Civil Service application advice - inclusion of unpaid carer role and tips on STAR format responses

[Turkeyhen]

Hi all, I have read through some of the excellent threads on the CS's recruitment process and gained some great tips, but as the deadline for my application looms I could use a few pointers. I have carefully read the applicant pack and read up on the associated Behaviours and Strengths.

My situation is a bit odd in that I have been continuously employed in a very part-time admin role while being a family carer for the last 18 or so years. I feel my carer role (close family member with complex mental illness) is relevant as it has given me a lot of transferable skills (lots of organising, communicating and coordinating support from various agencies, dealing with the police etc etc). I haven't listed this in the employment section, but added it in the 'gap in employment' section of my application. I haven't had a gap in employment on paper but in practice the vast majority of my time has been taken up with this until I stepped back earlier this year.

Any thoughts on how best to include it on my application?

I'm applying for a low grade AO admin role with the CS so I am drawing examples from my admin and IT roles primarily, but including examples from being a carer where it seems relevant. Does this sound OK? Slightly worried that some of my examples are from back in the mists of time tbh.

Finally, with the 250 word limit on answers within the application I'm having a tough time working out how to include as much as possible in so few words. Should the STAR format be made very explicit (with headings, for example) or can I just squeeze in more than one example using the format more implicitly in sentence form?

There is no personal statement section for this post so I want to sell myself as best as I can within the Behaviours responses.

I feel like I really fit the bill for this job, and it's in a field that interests me, so want to present myself in the best possible light.

TIA for any pointers MNers 🙌

STAR format - no need for headings as this eats into the word count. Sentences/ short paragraphs are fine. Bullet points can also help reduce word count. Only use one example per competence.

WRT you’re being a carer, as you say you have a lot of transferrable skills so using examples from being a carer are appropriate.

Make sure all your examples are “I did x” not “we did x”.

Thank you both for those helpful tips 💐

I am struggling with one or two of the competency statements to cover everything with one example (eg written and verbal communication with demonstrable experience of handling sensitive calls) - I can cover those competencies but not with one example 😩

What does the job ad say you need to put on your application?

"written and verbal communication with demonstrable experience of handling sensitive calls" is not a behaviour, it's experience, have they asked you to use examples to demonstrate particular experience?

Sorry, I was paraphrasing badly there - “provide evidence of how your skills and experience meet this essential criteria (sic): excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, and a proven ability in sensitive call handling.”

It’s a lot to demonstrate with one example in 250 words isn’t it!

You need to focus on one example here - likely from your carer role. Where you dealt with a sensitive issue and kept records. Probably whatever led you to contacting the police regarding this person. You then explain how you used excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with this situation. It definitely all firs with one example. There's tons of advice available online to help you structure it. Make sure and mostly focus on what you did and what you learnt from it. They aren't interested in the background as much as your skills and analysis of the situation. Good luck!

Thank you so much, I was in a real quandary over that question ❤️

Application submitted! That was the toughest application form in living memory. Thank you again for the advice. It's my first attempt with the CS so my hopes aren't too high, but it will be interesting to see how I did on those 250 word competency questions.