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?

@StatsNerd definitely go! The practice is never a bad thing and always better to have choices, unless you're absolutely certain the job you've got is the one you would definitely want to take. I almost cancelled an interview after getting an offer a couple of years ago, but I went and got it, and it was the best job I've ever had, so glad I didn't cancel even though it was really tempting due to how exhausting CS interviews are!

Thank you for the advice. I am going to mull it over for a day or two, but really think if I was offered both I would still pick this one!

Hi all, wanted to post as I found this so helpful when I was nervously preparing. I had an interview Friday and got offered the job on Wednesday afternoon. I was so relieved I didn’t have to wait long for the offer.
All of it feels so unfamiliar, like having no idea of hours or anything yet. Do you think it would be reasonable to say I don’t want to start until September if I get the chance? I am leaving education and could do with both the break, and to not have the faff of arranging childcare if it can be avoided for one last summer holiday.

@Elpheba does your role require security clearance?

Yes it does- which I’m hoping might take a little while…

@Elpheba yeah don't stress then, SC can take a few months so September is likely a reasonable time frame!

(And if it's higher than SC you might get in Sept 2024 )

Have been following this thread with interest as I am fed up and frustrated in my current EO role and am looking at other options within the Civil Service. Congratulations to those who have secured posts and Good Luck to those still waiting to hear back.

Can I ask those of you with recent experience of applying/recruiting:
When uploading your CV onto the application it asks you to omit any biographical information... my employment history spans over 20yrs so they're going to deduce I'm late 30s early 40s - do you take the dates out?

Also, the numerical test! Jeezo I nearly had kittens, is it just me or did anyone else find it really hard!?

I don't remember doing the tests or the CV last time I applied- has it got harder?

Just an update for any reserve list buddies - that's me been offered a position now, after being placed on reserve list in early March.

@GlorifiedChair well done that's great!

I'm 4 weeks in to HMRC and really loving it, the culture is great and people really friendly.

Best of luck in your new job! 🙌🏻🥰

I was the independent on some recent recruiting.
Every application had dates, therefore I could imply age ranges.

(Do be careful if you have a CV already - there were a couple that hadn’t deleted their email etc from the CV narrative, which meant their name was redacted from the main application but JaneDoe85@…. would tell me who they are, and perhaps they were 38 years old, especially if a dated job history backed that up)

I’ve had an interview recently. It was way more technical than I was expecting. Things keep coming back to me that I’ve missed out. I also expected more difficult behavioural questions, which I spent lots of time thinking about answers to, when I would have been better reading up on the technical stuff. I really want the job too….

Morning Everyone
I am desperately trying to get into the CS,I have been trying for approximately 18 months,I currently have an application in progress at EO level,On previous occasions I have passed all tests,I have had a couple of interviews and sadly just missed out.Although not a civil service employee, all of the skills I have gained over the years are fully transferable.I have to write a personal statement for my current application,I feel like I need some advice on how to write a really strong Personal Statement.Does anyone have any advice to offer please ? I'm 56 and feel like I still have something to offer - work wise.I would be extremely grateful of any advice anyone can offer.Many thanks xx

@Antysam re Personal Statement - based on my experience of having read lots of CVS for recruiting staff in the CS (I'm not in HR, more a Recruiting Manager)

Keep it short and concise, using plain language and no meaningless buzzwords like I'm a People Person, I always groan when I read that!

Highlight your skills and experience, don't get into the detail of "I did this that and the other when I was in FinCo- keep that for the body of your CV.

Example of a personal statement

"I am an experienced Project Manager, MSP-qualified, with more than 10 years' experience in the Financial Services industry. I am looking for a new challenge, and I believe that this job is perfect for me. I am confident I have the skills and knowledge to contribute strongly by successfully delivering projects in your organisation."

Re your comment:

I feel like I need some advice on how to write a really strong Personal Statement

to be honest a strong Personal Statement won't necessarily get you an interview, unless it's the intro to a well-composed CV which clearly specifies how your skills and experience match the vacancy Prerequisite Skills and Behaviours.

To be honest, the Personal Statements I've seen haven't really added much value. If you try to make them "unique" as the received wisdom would suggest, they come across as a bit gimmicky. What I look for is the relevant information is clearly available in the CV, and in the sift, I don't have to search too hard for it eg if the CV is too wordy.

Sorry I've repeated myself, hope you get the gist!

Make sure your statement is matched to the behaviours and competencies of the civil service role you are applying for. Can you actually send a cv as I don't think that was an option when I applied?

As the pp said please please make sure you link your personal statement to the behaviours and questions listed. In the advert, quite far down it will say 'your application will be assessed on these questions ' and will have 3-7 questions, if you don't answer those in your personal statement then you won't get through the sift.
I'd also say use the full word count if you can to answer those questions, a generic personal statement won't get you in if I'm sifting you, you'll loose marks for not answering the questions.

It depends on the rest of the ask though, if it's an application that asks for behaviours separately, I'd expect the person specification to be the central element answered in the personal statement.

All the adverts will be slightly different for what they detail, what they are looking for, evening within the same 'area' of civil service. Read the advert in full!

Thanks there’s some great tips on here, good luck everyone

I was taken on as an EO at age 62!

Hey I know this is a few months old now, but I came across it from searching about the civil service.

I have an interview on Monday for a CS SEO role and just wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time to post such helpful and thoughtful responses on here.

I have only applied for one CS job, I was looking for roles for my husband and saw this one and thought I’d really enjoy it (it’s in a very niche department) and do really must have fluked the personal statement, CV and sift question (mine was on managing a quality service).

I can’t believe how technical the interviews are and how ridged they are. I definitely feel like from an outsider coming in there is an element of learning the system rather than actually being the best for the job…!

Anyway thank you all again! I’ve screenshotted some of the posts in here for reference and I’m now looking through the success profiles to make sure my examples match the level above me if possible (as suggested by someone in here 😊).

One tip I was given by my friend in the CS that I thought I would share incase in helps anyone else who comes across this thread:

If you are asked strength questions, pause before you answer the first one and if you’re anxious about answering the others, tone down your enthusiasm a tiny bit. Although the first one (ie what excites you? What do you enjoy doing etc) isn’t marked itself, it’s used as a marker so they compare your answers to the level of enthusiasm, the time it took you to speak etc with the setting question.

@TheWeeLittleDonkey yes that's the approach with strengths, also remember to keep the answer relatively short (2 mins) and don't accidentally start going into a STAR answer (yep that was me, despite knowing full well what strengths were and being a CS for years!)

Good luck!! I came in via a niche ALB at SEO, opened a lot of doors for me.

Thank you! I’m really nervous. I haven’t had a job interview in ten years! 😬 the amount of time I’ve spent preparing for this interview… it’s like going and doing exams again 😂