Civil Service

[tobee]

My dd is keen in working in the civil service. She's been looking at the lower levels. But is worried about applying for jobs where it says demonstrate leadership qualities when she has little to no work experience. It would be a first graduate job for her.

Can anybody explain what leadership qualities mean in this context please?

Has she been to university? They have grad schemes if so. Otherwise she can use examples from outside of a workplace. Has she led any projects in school/uni for example. Things like that are perfectly acceptable.

Your DD needs to think about, maybe, joint projects she's undertaken during education and how she tried to guide the project in the way she thought was best for the project.

If she's done part-time work while in education is there any situation there she could use? It didn't have to be big. Suggesting a different way to clear tables in a restaurant that was more efficient? A different way of organising breaks etc.

It really doesn't have to be large.
At a push, sometime when friends/family wanted different things and she brokered an agreement that made everyone happy.

Leadership is relevant to the positions she has found her self in.

All three of the above were used by candidates I interviewed for entry level CS jobs

Thanks for the replies!

She is a graduate. She also has asd and has not been a natural leader. She did a three week internship in the civil service this summer with an asd charity but feels daunted by the next move!

The civil service is supportive of asd applicants and the organisation has really inspired her.

Leadership is not about literally leading teams of people or being a line manager, it’s a set a behaviours that can be demonstrated in many ways. Anyone in any role can demonstrate leadership in a number Of ways - for instance if you act as a mentor to someone that is leadership.

Without knowing the exact roles she is looking at it’s difficult to say what sort of leadership demonstration they might be looking for, but happy to advise if you can give details of the jobs - you can PM me if it’s helpful, I’ve a lot of experience with CS recruitment from both sides of the table .

Thanks @Isleepinahedgefund that's an extremely kind offer.

At the moment there isn't a particular job. The reason I started this thread now is she was interested in a post, but on reading the application form felt she didn't fit the requirements.

I’ve interviewed for entry level CS posts, with leadership (our relevant competency being about working with people as well as leading) I look for evidence the person has taken responsibility, allocated tasks or roles to others, been a role model, all sorts of stuff.

I’ve given credit (not necessarily this competency) to a chap talking about planning his wedding, and a woman managing a crisis on a school trip! It’s at least as much about understanding what you did, and why, and being able to express that, as it is what you actually did.

It sounds like it's more about her confidence than her capability. Perhaps you could encourage and support her to pick out particular jobs and fill out the applications?

She might want to sign up with the Public Sector Neurodiversity Network: t.co/EreqB0902M?amp=1

If only I actually read my email I’d be more certain of whether there was anything useful for potential recruits in their emails

Thank you so much for these replies. Am showing them to dd.

Fab. DD - please start filling in the applications! I get the impression you know this already, but CS is a great employer with so many opportunities, and I bet you have so much to offer us.

Don’t be put off by skills and strengths you think you don’t have, look at what skills/strengths you DO have and play on those. Take that first step and start filling out the form - I’m happy to look over anything for you and provide any insight/advice you might need about particular roles etc. I’m a qualified coach and I have helped lots of people through the application process.