To ask for Civil Service interview advice?

[Cellardoor7]

Recently had an interview for a Civil Service role and came away feeling a bit deflated, so I’d really appreciate some advice.

I prepared quite a lot beforehand and did some practice interviews. The actual interview included a mix of strengths and behaviour‑based questions, and I felt more confident with the strengths than the behaviours.

One of the behaviour questions really threw me, and I struggled to get my thoughts together. I ended up rambling a bit, pausing for too long, and then trying to pull myself back on track. They also asked several follow‑up questions, which I found difficult to handle in the moment! My ego just feels a bit bruised, as I feel like I just talked a lot of crap - even though hopefully there was some sense and value in what I talked about 😂

Does anyone have any tips on dealing with CS interview follow‑up questions and on structuring behaviour answers clearly (e.g., using STAR) when the interview questions they ask are very specific?

@Limehawkmothhas given excellent advice on preparation (I have a senior interview next week and will be taking her advice). The other thing I find helpful is to talk it through with someone who knows you well and understands your work context. Go through the behaviours and talk through your examples, ask your friend/mentor to help you identify where your examples evidence the behaviours asked for and where you might strengthen your examples. AI can be good for that too but you really need to then filter its suggestions to sound like a person again.

I also sometimes map things out on paper. So write a detailed example (using whatever format) and then make links to behaviours in a mind map. The act of physically writing helps with clarity and embedding your responses in your mind.

Remember too there are different people on the panel who will naturally be focussed on different parts of your response, so if you don’t quite hit what one person is focussed on, you will likely hit on something another panel member is keen to hear.

Dont be discouraged by follow up questions - see them as an opportunity to give them something more. As an interviewer I’ll ask follow ups if I think there’s something the candidate has missed, but also when they’ve technically ticked the box, but I think there’s more of value I’m interested in hearing.

I do, yes, and my interview yesterday was for a fixed-term promotion in my department.