Disillusioned with job applications

[LGAargh]

I work in the Civil Service at a junior level (executive officer). This is my first role in the CS, and I’ve been there for just over a year.

I’ve started looking at applying for roles at HEO (higher executive officer) level, which is the next grade up.

With the applications that I’ve done so far, I haven’t progressed past the initial sift (where assessors grade one of the competencies/behaviours in the application). I’ve just had another rejection tonight and I’m feeling deflated.

I’m really stuck on how I can improve my applications - could anyone give some advice on this, please?

As a separate issue, I’m keen to move on from my current team for various reasons. We’re not allowed to move onto new roles at EO level in the CS until 2 years has passed since we joined the team, although we can move onto new roles at a higher level, like HEO, if we apply for promotions.

So basically the only way to leave the team is to either successfully apply for a promotion or to leave the CS altogether, which I don’t really want to do.

More broadly though, I’d be really interested in getting advice on how to write effective applications. I’ve looked into getting a mentor through the CS mentoring service but haven’t had any luck as mentors are either fully booked or their skills/background doesn’t fully fit the career path I’m interested in.

Could anyone advise, please?

Bump.

Hi OP
I’m also a civil servant. What sorts of jobs are you applying for? Operational or policy? EO to HEO is a big leap in policy terms as at EO you’re unlikely to have policy experience. Looking for promotion after a year in the civil service won’t be doing you any favours either - most people do several jobs (2 years each) at each grade. Ask yourself whether you can really demonstrate enough evidence for promotion in such a short time.
In terms of your application, are you using the STAR method - situation, task, action, result to describe your examples? Are you tailoring your examples to the job you’re applying for or just cutting and pasting for each application?
What does your CV / experience look like pre-civil service? Have you read all the recruitment guidance.
If you continue to be unsuccessful then it’s worth asking for a bit more responsibility in your current job or asking for a project which, when completed to a high standard, would be a suitable example to use in future applications.
Good luck

Hi Bright, thanks so much for your post.

I’m looking for both policy and operational roles. I’m particularly interested in private office roles, but I’m aware they’re extremely competitive.

I’ve been making sure to use the STAR method when writing my examples for each application I’ve done and to tailor each of my examples as well. I’ve also read all the recruitment guidance on how to write behaviour examples in the applications.

You also make a really good point about whether I can demonstrate enough evidence that I can do an HEO role. I wonder if this might be the main issue. I don’t have a particularly full CV pre-Civil Service (graduated from uni five years ago and worked as a tutor and volunteered since then, before starting in my current role).

I’m guessing my behaviours examples in my applications aren’t meaty enough. I’ll also definitely have a look for other opportunities I can take up during recess, when my work will be less demanding than now.

In my department opportunities for Private Office secindament magically appear in my inbox. Usually for a short period of time 3-6 months.

I've recruited for the CS and based on what you've said about your pre-CS experience and that you've only been an EO for a year there's no way your experience and examples will stack up to the other applicants at HEO grade. If you're that unhappy consider the private sector to gain experience quicker (promotion is slow in the CS), and then apply back to the civil service in five years or so at a more senior level of that's your long term aim.

Thanks Zippy and Arnold for your posts.

The best way to improve your applications is to get someone who does recruitment to look at them for you before you apply. I don't know many people who are successful on promotion without doing that.

But you probably do need to get some more experience behind you for a HEO role. Depending on the types of role that interest you, it could be technical speciality in policy or an operational field, managerial experience, project work etc

Thanks very much for your posts, everyone - it’s been really helpful to read your advice.

To summarise from your posts, it seems like a sensible approach for getting more success with future applications is to:

• To think about how I can demonstrate enough evidence for promotion
• Get involved in big projects and ask for more responsibility

-Write ’meaty’ competency examples using the STAR method and tailor my examples to the job I’m applying for

On a side-note, does anyone know of any good approaches for getting set up with a mentor in the CS?

I am also Civil Service .. one step below Director Level ... i’ve moved a couple of times over the years.
If it’s a Civil Service job, the advert should mention the Civil Service competencies that are required, so make sure you reference those, and show examples for each of the competencies.
As part of the process, when you get our rejection via the Civil Service Jobs Portal, it should say where you application fell short - so make sure you refer to them.
Most CS departments will have a mentoring scheme set up, ask your line manager you need to access this. I have mentored a number of people, and this has in included helping with job applications

OP, you’ve not been in post for very long and I entirely agree with the other posters that you might not yet have sufficient experience to write decent examples under the old competency system.

The recent move to Success Profiles means that vacancy holders will have the opportunity to recruit based on potential rather than past actions which may work in your favour. Look at the current Strength and Behaviour frameworks, identify any obvious gaps and look out for work opportunities that can address these.

But please, don’t be disheartened and try to be realistic. You’ve not been in post very long, and as an earlier poster says, progress can be slow in the CS. Even in the private sector, a year in post isn’t loads of time to develop relevant skills and experience.

Hi again everyone,

Thanks so much for all of your advice!

In terms of my applications so far for HEO roles, I’ve only had numbered scores for the main competency on each job application so I don’t have any specific indications of where my application’s fallen short unfortunately.

I’ve been thinking about this and feel the best option is for me to stay in my current role, focus on showing my LM that I’m capable of consistently delivering well on my core responsibilities and ask the LM if there are any other projects or opportunities I can get involved in/volunteer to get involved in anything that comes up. How does this sound? Does it seem like a good approach?