Any Civil Service appliers or recruiters?

[Lightninginabox]

Trying desperately to get into Civil Service.

Am 45 - do you think there's ageism in hiring externals?

I have a lot of G6/7 type experience but earlier in my career. I am more than happy to start from scratch again in the departments that are in my area (Belfast) but I wonder am I flunking the interview?

I have done about 12-15 applications, getting up to 6s and 7s in application forms and have had three interviews, two turned down and one I think will be turned down as they shouldn't have posted it as available for Belfast, and one awful press/ministerial briefing in which I got a 4.

Any interview advice?

I have an interview coming up that I'm sure I got because of the advice on this thread so thanks everyone :) I was really interested in the suggestion that the STAR(r) examples should be around a 1.5 A4 page long, my question is are you generally allowed to take notes in with you? 🙏

I had a video interview but there wasn't anyone else on the call. I was sent a list of questions and just had to talk. I took copious notes with me and got on.