A bit of advice on Civil Service recruitment please

[Anothernamebitesthedust]

Two queries, really.

Firstly, is there any reason why you can't apply for two jobs at different Grades? I know technically it's allowed, but do you think it would appear odd and damage the chances of getting either? (It involves the same recruitment team.) I've seen a couple of jobs I'd like to apply for - one is a Grade 7 and one is a Grade 6, basically a more senior version of the G7 role. Having really pored over the JD and behaviours/ competence stuff, I feel like it's a stretch but not an unrealistic one to go for the G6. But if I didn't get the 6, I'd be happy enough to take the 7 (still looks like a fab job) and hope that within a year or two I could start thinking about promotion. (For background, I was a CS till I had DC and left as a G6, since then I've been a SAHM and more recently doing some contracting work.) I'd hate to only apply for the 6 and miss out altogether, but I'd also feel I might be doing myself a disservice not to at least try for the 6. WWYD?

Secondly, the application has changed a lot since I was there. Does anyone have experience (either as applicant or better yet recruiter) of the new application form and process? Any tips? In particular there's a new section on experience which doesn't given any indication of how long it's expected to be - any steer?

Anything else I need to know?! TIA

I have just applied for one and in my case I had two tests and then, after passing those, two questions to answer using examples of tasks, how I approached them and the result. I was quite surprised that there were no questions about my background otherwise.

Anyway, I have worked in recruitment and my mother works in CS recruitment and they get people applying for more than one role all the time. The only thing was that during an interview for the lower grade it was commented on that they had also applied for a higher grade job and they assumed that was the level she actually wanted to be. She did get the lower grade job, but from the start they put things in place to help her work toward the higher grade, which was great.

Thanks, that's reassuring about applying for both. I've been working through an answer to the question about why I've applied for both and in my head it sounds good! I guess I'll got for it then.

*go for it

Hopeful bump. Any more thoughts on this and tips on the new process much appreciated. TIA.

I don’t think it’s a problem to apply for different grades when they’re next to each other, particularly G6/G7 and HEO/SEO. So go for it.

If they haven’t set a word limit for the experience bit (I’ve seen 250 limits at mhclg and defra) then you probably have a lot more to cover off - assume the job spec is quite detailed? If so it’s ok to use titles etc and break it down to match the spec. I think the last one I did that didn’t have a word limit came to about 750

Just bumping this again - deadline approaching! I’m still a bit unclear on difference between personal statement and skills and experience. Any tips or ideas? Thanks!