How to Ace A Civil Service Interview

Summary

Elizabeth Conley from Interview Skills Clinic offers guidance for Civil Service job seekers struggling with interview stages. She emphasizes the importance of scoring at least four out of seven on each question, with a focus on the nine Civil Service behaviors and the STAR technique for structuring examples. Conley advises adapting responses to fit different interview questions and preparing anecdotes for strength-based questions. Resources like the Civil Service success profile and strength dictionary are recommended for thorough preparation.

Takeaways

• 📈 To pass a civil service interview, aim for a score of at least 4 out of 7 for each question, with a few scores of 5 or 6 for competitive roles.
• 🔍 The interview will likely assess you on 3 to 4 of the nine Civil Service behaviors, such as quality service, teamwork, leadership, and pace of delivery.
• 💼 Download the success profile for Civil Service behaviors to understand the criteria for each grade level, regardless of the position you're applying for.
• 🌟 Prepare examples using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result), focusing on actions as they carry the most weight in the assessment.
• 🚀 As you move up in grades, ensure your examples are more challenging and include a challenge within them.
• ❓ Be prepared to adapt your examples to different questions that may be asked during the interview, avoiding rigid repetition.
• 💪 For strength-based questions, download the Civil Service strength dictionary and prepare short, recent anecdotes to support your answers.
• ⏰ You have two minutes to answer strength questions, so keep your anecdotes concise and impactful.
• 📚 Use the Civil Service interview preparation guide for insights into typical behavior and strength questions asked in interviews.
• 📢 If you need further assistance, consider booking a free consultation with Interview Skills Clinic for personalized support.

Q & A

What is the minimum score required to pass a Civil Service interview?

You can pass the grade with a score of four out of seven, but you actually need a couple of fives at least to be competitive for the role, especially in a very competitive role.

How many Civil Service behaviors are there that you might be assessed on during an interview?

There are nine Civil Service behaviors that you're likely to be assessed on, and you may be assessed on three to four of them during an interview.

What does the acronym STAR stand for in the context of interview preparation?

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, which is a technique used to structure your examples for interview questions.

Why is focusing on the 'Action' part of the STAR technique important?

Eighty percent of the marks go on the actions, so it's crucial to focus on what you did and how you did it, as this is the main part of your example that will be assessed.

How can you find out more about the Civil Service behaviors and the grading system?

You can download the success profile for Civil Service behaviors online by searching for it on Google, which will show you how you're being assessed on each behavior at each grade.

What should you do to prepare for strength-based questions in a Civil Service interview?

Download the Civil Service strength dictionary, prepare short recent anecdotes to support your strength answers, and be aware that you're normally assessed out of four for strength-based questions.

How can you adapt your examples to different interview questions without seeming rigid?

You should prepare your examples in a flexible way, allowing you to tell the example differently depending on the question asked, to avoid rigidly regurgitating your prepared answers.

What resources are available to help you prepare for typical Civil Service interview questions?

You can download the Civil Service interview preparation guide, which provides typical questions asked around each behavior, and also read articles like 'How to Ace a Civil Service Interview'.

What is the significance of including a challenge in your examples when preparing for an interview?

Including a challenge in your example is important as it shows your ability to handle difficult situations and it makes your example more relevant as you move up the grades.

How can you get more support if you need help with your Civil Service interview preparation?

You can book a free consultation on the Interview Skills Clinic website at interviewskillsclinic.co.uk for more support.