Any civil servants around to help with an HEO application, please?

[HopefulCivilServant]

Hi everyone.

I currently work as a civil servant, and I’m applying for a role that’s a higher grade (at Higher Executive Officer level, or HEO level) in the Civil Service.

I don’t have much experience of writing answers to competency questions (only for my application for my current role), and I’m struggling a bit with how to answer the questions.

Please could I ask your tips for how to answer the competency-based questions? I’ve looked at the CS Competency Framework booklet for guidance so far, which has been helpful.

Would anyone be willing to have a quick look over my answers, please? That would be an absolutely huge help, if someone would be happy to just have a really quick glance and just give a few pointers about what to improve on :)

Thanks so much!

I'd be happy to try. I'm a g7

Thanks so much, @StealthPolarBear! I’ve just sent you a PM :)

Have replied. Your examples are excellwnt. Good luck

Is the department you’re working for not doing the success profiles now instead of competencies?

My Department doesn't start with success profiles until the end of the month. Which I'm gutted about as there's a vacancy I really want to apply for but I'm rubbish at competencies.

Oh what is this new thing coming next??

@madvixen I'm rubbish at competencies too! It's a miracle I got my job - I think my interviewer must have felt sorry for me

I’m a G6. You probably already know this but make sure you use the STAR framework to answer the questions.

I think CS is ditching competencies as the sole assessment strategy (technically it expired about a year ago). The new system is half competency and half situational, ie,”what would you do if...” AFAIK