Civil Service Interview

[parkrunner1977]

Hi everyone. I have an interview this week for an EO role within the CS and it will be a 3 person panel. I have been working for an Arm's Length Body for over 11 years and am currently at the same grade level but this new role is for a direct government department. It's been a long time since I've had an interview like this so am quite nervous about it and wondered if anyone could help with types of questions I may be asked please?

There are 5 behaviours that they will be exploring, 3 already submitted on the application, and 2 more for discussion at interview. As the applications went through a recruitment team for the initial sift would the panel have seen it prior to this does anyone know? My feedback score was 25 in total, 5 for each section (3 behaviours, CV assessment, and statement of suitability).

I've watched some of Jac Williams videos but they have made me feel more anxious!

Any advice would be greatly received. Many thanks in advance!

The panel interviewing won’t have seen your written application so feel free to use the same examples.
You can take notes in with you.
Look at all of the links in the ad/job description- will there be strength questions too?

It's a virtual meeting via teams as the role is based overseas. Only the 5 behaviours have been referenced on the job advert and the email received about the interview, nothing about strengths. I did print off all the available information for both success profiles though and used them to structure my application examples.

Make sure you have examples for each of the behaviours prepared in advance. You can have notes with you. The behaviours questions will be 'tell us about a time you.....' or 'give us an example of.....' types of questions, and should be answered in the STAR format. Also look at the strengths associated with the behaviours and think of some examples for each strength (strengths don't need to be done in the STAR format). Good luck!

Examples are key. Use the STAR technique to help you. Have notes as well. Look again at the job advert and personal specification too, this is a aid to help. Smile and breathe.

Many thanks. I scored 5 on each of my behaviour examples on the application, if I use those same ones do you have any suggestions how I can improve on that score when discussing them in the interview?

I'm confused as to why the first poster here says that the interview panel won't have seen your application - perhaps it differs by department, but every time I have been on an interview panel I have seen the candidates' applications beforehand!! I once sat on an interview panel as the independent member without participating in the sift, but here the normal process is for the panel of 3 to conduct the sift, select for interview, conduct the interviews and agree scores and appointment(s) in a final consistency meeting.
It would be pretty standard to use the same examples that are in your application but expand on them. It is unusual for a candidate to come up with new examples at interview, in fact I have only seen it happen once. Focus on the elements of the behaviours set out in the success profiles guide and wrote down what you have done to tick each one off.

I agree with emsy, I’ve always seen the application beforehand as I’ve been part of the sift. Have you seen the marking scheme? 5 is “Good Demonstration” where I am so be very proud of yourself. In the sifting I’ve done recently I’ve rarely given a 5!

In the interview you’ll be able to flesh out your answer a lot more so you should be able to up the score from a 5

I agree, a 5 is an excellent score on sift so well done!

Thank you. I've just had the interview and was doing ok until I choked on the last behaviour which was Leadership. The question they asked didn't fit in with the example I had and my mind went completely blank trying to think of something else! They had to help me out, was a disaster. i think I've probably reduced my sift score after that!

Sorry to hear this @parkrunner1977 whatever the outcome you did well to get an interview and now you’ve done one you’ll know what to work on/expect for next time.

I finally heard back to day that I was unsuccessful, which wasn't unexpected! The email says I have been placed on a reserve list as I reached the required standard. My application was for a job where they were looking for only one person so what am I actually in reserve for? Would it be another post in that particular overseas office, or just any EO role that the recruiters think I may be suitable for? Many thanks.

If another job comes up that's similar in the same unit then they don't have to go through the interview process again. It does happen so fingers crossed

I would class that as success if I’m being honest- I know lots of people who got roles off the reserve list, fingers crossed something is offered soon.

Placemarking as I have a CS interview on Thursday.

Good luck OP!

I know the OP has already had their interview but I'm just replying anyway in case anyone is is reading it for interest. I work in a civil service recruitment team, in our department it's the same panel doing the interview as who did the sift, so they will already know your application. That said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with using the same examples. If anything, the interview gives you a chance to really expand on your example, more opportunity to talk about what YOU did etc, rather than be limited to a set number of words like in the application form. And, as others have said, always use the STAR method.
Doesn't matter how great your example is, it will be scored very low if not in the STAR format and lots of focus on what you personally did and how you did it. And being placed as a reserve candidate means you technically passed the interview, it's just that someone else scored higher than you so they were appointed.

I’ve been interviewing a lot recently, within Defra, and the thing I’ve found is that you really need to have 2 or 3 examples prepared for each behaviour, so you have a good chance of having one which will fit the question asked.

I've just had confirmation from the recruiting team that the reserve is only for the particular post I applied for, and I'm 2nd on the list. So I would need the successful applicant and the 1st reserve to not take up the role for whatever reason. I'm not sure I will hold out much hope for that then!!

It was a very useful experience to go through however and @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads is correct that having a couple of alternative examples prepared would be the best thing to have in case. Good luck @SJFarter with your interview this week