Lack of diversity in interview panel in civil service

[JoanJettsBlackheads]

I currently work for the civil service, am a G6, and recently had an interview for a job in another department. They wanted someone with strong experience of leading large teams, and I was asked if I would consider applying for the job, as I’ve previously headed up departments of 80 and 60 staff.

I was one of the last two. The interview didn’t go well, and I could tell from body language that they weren’t really interested. I found out later that the job went to a male G7 in his mid 30s, on promotion. He’s never had to manage more than four people. (This job is managing a department of 70+)

The interview panel consisted of two fast stream G7s, both Oxbridge, in their early 30s, and the SCS hiring manager who was in his early 40s. I’m in my late 50s. I also realised after the interview that there was no independent panel member, as both the G7s work directly to the SCS man.

The SCS officer has offered me feedback, which I’ve accepted. Would it be wrong of me to point out the lack of diversity in the panel (although one of the G7s was a woman), and the fact that there was no independent panel member? I know I could have appealed this within 24 hours of the interview, but wasn’t really in any position to do so - I’d only had 48 hours notice of the interview. Should I also complain to HR?

Alternatively, has anyone any advice on how to interview with the confidence of a 30 something Oxbridge man? As I keep being beaten for jobs and 9 times out of 10 it’s to someone who fits this profile. I’ve also interviewed men with this profile for jobs and while a lot of them can talk the talk at interview, they’ve been arrogant disasters actually doing the job!

I would have complained about the 48 hours notice and that feedback, and asked about the department’s policy on independent panel members - I think that in most departments this is recommended but not a requirement. So they may well have met the requirements for panels.

1s and 2s are unusually low interview scores. If you’re confident your responses merited higher scores you could say so.

I think you’re U looking up and commenting on the background of the G7 panel members and successful candidate.

Feel free to offer polite feedback but I think their reasoning on hiring is potentially, on paper he was more senior (grade 7 vs 6) and he is 20+ years your junior so obviously had faster promotion . At your age you are very close to the point you could be retiring, many civil servants have sufficient pension by 60.

At your age you are very close to the point you could be retiring, many civil servants have sufficient pension by 60

What has that got to do with the price of fish? Should we avoid child bearing age women too because they could disappear to have babies at any moment?

The OP is already at the more senior grade, grade 6.

The successful applicant was at G7 and has been promoted to G6.

Actually I wish people updated (or went fully private) on their LinkedIn. It is something I use everyday as part of my role.

OP is judging these people based on their age and university...but she must have googled them, and then formed opinions off them based off her googling...whilst being annoyed that they seemingly judged her for her actual performance.

Just sounds weird tbh.

That should say 'same grade as him'

@LandSharksAnonymous I didn’t Google the panel members. I looked them up on our online directory. There is a part of it where you can add any relevant information or anything of interest - for example, mine includes being a mentor and PPM experience. I don’t include my education as it was a) a long time ago and b) it’s not terribly relevant. But younger people - and certainly those who went to Oxbridge - do tend to include their degrees - subject and grade.

@mitogoshigg thanks for your ageist comments and chucking me on the scrap heap. I’ve still got over 10 years until my retirement age of 67, and I haven’t always been a civil servant, so please don’t assume I can retire at 60.

There are definitely points to be raised about the process, I think. Lack of notice, the feedback could (should) be more specific to the questions actually asked.

Well no @foyc, obviously not everyone is looking to slow down as they near retirement, and if I was on an interview panel I would assume that an older candidate specifically did not want to slow down...hence them applying for the job in question.

@LandSharksAnonymous I'm a bit confused by your comments about using Linkedin/googling people being unprofessional. Surely it's an entirely standard way of finding out info about someone nowadays?

well then thats the fault of the one that believed the hype and took the chance if it was all talk and no walk

That's all well and good until the inexperienced person starts behaving awfully to experienced people as feel threatened and want to exert authority or worse still those on lower pay grades with more experience being required to step up and cover their arses.

Which I can understand, and agree,

but even with someone with the required experience it's no guarantee how their management style will be, so unless the person hiring the manager has better hiring controls or specifics then it will generally be a mixed results of the hired manager etc.

Absolutely need an independent, i’d certainly be giving feedback.

I’m not sure there has ever been a golden age of Civil Service recruitment, but from what I hear about recruitment in the private sector - going out to dinner to discuss terms, bonuses for introducing friends and family (usually in their own image), most in the CS try very hard to deliver fair and open recruitment / promotion.

If you weren’t happy with the short notice for interview, you should have raised it at the time of booking the slot. I do think the current system is unfair in that candidates booking quickly secure the plum slots, perhaps with an extra few weeks to prep.

Diverse teams make better decisions, but I think some hold unfavourable views towards Oxbridge fast streamers, whereas two of my most able colleagues have been King’s Scholars (OE), Oxbridge, fast streamers.

I know this is a zombie thread that’s been inexplicably resurrected but I wanted to correct this: he was NOT more senior on paper. Grade 6 is more senior than grade 7.

Civil service hiring doesn’t work like this anyway. You don’t hire the person who is ‘more senior on paper’, you hire the person who gave the best interview.

Maybe he IS better?