Civil Service - SEO interview

[QueueEtwo]

So I'm a current civil servant HEO.

A new SEO version of my role has been created I'm currently temporary promoted into it.

I have an interview for the permanent role early in the new year.

I can do the job & do it well but obviously I need to be the best at the interview to get the job.

Can anyone help me with any resources that can help with behaviours interviews?

I obviously know about STAR & the behaviours but feedback from a previous SEO interview said my examples 'lacked Depth' 🤷‍♀️

So I'm looking for tips on how to add some!

What are the competencies listed on the ad?

I know it sounds obvious but look at the competency guide and ensure your example hits at least 4 of the bullet points.

SEO is about taking the lead, exploring options, understanding your customers needs, acting on feedback etc.

Behaviours are
Leadership
Managing a quality service
Making effect decisions
Changing and improving.

So I have examples plus back up ones - I'm basically interviewing for my own job But the previous job I didn't get was exactly the same sort of role - I could have done it standing on my head but obviously didn't get that across at interview.

Do you pretty much learn your examples, ensuring they contain the right words?

Hi, I guess you need to look at the level of your examples, is it SEO level? I know you’re doing an SEO job but compare it to the behaviour indicators, look at the next level up, G6/7 and see if you can hit any of those.

Zan Excellent thank you!

Be specific about your role e.g. I did xyz, also remember to say where you delegated and where you were strategic e.g corporate objectives.

Each answer to an interview behaviour question needs to be about 2 x A4 pages long. Include stats where you can, make it about you. Bulk of your answer is in A and R.

These are great thank you.

I watched a few YouTube videos yesterday which were quite helpful & wrote out my examples again.

I'll just keep plugging away!

Use STAR+ with the + being a single sentence on why that example means you would be the perfect fit for the job. EG, this example shows that I can xxxxx which means I am capable of doing xxxxxx as required for this role

Ask your manager to do a mock interview for you or at least go through your examples with you. And do the interview training on Civil Service Learning.

Oh and good luck!

Plane brilliant idea to do the Civil Service interview training - it's been around 10 years since I had interview training so I think that will be useful!

I'm going to struggle to fit in a mock one, we're all on Christmas leave but I might get DH to do one - he could at least tick off which of the behaviours I hit with my answers!

When I last had a mock interview I was advised to use the strengths dictionary to make sure that I was giving the depth of answer needed.

So for leadership for example, you want to aim to cover off confident, change agent, inclusive, motivator, team leader and visionary.

Also second reading what's expected in the 7/6 behaviours as it will push your answers further.

Good luck!

Depth - use examples that are chunky enough to demonstrate you use the behaviour fairly regularly. E.g. for delivering at pace don’t just say you did something quickly one day as your manager gave you a quick deadline (even if it was the most challenging thing), demonstrate something that needed you directly to prioritise ideally more than once, over a few weeks, and make sure you say why it had to be done at pace and also what happened to any deprioritised work too.

When I say examples lacked depth I usually mean that they said too much "what" and not enough "why" and so didn't evidence the behaviour.

For instance, for making effective decisions, it's really common that candidates aren't explicit about what they were deciding (ie "I need to decide x" so I get to the end of the example and I've no idea. Also common is forgetting to talk about the decision making process, and going straight to how they implemented their decision etc. The behaviour is about your thought process, what options you considered, why you decided to do what you did", how you considered a range of evidence etc.

These are great pointers thank you! I'll do all this!

The frustrating thing is I quite happy just plodding along in my old role but the organisation has changed around me & I've stood up to fill the gap & I'm enjoying it.
I'm also loathed if I'm going to train someone to do what I'm doing while they get the extra pay! 🙄

It is annoying when that happens!

Just remember though that as the "known" candidate you have to be tip top. So many times recently I've seen people fail to get the job they are in temporarily because they assumed they would.

My top tip in that situation is to address your interview to the independent panel member, ie the one that has absolutely no idea what you're on about. Explain technical terms, acronyms etc for their benefit - they are the person who will sway it for you.

Don't do what someone i know of did recently and say "we all know I'm the best person for the job" when you're asked why you want the role!!!

Polar ha ha no I won't do that!

Great advice re ensuring the independent understands my examples thank you.

With the making effective decisions behaviour, make sure that your example shows there were several viable options and give the reasons why you picked the one you did.

So many interviewees come up with an example where's there's only one sensible course of action and that doesn't show what we need. You need to show you can consider which option is the best one taking into account a range of factors.

Yeah Anne, making effective decisions is a tricky one, I don't get to make high level decisions , mainly collating information for someone higher up to make it. (Military) so this is the behaviour I definitely struggle with!

I didn't get the job!
But thank you all for your help & support!

Oh no QueueEtwo! I'm so sorry, that's gutting.

I have a lot of applications in for CS as total outsider at the moment - it is like learning a whole new language tbh. I figure that the more I do the more I learn! Hoping to go from all 3 points to 4 or even <whispers> a 5!

@QueueEtwo I’m sorry, make sure you get feedback.

Good luck Nepey

I'm so pissed off, I have worked so hard for about 18 months like crazy hours to the detriment of my own health - I have been an idiot! (As much as I have enjoyed doing the role)

So while I've got my department running round trying to placate me, I'm going to go for part-time hours, probably partial retirement - I have 32 years under my belt and go back to doing my old job & my job only! I will take my leave & my flexi!

I will be professional with the new person, hand everything over, and then shrug a lot! 🤣

Ridiculous the person already in the role doesn't get it!!