Another civil service application question - which competency framework for Natural England?

[TumbleBea]

Hi, I'm quite confused and not sure if I'm missing something obvious! I'm trying to apply for a role in Natural England, there are four competencies being assessed on the application form, they are: leading and managing people; personal effectiveness; work delivery; and putting people at the heart of the environment.

There is a brief description of each one on the form, but the guidance in the candidate pack includes the following statement: "each competency is described by a number of activities/skills taken from the relevant Skills Framework. Please take time to read these thoroughly".

How do I know what is the relevant skills framework, and where do I find it? I have been looking at civil service success profiles, but it doesn't seem to include the relevant competencies, that I can see anyway?

There is an email contact on the job advert but unfortunately the deadline is on Tuesday so I doubt I will get a response in time (I only saw this vacancy yesterday so trying to get an application done in time!), if anyone here can shed some light I would be very grateful.

[twobluechickens]

Access to the NE skills framework is internal only, but basically what you see on the job description are the same as NE employees would see. So for instance, this old job description networkrecruitment.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/appcentre-7/brand-4/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/4466-4466-Natural-Capital-Specialist/en-GB has the competencies, and under the competence heading it says "detail" with blah blah blah (basic/practitioner/expert) and then "description" below that, usually with a couple of bullet points. The "detail" and "description" are exactly the same as an employee would see on the internal skills framework (along with a whole bunch of others not relevant to the role).

So when you're doing your response for each competence, make sure you provide examples (using STAR if they request that) that address each of the bullet points in the "description". Does that make sense?

Don't use STAR for technical skills unless they ask for it.

[twobluechickens]

Same for this one, although there aren't any bullet points in the descriptions! networkrecruitment.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-7/brand-4/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/5536-5536-Agri-Environment-Evidence-Senior-Adviser/en-GB But basically the skills framework bits are these:

Detail
Work delivery

Description

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines. (Expert) 
• Understand evaluation and apply it to your work at an appropriate scale to identify the impact of our evidence or interventions and opportunities for improvement (Practitioner) 
• Identify priority evidence needs and seek ways to meet them (e.g., through funding or partnerships) (Practitioner)

And so on for the other competences. Each of the above bullet points is exactly the same as NE employees would see on the skills framework. It's bloody hard to fit evidence for three competences into 250 words! Other top tip: write your answers in Word and then paste into the application form once you've edited them. The application form will log you out after a certain period and won't save your work unless you've pressed Save.

[twobluechickens]

I will also add that NE employees are not Civil Servants - it is a non-departmental public body and so they are Public Servants. Still part of CS pension scheme though, unlike some NDPBs.

[TumbleBea]

@twobluechickens oh thank you so much, this is incredibly helpful! It makes sense now.

[twobluechickens]

You're welcome! Glad to help. Their job ads can seem quite impenetrable. I saw one last year where half of one description was missing - an internal candidate could have looked it up on the skills framework but an external candidate would have been WTF? How do I answer that??

Good luck

[TumbleBea]

I did have to read the job ad quite a few times for it to sink in! You are right about how hard it is to fit everything I want to say into 250 words!! I guess that's part of the challenge?! I managed to submit the application yesterday, so fingers crossed now. Thanks again for your help 😊

[twobluechickens]

You're very welcome! Let me know how you get on.

[Hownowbrownsheep]

@twobluechickens Don't use STAR for technical skills unless they ask for it

Why not? Currently writing an app and confused now!

The Gov website says:

When to use STAR:
You can use the STAR method in your:

• CV
• cover letter
• application form - usually in a further information section
• interview

[Hownowbrownsheep]

@twobluechickens Don't use STAR for technical skills unless they ask for it

Why not? Currently writing an app and confused now!

The Gov website says:

When to use STAR:
You can use the STAR method in your:

• CV
• cover letter
• application form - usually in a further information section
• interview

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

I realise this is an old post, but how did you get on @TumbleBea ?

I'm sorry i missed this post. I work for an aligned arm's reach body, hate competency interviews, but could have helped.

[twobluechickens]

@Hownowbrownsheep

@twobluechickens Don't use STAR for technical skills unless they ask for it

Why not? Currently writing an app and confused now!

The Gov website says:

When to use STAR:
You can use the STAR method in your:

• CV
• cover letter
• application form - usually in a further information section
• interview

If you're applying to Natural England, read the competency questions on the job description. If there is a section for technical skills, which there will be for many roles, it will specifically state whether you should use STAR for that section or not. The ones for my various jobs said don't use STAR for technical skills.

If you're applying to a different ALB or Govt department then they will have their own way of applying. I suggest you read the job advert rather than GOV.UK, although the info there will help with the competency-based questions.

[TumbleBea]

Sorry I forgot to update this! I didn't get an interview for this role unfortunately, but I have since accepted a job offer from a similar organisation (I think it's the same one you work at, @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads!) 😊

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

@TumbleBea

Sorry I forgot to update this! I didn't get an interview for this role unfortunately, but I have since accepted a job offer from a similar organisation (I think it's the same one you work at, @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads!) 😊

EA?

I'm not afraid of outing myself, we employ 1000s of people!

[TumbleBea]

Yep!

[twobluechickens]

Congratulations!