Grade 6 behaviour interviews
Prepare for Grade 6 Seeing the Big Picture interview questions
Panels can test Seeing the Big Picture through several types of question. A strong answer makes the Grade 6 responsibility, personal judgement and wider result clear, then remains ready for challenge about evidence and alternatives.
At Grade 6, Seeing the Big Picture is about connecting your area of responsibility to wider government priorities, external developments and the needs of people affected by the work. Interview examples should normally involve leading a substantial programme, service or policy area while shaping decisions with senior leaders and partners beyond your immediate team.
Use the Grade 6 Seeing the Big Picture behaviour statement guide to review the official criteria and written-example structure before preparing spoken answers.
Twelve Grade 6 Seeing the Big Picture interview questions
Question 1Tell us about a time you changed the direction of a major area of work because of an external development.
Question 2Describe a situation where you aligned your programme or service with wider government priorities.
Question 3Give an example of influencing senior leaders to take a broader strategic view.
Question 4Tell us about a time you brought conflicting stakeholder perspectives together to shape strategy.
Question 5Describe how you have used economic, social, political, environmental or technological evidence to set priorities.
Question 6Give an example of preventing duplication by taking a government wide perspective.
Question 7Tell us about a decision where the interests of your own area conflicted with the wider organisation.
Question 8Describe a time you identified an emerging issue before it affected delivery.
Question 9Give an example of translating a long-term strategy into practical priorities for managers.
Question 10Tell us about a time customer or user insight changed a strategic plan.
Question 11Describe how you have maintained strategic focus while responding to urgent pressures.
Question 12Give an example of explaining the wider context so teams understood why their work mattered.
What the panel is looking for in Seeing the Big Picture
The panel needs evidence of how you identified the wider strategic issue, translated it into priorities for your area and influenced decisions beyond your own team. Strong answers show the reasoning behind the action, how other people were involved or led and a result such as a better aligned strategy, avoided duplication, stronger ministerial or executive confidence, or outcomes that worked across organisational boundaries.
Use the question, not a rehearsed heading
An answer can use the same career example for more than one question only when the emphasis genuinely changes. Start by answering the action asked, then select the parts of the example that prove it.
Members can unlock four complete Grade 6 Seeing the Big Picture model answers, with a question-specific explanation of why each answer scores and prompts for adapting the evidence to their own experience.
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