Civil service

[ObamaLlamas]

Any hints and tips on the application/interview process? I've just read they then do a 3 hour interview and ask you about your character etc as part of the vetting process. Is this true even as part of quite a basic job?! Seems overkill. It seems like such an enigma to get into and I'm desperate to get in but also feel a bit overwhelmed. Sorry posting for traffic.

Hi OP. If you look at the job ad it will refer to a number of the Civil Service behaviours eg managing a quality service, seeing the bigger picture, delivering at pace etc. During the interview they’ll ask you questions related to the behaviours mentioned in the job ad. So your interview prep should be focused around questions they might ask based around those themes.

You should use the STAR interview technique for structuring your answers.

They’ll also ask you a random ‘strength’ question, which will be something like “what do you like to do at the weekend?” And they’ll score you based on how enthusiastic and animated you are talking about that.

PS the vetting process will vary according to the level of security clearance required for the job you’re applying for (and security clearance level doesn’t necessarily correlate to the seniority of the job; it’s about the sensitivity of the information you’ll have access to). Yes, it does feel quite intrusive.

There are various clearance levels - some only require enhanced DBS clearance, some need SC clearance (more intrusive, you have to supply a lot of extra info) and some need DV clearance (developed vetting - it takes 6 months, involves interviewing you/your associates, very in-depth).

PP is correct re: STAR responses to the behaviour questions.

They don't score the "what do you like to do at the weekend" or similar question. They use that question to benchmark how you act when talking about something positive/you enjoy doing so that when they ask you the actual strength questions they can see what's a genuine response. It's kind of nonsense because as long as you sound positive you score highly.

@ObamaLlamas where did you hear about the 3 hour interview? I've honestly seen and done a mix- a whole day assessment centre down to a 45 minute interview. So it can really vary and its best to go with what's on the job advert (they usually tell you what the process will be)

I've worked in the CS for over a decade, moved across and up in three different departments and never had a question about what I like doing at the weekend or similar.

CS will have a fairly strict scoring criteria that they will mark you against. They don't mark 'strength' questions (which are not the norm in my experience) in the same way. The questions will be based on their Success Profiles - CS Success Profiles/Behaviours.

Absolutely you will need to based your answers around the STAR example, focusing in particular on the A (what YOU did) and the R (result). Keep your answers clear and succinct. If the organisation has well published Values or Standards that underpins their strategy, they could very likely ask you how you can demonstrate meeting one or more of their values. A 3 hour interview sounds like it might involve an assessment or test of some kind first. Interviews are normally 45-60 mins. But each department/organisation is different so hard to give specifics.

I interview regularly for my particularly part of the CS. Never seen an interview go over an hour. In general, the behaviour based questions (of which they would be 3 or 4) are limited to 7 minutes and then the strength questions (again 3 or 4) are 3 mins l.

As others have said, you might be asked a "test" question for strength based interviewing, but it is not scored. It's just used so that the panel get a sense of your body language, tone and engagement for other questions.

Sorry for typos!

Sorry the 3 hour interview was in regards to vetting - not the job interview
I read it when reading the vetting process. The job is for KIM officer in the ONS. I found out they don't use strength questions for the ONS anymore so no need for me to worry about that part. How do I know what level of security vetting this level of job would be? As that does put me off, I'm a private person.

@ObamaLlamas it will say in the job advert what the level of security vetting is.

This is what it says in the advert - has a bit been missed off?

"Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window)"

There’s no interview for the vetting process at security check (SC) clearance level

There is no vetting interview for an SC (security check) clearance, it's based around a questionnaire which is then checked against records. It's not hugely intrusive and no where near the level for DV which is the ones with the interviews. Very few roles need DV and they're usually only in the big departments (eg Defence)

Thank you both thats good to know.

Everyone so far has given very useful answers. All I am going to add- you must give specific examples- no general descriptions of situations. And everything has to be " I did this, I did that, I raised this, I suggested", etc. Even if you worked in a team, you will still have to respond as if you lead that team. Also, for strengths, try and tie in an example, like being asked "how easy do you find change" or whatever, it is best to tie in your peraonal response with an event and reflect on that event when you reply.

The Criminal record check is pretty much the minimum - you would make a declaration on any past criminal history, and checks will be just ensuring that you don’t have one

SC is the general standard, though not every role requires this. You fill in a form about you, family history, marriage etc, any debts (it’s OK to have debt, better if you don’t, and not a problem unless you’re going to need to sell government information to fund your drug & gambling habit, and whether or not you’re a spy, terrorist etc
This is just a questionnaire but you could get follow up queries to check something

The full vetting interview is for DV
It is possible to have a dodgy past with DV - just tell the vetting interviewer all about it
(They are vetting people to see if they are a security risk)

———

None of the vetting information will go to the line manager etc. They will only know that you have valid clearance at the level

Only the vetting service have access to this information

Thanks I do have debt but this will be cleared with a lump sum I'm due in June. I also went bankrupt 15 years ago but have had no problems since except normal debt like car finance, a 0% card for a new kitchen and other little bits. I have a mortgage and I'm otherwise a normal everyday family person! Will this be a problem do you think.

They should not be a problem:
Debt - that’s in hand
Bankruptcy - a formal managed process
Mortgage - standard (and it shows that you haven’t ended up homeless by not paying it)

For the debt that you’re pending a lump sum it will look fine on the assumption that you’re paying what’s due

Declare them all, and you may just get follow up questions

The only likely problem is if you are serially going into uncontrollable debt .

If say you’ve splashed out in the past, or had things happen in life and brought it into control then you’ll be good

PS clearance is always slow, and the chances are that if they see your current one pending a lump sum then it’s likely that the process will take that long anyway.

Be open and vetters are ‘friendly’

Thank you thats really put me at ease. It's a huge embarrassment in my life but literally the only thing I've ever done wrong - the only bad thing I've been through so I hope they'll see it for what it is.

Make sure you save the attached role profile, and I'd copy the campaign text into a Word doc. Once the post closes that is gone, and if you clear sift, you might want to reference them.

To clear sift, make sure your personal statement covers off each of the essential min criteria with an example. Figure it could be 200/250 words each thing.

So if it says do a personal statement reflecting:
X
X
X
X

Then structure it

X
Example

X
Example

X
Example

X
Example

Make it easy for the hiring manager to see how you clear it and make it hard to sift you out.

Thank you thats how I've laid it out so 🤞

Then you're already ahead. It can be surprising the random things the public write in that box. Best of luck!

Thank you so much.

The job advert closed yesterday, does anyone know how long usually you hear an outcome from sifting?