Civil Service EO blended interview help.

[Asvan]

Hi everyone

I have an interview coming up in the civil service for an Executive Officer role. I have been told that it will be a blended interview which will assess behaviours and strengths.

For the three behaviours, I had already written up examples in the application form. Can I use the same examples or is it better to use new ones? The behaviours were: Making effective decisions, managing a quality service and communicating and influencing.

Also what am I likely to be asked in the strength based part of the interview? I'm really dreading this part as I sometimes find it hard to think on my feet, especially when I'm really nervous. Will they expect answers in the STAR format in this part of the interview as well?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I don't have civil service experience but do know as an interviewer for a big FTSE 100 company that we actually encouraged the use of the same examples as those on the CV. If they are your top strengths, they should be repeated!

Thanks for your reply.

Anyone else out there with any experience or advice?

I'm civil service and it's fine to use the same examples - most people do.

The strength based questions are relatively new but previously I've asked about actual experience doing policy and finance rather than the normal 'tell me about a time when you did ...'

Thanks

Which other strength based interviews am I likely to be asked?

Hi OP

I've worked in the civil service for a while and would also encourage you to use the same examples but be able to expand on them / give more relevant information but have back up examples in your back pocket.

Other advice, be yourself.

So I'd ask about actual experience in policy and finance. Asking about pre ious jobs and what experiences that gave them and how could it apply to this role.

However, I normally stick to competency questions as I'm much more familiar with those.

Hi I'm in the Civil Service and have done a fair amount of interviewing. Treat the strength based questions as more of a 'normal' interview question. It's best to still give an example if you have one, but you can be more relaxed about the format of the answer. The behaviour ones I'd stick to STAR and if you use the same example make sure you really expand on how it fits that behaviour description. There's a chance they might have forgotten your application example anyway. Just go with the best example. Good luck! The CS is a great place to work IME

Strengths are shorter answers but still use an example if you can. They’re more like “getting to know you” questions used to judge your initial response. Questions like “are you someone who likes details?” Or “how would you communicate complex information?” You want to show enthusiasm for the skill in question and demonstrate that you’re competent in applying it. For behaviours, using the same example as your written application is fine, practice reading it aloud and think about any follow up questions the panel might ask.