Civil Service - CV how far to go back

[CivilServant1234]

I have been a civil servant for 20 years. I am currently an SEO in HMRC. I have seen a job advertised in another govt dept I’d like to apply for. This is my first application for a job that involves the newish CV style application.

How far do you go back? I am in my 50s and have 35 years of work. I don’t particularly want to advertise my age at the sift stage either. I was thinking just my civil service career but wonder if that would look odd. I had nothing particular noteworthy before I joined the civil service.

I would maybe do a brief summary of what you did prior to being a civil servant. If they want more information, they can always ask you 😄

Ok thanks! I think I will do my CS career and leave it there.

I would just do the last 5 or 6 years, starting with the most recent. Head the section “last 5/6 years career history” . I agree trying to capture 35 years of a CS career is too much information and emphasises your age.

That’s a good tip, thank you!

The CV is often marked (particularly if "experience" is one of the measures) so I wouldnt miss out anything in your CV that helps bolster any experience required in the job spec. If it's just the same muchness as your CS career I wouldn't worry too much.

It probably depends on the department but a key part of the CV where I work is now Key Achievements. It clearly states on the job advert that the sift will be made on key achievements, skills and experience.

I've been involved in a number of sifts and interviews and I'm amazed that so many candidates don't take the time to highlight their key achievements. If a sifter has to dig through your CV to find the achievements you aren't going to be scored as highly as someone who has actually set them out, and stand a high chance of being sifted out altogether.

I would include about the past 5 years, unless there is something from earlier that is more relevant to the role you are applying for, but make sure you include whatever they have told you is essential.

Good Luck.

@Yondergoat sorry to sound daft but what do you mean by key achievements? Like specific project successes?

Key achievements are what you delivered, such as project successes. Again stick to last 5/6 years unless you have relevant experience from earlier.

You can have a separate section headed key achievements to highlight them. Under career history bullet point skills, experience etc. So it is easy to find and read across to the job you are applying for.

Tailor your CV for each job you apply for.

I did my last two relevant roles and then a state not about other skills I had and said ‘further career history available on request’