How to get promoted to SCS (civil service)

[DelusionsOfGrandeur]

DS was born recently, and although I'm loving spending time with him, it's also made me realise that I want to push on career-wise to give him an example of hard work and to be able to provide for him.

Currently a policy/operational delivery G7 (in the regions) with a primarily service design-type role. What do I need to do to get myself SCS role competitive? Is G6 usually a necessary in between step (it seems to me often quite similar to G7 albeit with wider remit)?

Also, I've found it a bit of a numbers game in gaining promotion in the past - with quite varied feedback from recruitment from similar competency examples and interview answers. I'm guessing SCS is a stretch too far for the "apply to enough things and you'll get one" approach, so I'm sure I need to be more strategic about professional development (as well as presentational polish). What sort of growth opportunities should I be looking out for?

I'm G7 too, so hopefully someone in SCS will come along soon and give more informed advice! But, from places I've worked - I think G6 is required unless you move between different types of organisations with slightly different bandings and responsibilities. At G6 you'd get more strategic exposure and a bigger team/portfolio that you'd manage. SCS all need to go through assessment centre/personality-type tests, before you can get to interview too - have you got a mentor/coach? They may be able to help direct you in professional development, as I agree that scattergun won't work. Have you got the opportunity to work shadow a senior person or take part in strategy type fora? A few years ago I shadowed a Director of Strategy at a Whitehall dept and she said "if you want to get into leadership, get a job in strategy", as you learn about how leaders need to think and the types of decisions they're having to make.

I suspect there's still a degree of randomness when applying for SCS jobs - it'll all depends on who you're up against and the type of role. Despite being at equal(ish) pay, not all the jobs are equal, some just need more skills than others.

Hope that's a little bit helpful, but will watch with interest for someone with more knowledge to come along!

@underthebridgedowntown

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, despite having worked up a few grades, in my case it's been more luck than judgment to date. Always feels like I'm asking someone to take a bit of a punt that I'll be fine at a higher grade when my work is of my existing grade.

Interesting that you see G6 as necessary. I skipped from HEO to G7 without feeling like I'd particularly missed out, but I'd be the first to admit HEO/SEO is a smaller divide than G7/G6 in most of the places I've worked, so can see how it would help.

Strategy also sounds sensible. I've had a bit of exposure to that kind of role before (although my role is far towards the 'tactical' end of the spectrum right now) and it's broadly where my interests lie naturally, tbf.

^ and also there's a regional G6 job being advertised at the moment in my city (amongst others) which is about business strategy. I am quite tempted to apply.

Definitely apply - you might get it, and if not at least you'll have an idea of where you need to improve!

In my department they consider both G6 and G7 to be SCS prep grades. But tbh no one from within is going to be skipping G6, and the recruitment internally to G6 tends to be a bit selective and stitched up.

Also you really need to have worked in a few different govt departments. Don't rule out moving sideways in order to move upwards with the aim of expanding your experience. Of course this presents more of a challenge if you aren't London based.

I think there are two issues really - firstly not all jobs at the same grade are equal. For instance my last but one G7 manager was supervising a whole region of operational offices but didn't make the strategic decisions; my last G7 manager only had me to manage and had absolutely no role in anything strategic/staffing etc and was pretty much doing HEO level work (policy); my G7 job I'm about to start I have a large team and complete responsibility for strategic planning of the work, staffing etc (policy delivery) and I'd say I will have the same level of responsibility as my previous G6 - so depending on your role you will be better placed to move up to G6.

Also there is a bottleneck when you get to G6 - less posts = more competitive so harder to get the posts. Stepping up to SCS is not equivalent to any other grade change further down the chain.

If you can get on Future Leaders Scheme you'll be set for SCS as they prep G7s for DD/SCS 5 level, but it is very competitive. Also if people see you as being a likely SCS they will support you in that direction - this won't only come from you expressing an interest but also from you acting and working in a way that makes people believe you could. People will already have formed that opinion.

@Isleepinahedgefund

Hi. Thanks for additional feedback. You're right that ambition without ability isn't enough. I have had people sometimes say that they see SCS potential, but generally I tend to think it's simply because I'm a somewhat-albeit-not-exceptionally-young G7 (late 20s) so still have a bit of time on my side. I 'm not a particularly stand-out G7, that's for sure, but I equally don't think SCS is impossible for me if I remain focussed on that goal.

Good shout on FLS. My G7 manager from a couple of years back just got her first DD role (think she skipped G6, come to think of it) and I still think her job from back then was a glorified HEO role. She did META.

Getting on this thread as I'm a G7 and struggling to get a G6 role so interested to see advice.

Hey @StealthPolarBear. I guess as @Isleepinahedgefund says, there's a bit of a bottle neck G7->G6. Are you also in policy? Anecdotally, it feels to me like there's a shedload of new G7s since Brexit kicked off, but without a commensurate increase in G6s. Not sure if the statistics would bear that one out.

Did you find recruitment at G7 easy, or was that also a struggle at all?

For scs you need a breadth of experience. So my advice is to get applying for g6 and apply for and take up self development opportunities as much as possible, including fls and bame if applicable and step up for internal corporate contribution opportunities too. This will give you the exposure to strategic activity you will need.

Yes if you’re BAME or disabled and can get on the G7 Positive Action Pathway you get a golden ticket Guaranteed interview for FLS.

I got the first G7 post I applied for so didn’t find it hard personally - but I know a lot of people who have really struggled to even get through sifts and it’s taking them sometimes over a year to get a G7 post.

In Policy the management spans seem to be ridiculously small so I don’t think they actually needed more G6s for all the new G7s - we certainly didn’t get any except where whole new departments were being created.

@StealthPolarBear - I’d get yourself a good coach/mentor, preferably a DD but at least a G6 and make sure they’re actively involved in G6 recruitment. Get involved in all the corporate stuff, get yourself out there. Get on all the management courses and anything to do with strategy - G6 is a strategic role not a doing the work role. Are you failing at sift or at interview?

At interview. Tend to find I was seconf choice but someone was better. Im also finding there just aren't the jobs at the moment

I think there will be more jobs after Brexit - lots of uncertainty doesn't help. Also when new budgets are agreed - we've been on a recruitment freeze for the last few months and they've only just started allowing any posts to be filled.

Do you get helpful feedback? I find this varies, sometimes it's really helpful but more often it's so vague and general that it doesn't help you for next time. I've only ever had one lot of genuinely detailed and comprehensive feedback, even then it wasn't too much use for the future as I got the job!

If you're always second choice I'd think about whether your answers were "Grade 6" enough - that might be why you're always pipped at the post, even if the successful candidate was a G7 too they might have made it sound like they're more ready for G6 work than you did. If the jobs keep going to substantive G6s that does make it more challenging for you too as obviously they will have the experience.

With that in mind, it might be helpful for you to speak to some G6s and really drill down into the differences between working at your current grade and theirs. Someone who was recently promoted would be good as it will be fresh in their minds. That will help you focus your interview answers.

Been a little while since I posted the original thread, but wanted to update everyone. I did manage to get a G6, which was a pleasant surprise seeing as I've only been G7 for a short-ish time (

would you be able to provide some guidance on G7 recruitment , I am looking for g7 roles and have 7 years experience at the moment