To think I'm apparently not good enough to do my current job (civil service rejection)

[happybirthdaywho]

I applied for a job role within the civil service which is essentially what I currently do in another department of the civil service (but an offshoot so I didn't have to do the star thing)

I spend hours doing my cv, and personal statement - I thought I did really well and that the fact it's incredibly similar to my current role I'd at least get an interview.

Just got my feedback - 1 for personal statement and 2 for CV. I know how to do star and thought I really tracked it well to the requirements of thr job.

It's devastated me, and completely knocked my confidence in my currently role - am I really that bad?

I feel like all my hopes of getting into the mainstream civil service is destroyed.

Doesn't help its my first morning back to work from Maternity leave so my confidence is already touchy.

But fucking scores of 1 and 2?!

Hi OP. Don't be disheartened. Coming back from maternity leave a few years ago, I applied for lots of jobs in different civil service departments. With the same competencies, I got 2 from some departments and 5 from others, which led to interviews and a job.

In your current department, do you have a mentoring scheme? Can you get yourself a mentor or even ask someone you trust to look through your application for you to give you some feedback?

Keep applying. It really does depend on who's doing the sift and, in some cases, there are people doing the role already who are ear-marked to get it.

Hugs to you OP, rejection isn't nice and returning to work after Mat leave is a particularly vulnerable time when your confidence can really take a knock, have been there myself.
I'm a civil servant and have sifted countless applications for roles from people whose CV would indicate they may have the right experience. Scores of 1 and 2 suggest you've completely misunderstood the ask in your write up as opposed to not being good enough to do your current job (obvs impossible for us to know without knowing the job description and seeing your application). I've seen the STAR format used poorly to deliver a job description (in my role I do x, then what happens is y; when it should be I considered/evaluated/recognised the risk/sought by-in, as a result of my decision-making the outcome was z etc). I've also seen lots of examples where the candidate hasn't demonstrated their knowledge and understanding, eg just listed they comply with legislation rather than detailing what they did and how legislation impacts that. I've also seen examples that reference we not I throughout, making it impossible to score any marks.
Obviously I dont know whether any of the above applies to you, do you have a trusted manager with sift experience who could glance over your application and give you some pointers?
Give yourself some time to rage/vent/be frustrated, then allow yourself to chalk it up to experience and move forward - I know this is easier said than done (have applied for over 20 jobs in the last 2 years, scoring enough to pass the interview but never the highest scoring candidate, it does grind me down at times).
Good luck settling back into work and all the best for any future applications.

Is it out of 10 or 5 or what?

Let's be honest they know mostly who they want to interview and the scoring is subjective. Don't take it to heart, keep applying but each time maybe share it with others in the civil service to get their opinions. It's hard coming back off mat leave 💐

Honestly the scoring is so subjective even though its not meant to be. I once applied for the same job a year apart. It was the exact same job with the same job spec and everything. First time round I got 5s on my competencies and got an interview but was pipped to the post. So when i saw it again a year later i got really excited and reapplied with the same competencies. i scored 2s. I actually emailed saying WTF but never got a response.

I don't think that its any testament to how you do your job. the markings for sifts rarely have anything to do with your ability at the job. just your ability to write in a specific way. i didn't even think CVs could be marked?

Some people have the knack for doing these things even if they're actually crap at doing the work.
I retired from HMRC years ago after 33 years and 3 promotions on merit. If I'd had to apply for my job under these new systems I doubt I'd get it.

@happybirthdaywho don't take it to heart. My DH is a civil servant who was forever getting awards and recognition but the few times he applied for jobs he didn't get anywhere. When he asked for feedback, it turned out he just hadn't applied the scoring properly as he was talking to his own bosses so assuming they knew his experience.

When he swallowed his pride and started doing fully step-by-step responses in this application he got the next two promotions he applied for. He felt totally bruised by the process like you so I do understand your disappointment.

Civil servant of 34 years and counting here. I doubt I'd get my job if I had to apply under the current system.

Unfortunately CS recruitment systems are never fit for purpose because the guidelines are so subject to interpretation. You could write a personal statement one person would score highly but another would mark down and there's no way for it to be consistent across the board.
I really struggle to give good examples of each behaviour because the criteria they are looking for are usually more words than the actual word count!
I'm a career CS and still find the recruitment process hard to navigate. My promotions usually come via short term secondments that are extended so that once I apply for the role I'm doing, I have enough evidence of relevant experience to show I can do the job.
I honestly feel that applying for a CS role and passing the selection process is a skill in itself and one that many people (including myself) just don't have.

It's all subjective. I wouldn't worry. Loads of people doing the job already on TCA don't get interviews. I'd just keep trying.

I got my rejection email this morning too😭. To be honest I’m shocked at how long everything takes, I applied 5 months ago!

My sympathies, it can all feel a bit obtuse. Keep applying, there are lots of CS jobs out there and previous rejections won't matter.

Bear in mind that your CV section doesn't matter much. Your personal statement does though and should just be a detailed bullet point list of how previous job experiences hit every target of the job description requirments. Don't stop writing it until every single one is covered.