Civil Service application process

[Dur2020]

Can anyone help with applications?

I have been applying for HEO roles, for more than 9 months, yet cannot score above a 3. The examples I am using are from my time in local government and are mostly award winning service development, change management and project management examples.

I have attended many application workshops (both internally and one by The National Careers Service). I have changed the style of the applications several times and I am enrolled on the Civil Service mentee scheme.

Nothing is making any difference?

Where am i going wrong?

They’ll have a specific wording that you need to meet. Have a look at some of their polices online and note the wording. It’s bloody awful but they make you jump through hoops

Are you using the Success Profiles framework? I'm not entirely clear what stage you're getting to (I think my branch of the CS is very niche), but if you're getting to interview and being scored very low, are you asking for your interview feedback?

If you're not even getting to interview stage, you need to get the success profiles documents and tailor your examples very very tightly to the required competencies. Take note of the key phrases in each competency, and work those phrases into your example. There is also a Strengths dictionary, which is useful for thinking about what you need to be good at for the specific job.

There is of course also the possibility that your examples are not at HEO level.

I am an experienced civil service recruiter for HEO level roles, if you PM me your examples I'll happily give some feedback.