always bring notes with brief memory joggers about evidence and my questions for the panel. The panel have their notes so you should too!