Below you’ll find our latest Civil Service advice. Use the search function above to find guidance on your issue, or visit Get Tailored Advice to submit your own question.
Thinking Time in Civil Service Recorded and Live Video Interviews Hello, I have been invited to a recorded video interview for an AO role. The email confirms that questions will appear on screen, but it does not state how much time I will have before the recording begins. I have seen different timings mentioned online…
Asking for a Civil Service Interview Question to Be Repeated or Clarified Hello, During mock interviews I sometimes lose the second half of a long behaviour question while choosing my example. I then answer the general behaviour and miss the specific part, such as dealing with resistance or protecting quality. I worry that asking the…
Giving the Right Level of Detail in Civil Service Interview Follow-Up Answers Hello, I tend to over-answer Civil Service interview follow-up questions. If the panel asks how I measured success, I repeat the background, describe the actions again and then give the figures. My mock answers take two or three minutes for a simple probe,…
Choosing Useful Questions to Ask a Civil Service Interview Panel Hello, I have a SEO interview next week and always struggle with the final “Do you have any questions for us?” section. I do not want to ask something answered in the advert, and I have been told not to ask about progression, hybrid working…
Preparing for a Civil Service Interview Presentation Exercise Hello, I have a Grade 7 interview that includes a five-minute presentation followed by panel questions. The topic will be sent 24 hours before the interview and the candidate pack says I may use up to three slides. I usually create detailed slides and read from them,…
Why HEO Interview Answers Can Fall Short at SEO Hello, I am currently a HEO and have reached several SEO interviews. My written applications usually score well, so I think the examples are relevant. At interview I tend to receive scores of 3 or 4, with feedback saying I need more strategic detail and clearer…
Testing Whether Your Evidence Is Ready for the Next Grade Hello, I am thinking about applying for promotion, although I am unsure whether my examples are genuinely at the next grade. My manager says I should apply, but most of my work has been completed in my current post and I have not had a…
Moving Behaviour Evidence From HEO to SEO Level Hello, I have several HEO behaviour examples that have scored well. I am now applying for SEO roles and do not know whether to reuse them or find completely different situations. The examples involve leading a small project, improving a process and coordinating work across two teams….
What Grade 7 Application Evidence Needs to Prove Hello, I am an SEO considering my first Grade 7 application. I lead substantial workstreams and brief senior managers, but I do not own a large budget or manage a large team. The vacancy asks for strategic leadership, stakeholder influence and delivery in ambiguity. I have relevant…
How EO and HEO Application Evidence Usually Differ Hello, I am an EO applying for HEO roles. The behaviour names and application boxes look similar, so I am struggling to understand what should change in the evidence. My EO examples show that I organise work, solve customer problems and support colleagues. For HEO applications I…