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?

Okay! I’ve now been offered not just one job but TWO!

Nothing is simple though…

Job 1: HEO, £33k, policy, v interesting in the macro, not so exciting in the micro, dealing with regional councils etc but still good policy etc.

Job 2: EO, £25k, policy, very exciting area and mad exposure to some very, very cool areas and departments, great networking opportunities but does that matter in CS?

Both teams seem really delightful.

Both same department which has shifted slightly since machinery of gov change

CS EXPERTS: please do give me your advice!!

Immediately bumping myself.

Am no expert, but a bump from me!

Personally I'd probably go for the first one with the view I might be looking to move on once I'm on the inside anyway.

Very cheekily paging @sausage971 @FishandChipsarelife @CaptainMorgansMistress @queencookiemonster and anyone else who gave such brilliant and useful advice earlier in the thread - would you look at my dilemma above and give me your advice again??

I worry that the lesser paid one seemed very competitive (I failed to get even interviews for HEO levels for two roles in that area) and if I don’t take it now I won’t ever get into that area as it needed international experience and I only got it from reserve list.

but then the better paid one is- well, better paid!

I must say looking at your user names (sausage/chips/captain Morgan/cookies) the CS sounds ideal for my interests.

I’ve got no advice other than to say huge congrats!!! Two CS jobs!!! That’s fantastic and well deserved with all the work you’ve put in

bumping for you!

Congrats @Lightninginabox! Excellent news!!

Getting promoted is as hard, if not harder, than getting in. So I’d go for the HEO post, you can always move laterally in a few years.

Aw thank you @MabelMoo23 , all I can say is it’s definitely like learning a new language or cracking a code, I’m going to go and look up how many jobs I applied for since about November (a large amount!), how many interviews in the last two months (with lots of rejection), and now two offers in four days - it really was a case of learning the rule and then a numbers game, so if anyone is reading this in the same kind of despair I was in a few weeks ago, all I can say is keep going!!!!

The advice and encouragement on threads like these really, really helped!

Thank you, @GlorifiedChair!

Is the second an area that you really are more interested in, or is it just that the particular job looks more interesting?

Networking in the civil service can be beneficial, getting you known etc but it isn’t / shouldn’t make as much difference in getting another job etc (as they are advertised etc - but in practice it could give you an edge when a manager is comparing two similar applicants)

A more wide ranging job could give you more scope in your experience and therefore make doors easier to open

But the first higher paid job does give you the higher step up front
I wouldn’t count on the lower but wider job guaranteeing progression, but if it attracts you more it could be a more rewarding job in itself

@tommika yes, I am much more interested in the second one, but it is quite vague.

i think I’m veering towards the first HEO one as realistically I do want to get a proper career re-started and so need to be working towards eventual promotion anyway. Not to mention I need the cash! Heartbreaking!

There are other interesting jobs to be had, so take that as your option - start as high as you can and then move on when ready

It could give you a bit of motivation to bring yourself on for the next step

Good luck with it all & well done for smashing two at once

It's easier to move laterally than secure promotion, so I'd go for the HEO post and look to move to a more interesting HEO role once you've been there a little while.

Sorry, late back to the thread. Congrats on getting both! I'd go for the higher paid one, as others have said it'll likely give you broader transferrable skills and visibility/networking that'll be helpful for your next step. Once you're in, look for opportunities to contribute to other areas that interest you. Think about how your role could link into the lower paid one and introduce yourself to that team as part of your onboarding, there might be a way to get on a working group associated with the interesting stuff. In civil service there will also be staff networks and loads of other projects/working groups etc, so keep your eyes peeled for any relevant extra curricular activities you can get involved in. While networking shouldn't influence recruitment, it is vital in finding those extra opportunities to broaden your skills/knowledge and seeing the bigger picture, which can be the difference between candidates in roles higher than HEO. You can also expect seeing the bigger picture to be tested as a behaviour in more senior positions. Enjoy!

@Lightninginabox many congrats getting both offers. Definitely go for the higher grade to get yourself through the door. You will need to complete your probation period which is normally 6 months, after which time you're able to apply for other roles, although you could start looking sooner so you can apply quickly after probation - and all those fantastic interview skills are still fresh

Im currently on tenderhooks waiting to know if I've managed to get my (CS) promotion and irrespective of whether I get it, I find the CS process very fair but in so being, it is very convoluted with lots of hoop-jumping to be done. Maybe it's how my weird brain works, but to my mind everyone is expected to follow the same process so it isn't as unfair as people seem to think on here. There are of course risks of putting a foot wrong and missing the mark, but at least they tell you via the feedback process so you get to know what to focus on next time.

I also agree with you that it's insulting when people on here generalise about the SC being full of losers. Not at all, I work with some brilliant people who are an asset to CS and government. I sometimes wonder if people are just sour grapes maybe they find the interview process frustrating but no need to insult the whole workforce. You've shown remarkable resilience and spirit, we need many more of you in our midst. Good luck with your CS career.

Have you decided @Lightninginabox ?

Well! In a striking turn of events that is meant to encourage everyone, I actually suddenly got offered 4 CS jobs in a week! Two HEO and two EO.

I went from having 1s and 2s in my initial applications, to getting through the applications then flunking several interviews, to listening to ALL the outstanding advice on this thread and in fact cutting and pasting it, and referring back to it and then cracking the STAR/behaviours/strengths/competency code.

I think the big thing for me that changed it all was someone upthread saying you really need about 1.5 pages of prepared a4 per interview behaviour, and cross referencing my STAR with the criteria outlined in the governments own behaviour guide. It really just pulled it all together. Much more on the A of STAR than anything else and a bit of reflection added on to the R.

Im writing this down because I really was in despair at the start of this thread and now I’m over the moon and so pleased. Thank you to all who so kindly and constructively helped me out and I hope this thread helps others too!

Also, the personal backgrounds of the people who have been interviewing me has been absolutely understanding - private sector highflying lawyers who’ve moved to public sector later in their career, an ex McKinsey type, someone with a technical specialty who is a cambridge fellow on the side - really inspiring and impressive so hopefully the stuff about how all CS staff are just awful is just not entirely true.

I accepted one of the HEOs but it was a very tough call.

Sorry that was meant to be outstanding not understanding although I hope they are understanding too haha.

Congrats @Lightninginabox for accepting a position! Can I be nosey and ask which department you’re in? I’m in a CS NDPB and love what I do.

Huge congratulations on accepting a post, after being inundated with offers!

I had my second interview today after being waitlisted previously. Fingers crossed it doesn't take an age to get a response.

Good luck to everyone out there ploughing through those personal statements!

Just found I got the job! Absolutely delighted after being waitlisted for the previous role.

Good luck to everyone out there, keep going!

@StatsNerd oh well done you! Fantastic!

Thank you so much! Actually have another interview next week so need to decide whether to go ahead with it or not!