Bastard pre-recorded interviews - Civil Service

[JobhuntingDespair]

Feeling really down and hopeless after fucking up a pre-recorded interview for a basic level (AO) job.

Earlier in the year I applied for two roles at the next level up (EO) both of which match my skillset - one in particular was spot on. Didn't pass the pre-recorded interviews but was close (obviously other candidates scoring even higher than the pass mark could have got the job even if I had passed). It's so frustrating and upsetting that these stupid interviews are so unnatural and being good at them doesn't actually align with being good at the job!

Anyway I thought I'd be in with a better chance going for a lower level AO role, but found the interview even harder than before. I prepared, considering potential questions, but two of the three questions asked were really not what I expected and I panicked trying to think of specific examples. On the online tests pre-interview I scored very highly (in top 7%).

It seems so ridiculous the way they want a specific example of a behaviour in detail, using STAR method. For example, if they want an example of influencing someone to change their mind - it's something I've done in small ways in previous jobs, numerous times, and in my personal life, but picking out a specific occasion that doesn't require loads of explaining of situation is impossible! Also seems impossible to break it down into several things to say about HOW I achieved it. (One of the questions was along these lines and I actually had quite a good example but it would have taken too much explaining the situation so I used a crap example instead and fucked it up.)

I am autistic, but am actually good with people, building a rapport etc, persuading and so on (worked mainly in care previously). But these interviews are so artificial, I feel so lost not speaking to an actual person, not interacting. When writing job applications I can pick out examples but it takes time - on the spot I'm rubbish. It's particularly difficult when it's a behaviour I do often but in small ways that I don't think about - trying to pick one example then pick it apart for STAR seems impossible. Yet I do the thing they want, I just can't explain it to them in the way they want!

People have recommended Civil Service jobs for the flexibility (ie. can work less than full time) and good practices around disability. Also I had over a decade out of work due to ill health (got degree in this time) so something that focuses on behaviours rather than experience should theoretically be great for me - but this is hell!

I graduated 4 years ago and am finding it so despairing that I can't even get jobs that are fairly basic. I am so so sick of having to do jobs that I could have got straight from leaving school. I wanted to get a foot in the door of having a career before ageism sets in (I'm 40).

Also, I gather that many job interviews now require STAR method type things. I miss the interviews of 15-20 years ago, when you could actually show interviewers what you could do, using more general examples and experience.

Any advice appreciated.

Oh also, it was suggested on here previously that I could ask for questions in advance ad a reasonable adjustment. This is not allowed - it specifically stated that when asking if there were any adjustments I needed. I did get extra time to think before answering questions but it was of limited use having an extra minute or two.

Have a look for a guy called Jac Williams on YouTube. He has some really good videos on how to succeed with Civil Service recruitment and how to tackle behaviour questions at interview. He also sells a big 'question bank' of example questions for each behaviour, which I bought and found really useful (I think it cost about £12). You do need to undertake quite a lot of prep for CS interviews, and the process is not anything like 'normal' recruitment in the private sector.

Thanks - yes I have seen his videos. Didn't know about the question bank!

Am relieved to hear private sector recruitment isn't like that.

It sounds like you have had a few interviews and so should have a good idea of what kind of questions come up. Consider the questions you have already been asked and /or look at the civil service competencies and behaviours and prepare some examples using the STAR technique.

Preparation is key. Even in F2F interviews you are allowed to bring notes. The beauty of the STAR technique is that it gives you a strong steer for preparation. The better prepared you can be the less you will feel on the spot.

@vincettenoir
I did prepare as you have suggested. I.was still really surprised by one of the questions. It was something that I can't see coming up in the job itself (conversely, for a previous interview for DWP Decision Maker role, there was nothing about making decisions!)

Also the behaviours for this role were mainly different to the previous roles I've applied for. "The kind of questions" doesn't help much when you need specific examples for the actual questions asked.

I'm unsure how STAR helps at all with preparation. I've found it very limiting because of the way answers have to be so specific. So eg. if there's a question on communication, you can't just explain how you communicate in eg. your current role, you have to give a really specific example of the specific communication thing they ask.

You can give an example of how you communicate in your current role. You just make sure you have worked it into the STAR technique in your prep. Yes it does have to be specific, because that’s how they can work out if you can meet the challenges of the role.

Agree that you cannot anticipate every single question they might ask and a bit of thinking of your feet is necessary. But the more e.gs you have prepped the better. And for example one e.g might work for “working together” and “delivering against pace”.

I do appreciate that this won’t come naturally to everyone. But I think the good thing about it is that you have more chance of anticipating what you might be asked and a better chance of preparing well than at a private sector interview where you have no idea what you might be asked.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what is a pre-recorded interview? It sounds horrendous?!

It's done online, but not in real time. You're basically asked questions by a recording of a person, then given a few mins to record yourself answering. The interview is then watched later by the potential employer.

You need to write down examples for every main category in a STAR matrix before the interview, practice a selection of them using the matrix for reference, then have those notes in front of you so you can refer to them during the interview. Here's a good example of a STAR matrix - https://business.tutsplus.com/tutorials/star-behavioral-interview-questions-and-answers--cms-27990. Remember the most important thing in STAR is Results, closely followed by Actions so make sure you're giving those two sections maximum time - Situation and Task are just for context and can be very broad-brush.