Civil service - is it worth me even applying?

[Tiredalwaysmum]

I've seen a civil service job id like to apply for - the hybrid working and pension are very attractive and I feel like I'm ready for a new challenge.

My back ground is that I worked for a week-known media company for 10 years, then had a break once I had children and have worked as a TA for the past five years. I was planning to train as a teacher but I can see how worn out all my colleagues are.

I feel like I meet the criteria (strong communication, collaboration, good judgement) but it's been a long time since I worked in an office.

Any advice? Is it even worth me applying?

People talk about the civil service like it's one entity, it's not. Which department are you looking at? Also it's not all office based hybrid working and Flexi time, if that's what you're looking for don't go near MOJ/HMPPS. Having worked in schools your skillset probably most closely aligns to DWP or HMPPS but I don't think either will give you the lifestyle you're looking for. Also pensions vary, some are civil service others are LGMPF etc.

The reason a lot of people fail in civil service recruitment is they have this vague idea about being a civil servant without having done actual research.

You will also need to look up the success profiles, strengths and behaviours for each role and prep using the star method.
I have done a lot of recruitment at various levels in several civil service departments over the last two decades.

It’s always worth trying. What you need to do is understand the application process. For example it may require the STAR approach to your examples.
S = Situation one or two sentences
T = Task one or two sentences.
A = Action this is the bulk of your word count. Be clear “I did xyz”
R = Result one or two sentences.

Others on here can help.

What sort of role and grade are you looking at? I think it's quite competitive at the moment but there is no harm in trying!

You can absolutely apply, perhaps don't aim for the stars though, get in the door and promote from there.

In my dept it would be worth applying as they don’t look at age, qualifications etc but just if you pass the online aptitude tests then can demonstrate in your application how you meet the criteria. Make it very obvious to the reader how you demonstrate the criteria, there’s lots of advice online for doing the applications.

i am outside of London in a regional office and find the flexitime and working conditions very good but the pay quite rubbish.

I agree with @MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira in that there are huge variations in what is loosely named the civil service. I worked in the CC many years ago and left because I just could not stand it. Was full of gloom, doom, trade unions not picking and all about can't do than can do. Move forward to current it is very different, but in places from brief observations having done contract work for them. However, there are still many pockets of what I negatively described.

Perhaps provide more detail and people might be able to be more accurate. Oh...and some of the work at lower levels can be mind blowingly boring

Definitely apply, why would it not be worth it?

As PPs have said, answer any behaviour questions using STAR and consider adding another R - reflect - ready for interview where you discuss what you might have done differently.

You really need to focus your question on what you did and how your actions caused the result. And any personal statement needs to be written to match the essential and desirable criteria and to show how you have the skills for the role.

Look at each individual role. Some can be interesting work in policy, but it canals include probation or prison officers. Who are both paid ridiculously low.

Well you definitely won’t stand a chance if you don’t apply!

I wanted to apply to the CS for years and assumed it would be too hard, then got in on the first go.

That said, it does usually take multiple attempts so I would caution against getting massively hung up on one job - you might need to apply for a few.

Yes of course apply.

This is poor advice imo. The MoJ is more than HMPPS and mist certainly has plenty of roles that offer hybrid working. Presumably the OP has read the ad of the role she.is applying for. I also know of people in MoJ who have made a career change from teaching. I have aso recruited several people returning from long career breaks, though I am in one of the specialist professions. I think it's more about the grade of role you're hoping to get OP than the department. You'll. need tk demonstrate the behaviours on the success profiles but they are designed to be more geared towards hypothetical "what would you do?" type answers to assess potential. The aptitude tests knock out a lot of people and are a very blunt tool but I think there's every reason apply if you're realistic about which jobs are entry level. You can apply for promotion ince you have a bit of experience.

It's probably one of the few places where it really doesn't matter what you've done before on recruitment. I had no job experience first time there and no real relevant experience second and had in fact been teaching adults. But I utilised transferable skills.
There may be an aptitude test - think of the answers from a very business perspective if applicable but balance HR/staff needs a bit.
The behaviour questions seem to be the most difficult to get past the marker, but if you get these right then the interview will probably ask the same questions and want the same answers or better - you normally get the scores of the application so can see if any answer needs work. It's recommended though you have a couple of example behaviours in case they ask the question a bit differently or ask one that isn't on the application form. Follow STAR and spend most time on 'action' but don't forget 'result' and reflection on what you would do differently can be good.
If it's a personal statement then try and incorporate behaviours and examples- eg/ not 'I worked in comms so have experience' but something like 'when I worked in comms I led on delivery of a project by doing this/that and results were awesome!'
I don't know what grade you're interested in or which dept, so there may be more or less to it - this is around HEOish advice for a specific dept.
It can take ages to get in if that is your intention, but as others have said it's not always as rose coloured as some people think. Flexible working is great but it's business need driven, flexi time similar and even local manager driven at times. In just one area I've had a variety of experiences.
Pension is probably ok but I never stayed long enough and it's not as good as it was/is for those currently getting to retire.

Thanks for all the replies! I've sent my application in. I think i did a fairly good job with the STAR method but would try and give myself several days to really think over it next time. The word limit made it difficult.

I also wonder if I did my best on the 'CV' and 'Previous Skills and Experience'.

I adapted my current CV and took bits out but left the bulk of my experience there. I wonder if I didn't edit it back enough as wanted it to be a true reflection of my experience.

Well done for getting it in - the behaviours are not the easiest to write and word limit is difficult.
I’m not sure how much they look at CV tbh - it’s definitely not marked, so don’t worry about that is my advice.
Good luck.

I work in the civil service. When we recruit we have to score both the application form (effectively the CV) and the statement of suitability separately. So it is definitely looked at.

Which department are you applying to & what grade? I worked for HMRC for 27 years.

better to apply and get told no rather than not apply and its certainly a no ?

Ah - where I am we only ever ‘volunteer’ to mark PS or behaviours, and those scores are used as pass/fail at that stage. I wasn’t really sure if CV was ever looked at much, but probably a first pass/fail sift by some department whilst checking eligibility perhaps, before it even reaches us then.
To note that at the stage we help at each application has 2 markers and we moderate after we’ve marked.