Advice needed - Civil Service application

[SenoraMiasma]

I’d appreciate advice on this and have posted here rather than work as I had no replies to previous post there.

I managed to get an application in for a senior post that I have an outside chance of getting. After submitting I noticed two typos on the cover letter. I stupidly rushed it and after weeks of preparing with notes, ending up writing the letter off the top of my head (which usually works better for me).

I have just seen a junior post advertised which admittedly would be a comfortable fit. I have time to get a better application in.

Should I withdraw first application and apply for junior or just leave first application there and also apply for junior role? It’s the CS/dept I want.

Also, advert did say that candidates unsuccessful for senior could be held in place for junior roles.

I just don’t want to jeopardise either role with a sloppy looking cover letter.

I work in the civil service.

Each application will be considered on its own merits so no need to withdraw the more senior application. Unless it's within the same team you might find they aren't aware of both applications and if even if they are then they will still soft them objectively.

How senior?

Happy to advise further if I can.

Just apply for the junior one as well. The sift will be anonymous so unless you submit an identical application AND the same panel sift for both nobody will notice. And even if they did, if they are similar roles at different levels then it's fine.

On an unrelated note, I've never come across a civil service job that required a cover letter as part of the application - that is weird to me!

G6 Civil servant here - agree to just apply for both. Don't withdraw one.

I also wouldn't judge typos on a cover letter unless you were eg. repeatedly getting the name of the Dept wrong (true example)

@emsyj37.

Yes, cov. letter and CV. Interview and task if selected.

@firsttimekat Senior Executive Officer / Band B2+ (Government Digital Service

Junior post is Higher Executive Officer / Band B2 also GDS so likely same department

Would appreciate any and all advice. My background ranges from loosely related work experience to specific examples of the work required in the job description. The difference between the two roles is that the senior one required more communicating and influencing skills and had a lot more words in the key behaviours that were related to change/influencer/ catalyst/ negotiator.

I went through the job description, made a list of examples where I matched the requirements, made sure these were all clear in my CV, then looked at in the Civil Service Success Profiles framework (working at pace, etc). I identified the most commonly used words (inclusive for example)across the sections and tried to include these /show these in the covering letter. For example: I created a workspace that was inclusive and catered for the variety of staff needs by introducing small changes that had minimum disruption until the everyone was confident with the technical changes.

That’s a poor example as I don’t want to use a real one but hopefully you get the gist.

Thank you

I actually think my application was poor. I could have provided much better evidence than I did - 🤪

I'm G6 and often advertise for those levels at the same time and get people applying for both so really don't worry about that. Minor typos also not really a problem.

I don't advertise via a cover letter/cv so might not be the most help after all but I think you've taken a good approach to look through for key skills and experience. Try and say how you've done it or give an example of doing it rather than just listing skills. Eg instead of saying I can bake a cake, say in order to celebrate x birthday, I decided to bake a cake, I planned it out, bought ingredients, made it, finished it in time for the birthday and the person loved it.

The STAR framework is your friend, usually used for competency type applications but it makes sure you capture the right information. Make sure you are using all the allowed space/words. So if they say no longer than 2 pages make sure you write 2 pages. You'd be surprised how many people submit one line applications, I need something to judge you on! Im looking to fill my post, I want you to pass, give me the info to help me do that.

Do both.

@firsttimekat

Thank you. I know the STAR system and was trying to use it but in a cover letter, I did struggle a bit. Do I base it on the behaviours listed in the

Civil Service Success Profiles framework or weight it on the job description. I think I tried both so if the job description asked for experience working on websites and the key skills section on ‘working at pace’ and used terms such as disciplined, organised I should write something like:

In my role at xxx, I worked on the xxx website project. I would upload and retrieve all content to a set deadline. This developed my organisational skills as I needed to prepare the material, check it and ensure it’s suitability so that other departments could use it.

Apologies, for the basic nature here - I am not doing myself any favours but feel a bit scrambled.

A balance between the 2 sounds right. My guess and only a guess as I don't use this approach would be that they will score on the behaviours if they think you have sufficient experience to get you over the line so between everything you submit you need to answer both.

Thanks @firsttimekat

I have to get into the mindset that, as you say, they want to employ me, and I just need to give them the evidence to do so.

I hate job applications 🙂

I think everyone hates them, I do! It's a real skill to write a good application and one that needs practice so try not to be put off if you don't succeed at first but as you are doing think about how to improve on the last attempt. Good luck!

Apply to both as pretty much everyone has said before

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate this. I am applying even though I have a job in case it takes months to go through checking, etc

I will send in the junior post application. 🙂

Hello, thank you everyone for your previous comments. I thought I would update the thread and I have another query.

I didn’t get the senior post (expected) and am still waiting for the junior post (which I submitted in the end).

My current employer has offered me a years extension on my current contract or I can register as freelance. I applied for the CS as I really want a permanent post and think this is a very good role for me with opportunities to develop.

So, could I take the CS post (if offered) and have the freelance post to do in my own time? It’s digital work that I can do out of hours. I would consider a second job.

I don’t know how the CS would view this and how I would approach it (at interview?)

Thanks all for your time

I’m currently a HEO in the civil service - I applied for an SEO role at the same time in the same department which I was successful for but declined the job offer as I felt my current role was more suited (and I didn’t want to manage).

Keep both applications in - as PP have said it’s all anonymous, and it’s common to have candidates applying for both grades.

Thanks @BubblesThaDragoon

I didn’t get an interview for the senior post so that takes care of that🙂

My query is now, how does the CS view second jobs/freelancing outside of work?

For example: if the post I am going for relates to graphic design and I have worked with an organisation providing graphic design for them. They want me to stay on (either contract or freelance) to do their graphics for the next 18 months.

@SenoraMiasma oops sorry I completely missed that query.

In my experience it would depend on your civil service role and the industry you are freelancing in - for example if you worked at HMRC I doubt they’d want you to freelance in accountancy, however if it was web design it may not be an issue.

I personally would wait until you had an offer of employment and then ask the question and weigh up your options.

Basically anything that could be a conflict of interests would be a no no (in my experience).

I have worked with people who run a business alongside their CS role, but the business was in completely different field and I think they sought permission first.

Thanks @BubblesThaDragoon

Can’t see it being a conflict of interest (it is graphic design) but can understand there are boundaries and I wouldn’t want to blow anything with the CS.

It’s not definite and may not happen so I’ll wait and see.

Thanks again

I didn’t get the junior position either! I am gutted! Not even an interview.

Closing date was 27th March, several posts available and a pool and I didn’t even get shortlisted.

I really thought that was a good application. It was detailed, thorough and I followed the critical skills/job description throughout with examples.

You should get a score and feedback on the CS jobs website so you can see how close you were to the required standard and what you need to work on.

Hi @emsyj37
It’s not your usual application- CV and cover letter for GDS. email said due to high number of applicants, no feedback available.

It’s a shame, I have lots of good experience in this field. Job was perfect.

Plus I am a disabled candidate and thought I had all the experience required to at least be short listed.