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Civil Service Behaviours
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Totally random I know... But
I am in the middle of a job application for a civil service job and I am stuck so stuck...
How on earth do I answer the following...
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
I seriously cannot think of any suitable examples... mind is blank
Normally I'd give up, and not apply but I really want the job!
Any sensible advice greatly received... and yes I have googled the hell out of each 'question'
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Totally random I know... But
I am in the middle of a job application for a civil service job and I am stuck so stuck...
How on earth do I answer the following...
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
I seriously cannot think of any suitable examples... mind is blank
Normally I'd give up, and not apply but I really want the job!
Any sensible advice greatly received... and yes I have googled the hell out of each 'question'
"
The big picture is about how different departments collaborate, say you were applying for a job with the benefits section of the jobcentre - there would be other departments that would liase such as housing benefit, child benefit, tax credits etc
Think of which department you're applying for and think about the links to other departments.
Then give examples from a previous job, say you worked in HR - there's usually a link to payroll, from payroll there's usually a link to accounts.
Good luck with the application  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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From my experience they will want you to tell them about a time when you have done all of the above. The trick here is not to get blinded and trying to impress by the situation but by making sure you answer what is asked.
For example - Making effective decisions
No point talking about a multi million pound deal you once worked on if you wasn’t really the decision maker and only played a small part as your answer will sound contrived. Instead you’re better talking about something much smaller where something you did actually changed the outcome for the better.
It sounds simple but it’s easy to forget what they are actually looking for. Take clues from the person specification and job description.
It is a massively laborious process (trust me I know) it’s definitely worth it though. |
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"Totally random I know... But
I am in the middle of a job application for a civil service job and I am stuck so stuck...
How on earth do I answer the following...
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
I seriously cannot think of any suitable examples... mind is blank
Normally I'd give up, and not apply but I really want the job!
Any sensible advice greatly received... and yes I have googled the hell out of each 'question'
"
To expand on the:
S.T.A.R
Situation
Task
Action
Result
using my own job as an example:
1) Effective decisions
S - need to teach online across time zones from -6 (Latin America) to +9 (Korea) and everything in between.
T - to create a timetable to accommodate the above and utilise staff as efficiently as possible
A - investigated use of Hyflex to include Latin American students into afternoon lessons being taught in-person so that all the timezones ahead of the UK could be grouped together to be taught in the UK morning. Small numbers in L.Am mean it did not make efficient use of staff time to teach them separately online, so we incorporate them into lessons already timetabled.
R - staff are fully utilised with full groups, instead of having L.Am slots with 2 or 3 students only. This is more cost effective for the business etc etc.
2) Managing A Quality Service (gonna be briefer!
S - need to deliver high quality and consistent teaching across and within modules.
T - create an effective delivery structure to be used across all modules and consistent teaching schemes for each module.
A - designed a blended learning structure that can be used consistently across all modules (incorporates pre recorded, self guided and live teaching in varying amounts) and requested teaching leads submit teaching plans for the semester ahead of time. Carried out spot checks and observations to check compliance.
R - students find the same pattern repeated in every module, enhances their compliance which means attendance/engagement is good. Positive feedback from students. Etc.
I could easily show the leadership and bigger picture thingies using aspects of the above (I hope you can see) |
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By *os19Man
over a year ago
Edmonton |
"Totally random I know... But
I am in the middle of a job application for a civil service job and I am stuck so stuck...
How on earth do I answer the following...
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
I seriously cannot think of any suitable examples... mind is blank
Normally I'd give up, and not apply but I really want the job!
Any sensible advice greatly received... and yes I have googled the hell out of each 'question'
"
. Are you applying for executive officer or higher executive officer. If the competentcys are still 250 words use 25 words to describe the problem 200 words how you went about solving the problem and 25 words what the successful outcome was.Look back at your previous job as the most recent will give you a better chance of possible getting the job if you can’t find any competentcy from your work history then use outside work interest.Best of luck with your application |
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"Totally random I know... But
I am in the middle of a job application for a civil service job and I am stuck so stuck...
How on earth do I answer the following...
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
I seriously cannot think of any suitable examples... mind is blank
Normally I'd give up, and not apply but I really want the job!
Any sensible advice greatly received... and yes I have googled the hell out of each 'question'
The big picture is about how different departments collaborate, say you were applying for a job with the benefits section of the jobcentre - there would be other departments that would liase such as housing benefit, child benefit, tax credits etc
Think of which department you're applying for and think about the links to other departments.
Then give examples from a previous job, say you worked in HR - there's usually a link to payroll, from payroll there's usually a link to accounts.
Good luck with the application "
Thank you, so much, you have just translated a hell a lot of corporate blurb!  |
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Massive thanks everyone, I am dyslexic which makes this even harder as my head has turned off and I just want to say I can do the job trust me!! but it does not work like that...
Have taken onboard all the comments and having a think about good situations I have been in... |
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"S.T.A.R
Situation
Task
Action
Result
This technique is good, it stops you from rambling."
This
I spent all day interviewing and it was quite painful to watch people waffle on with competency based questions, going further and further from the point, without addressing the question at all  |
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"Totally random I know... But
I am in the middle of a job application for a civil service job and I am stuck so stuck...
How on earth do I answer the following...
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
I seriously cannot think of any suitable examples... mind is blank
Normally I'd give up, and not apply but I really want the job!
Any sensible advice greatly received... and yes I have googled the hell out of each 'question'
"
Ok maybe reframe the questions
Give me an example of a time you dealt with a serious complaint and how you achieved a positive outcome? What did you learn from this?
Give me an example of a time when you identified a way to improve the performance of yourself/your team/the business and how you implemented this?
Bigger picture-example of liasing with/supporting other teams to achieve a common aim?
Leadership-could be a teambuild? Training/mentoring/monitoring others?
Good luck OP! |
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Also, doesn't necessarily have to be a good outcome, just what you learnt from it.
Have you downloaded the competency outcomes? It breaks down what they are looking for according to the level you are applying? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Totally random I know... But
I am in the middle of a job application for a civil service job and I am stuck so stuck...
How on earth do I answer the following...
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
I seriously cannot think of any suitable examples... mind is blank
Normally I'd give up, and not apply but I really want the job!
Any sensible advice greatly received... and yes I have googled the hell out of each 'question'
"
You need to give clear concise examples of each outcome
So effective decisions? When was the last time you made a decision that was of benefit to your company? Could it of been cost cutting, change of supplier? Scaling down the workforce. Streamlining roles to be more efficient; and what was the benefit to the company? Was it effective? How?
How do you manage the quality of what you are delivering? How do you measure that? Through customer feedback? Social media?
What is the long term aim of your company? How can you acheive it? Have you had to make difficult decisions to ensure viability of the business? How did you that?
How do you manage your team? How effective is your leadership? How do you deal with conflict? Personality types? What type of leader are you and can you reflect on practise.
Hope this helps. Good luck
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The big picture can that involved other organisations?
My last job involved working with the police, to ensure rules were kept public and wildlife safe...
"
Definitely |
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"The big picture can that involved other organisations?
My last job involved working with the police, to ensure rules were kept public and wildlife safe...
Definitely "
Can I mention the flasher incident, I've never seen police run so fast in all my life!! 
I won't mention this, do not worry... my head hurts... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The big picture can that involved other organisations?
My last job involved working with the police, to ensure rules were kept public and wildlife safe...
"
Yeah I guess so, the benefits could support long term aims because it could ensure viability |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The big picture can that involved other organisations?
My last job involved working with the police, to ensure rules were kept public and wildlife safe...
Definitely
Can I mention the flasher incident, I've never seen police run so fast in all my life!!
I won't mention this, do not worry... my head hurts..."
No don't mention that, besides I've apologised and done my time |
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"The big picture can that involved other organisations?
My last job involved working with the police, to ensure rules were kept public and wildlife safe...
Definitely
Can I mention the flasher incident, I've never seen police run so fast in all my life!!
I won't mention this, do not worry... my head hurts..."
If it's relevant, you could allude to an "incident where an individual committed indecent exposure" etc and explain how you dealt with it. If it was part of your job, it could be relevant. |
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"The big picture can that involved other organisations?
My last job involved working with the police, to ensure rules were kept public and wildlife safe...
Definitely
Can I mention the flasher incident, I've never seen police run so fast in all my life!!
I won't mention this, do not worry... my head hurts...
If it's relevant, you could allude to an "incident where an individual committed indecent exposure" etc and explain how you dealt with it. If it was part of your job, it could be relevant."
I just took the call from member of public, told police and they ran.... normally they'd be yeah we'll go in a min...
seriously though, I am going to have to have a massive think over next few days... wish they'd accept cv and cover letter..
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It's important to focus on what YOU did in these examples,
Read the key roles/responsibilities & try to link similarities into your examples if you can,
In the advert There should be an attachment/link to the behaviours expected for the grade you are applying for that will help - could probably Google them if it isn't,
Good luck x |
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"Totally random I know... But
I am in the middle of a job application for a civil service job and I am stuck so stuck...
How on earth do I answer the following...
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
I seriously cannot think of any suitable examples... mind is blank
Normally I'd give up, and not apply but I really want the job!
Any sensible advice greatly received... and yes I have googled the hell out of each 'question'
"
I've only just seen this. I work in the civil service, so am pretty well versed in them.
Happy to help, if you inbox me x |
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