Civil Service FAQ's About The Success Profiles Interview Process (I get asked these all the time)

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

🎬 Check out my FREE 36-video online class on how to get a job in the Civil Service - skl.sh/3IaQR0t

[@EATONedits]

Failed my first civil service interview back in July. Reapplied for the same role after watching your videos and got given the job today. Can’t thank you enough. Owe you a beer if we ever cross paths 👍

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Awesome news Tom!

[@denise0707]

Congrats!!

[@EATONedits]

@@denise0707 Thanks Denise 🤩

[@isaacfoster2820]

what score did u get

[@jbelly2559]

I got the job 🙌 there were 30 positions going and I got the result around 5 weeks after my interview

[@BM-vv2vd]

I had my interview 3 weeks ago…they’re still asking strengths

[@samyoe]

did they indicate strengths on the advert?

[@BM-vv2vd]

@@samyoe yeah they did

[@isaacfoster2820]

​@@BM-vv2vd which company?? I have interview too

[@hucklebucklin]

Thanks Jac and congrats on being on a panel! Soon you'll be interviewing people yourself! In regards non-work examples I used a lot of examples from working as a trade union rep in my last interview and passed :)

[@HelenMarie555]

I have an immigration enforcement interview coming up, the job description just says I will be asked strengths questions and that I don't need to prepare. It's also all automated on launchpad so I will be asked set questions and have to record my answers. Obviously I am still going to prep some questions so that I can practice. I have only really ever done competency based interviews so hopefully some questions I prep for come up. Thanks for the videos, they have been really helpful :) i'll come back and let you know if I get it.

[@isaacfoster2820]

I have interview too. good luck with Ur one

[@HelenMarie555]

@@isaacfoster2820 thanks, I got one of the 2 I applied for 😊

[@nafisabatool5166]

Hello hope your interview went well. I have interview for similar position coming up. Any tips on what I should prepare?

[@MAXFN1234]

Thanks, Jac. You are a lifesaver. I've been watching your videos for a over a month in a prep for the interview I had last week with CS for data analyst position (Specialist Trial period ). Your videos helped me a lot to gain the confidence I needed as I am pretty nervous at interviews. The last stage of the recruitment processes would be a Online Digital analytical exercise. Any advise what might look like and how to prepare for that. Many thanks again :)

[@Chasemcloud5745]

Hello, out of interest what was the outcome of your interview process?

[@Shazz961]

Got my interview next week, thank you for this information!

[@ilcorvo9559]

I have been on the panel for a few SO and HO remote interviews via teams over the last year. Personally I think it’s much more accommodating. I’m based in Newcastle and have never had an interview take place at my site. I’ve done London, Edinburgh and Liverpool which is a decent trek!

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Definitely!

[@somewhereoverthere.9373]

I wonder if I can pick your brains so to speak. I have been provisionally offered a job at a.o level for HMRC. On the pre employment forms I'm asked to give a employer reference. This will be my first job after having children, 11-12 years all my previous employees are either out of business or dont work for the company and cannot contact them. My last employer and myself didn't part on good terms and believed she is vindictive enough to give a poor reference. Will writing my previous employer down as a reference but ticking for HMRC not to contact them affect my chances of a firm offer. I'm also asked if I have worked in the last 3 years, which is no. Is HMRC really interested in a reference from someone I worked for, over 11 years ago?

[@ilcorvo9559]

@@somewhereoverthere.9373 if you’re asking me, I would say not to worry too much about it. This probably isn’t the political answer, but AO intakes are usually mass recruitments and they will want bums on seats, so to speak, having gone through a lengthy process of bringing you in. Legally a former employer cannot give you a negative reference (though they can decline to give a reference). outside something serious in your background, I can’t see you not progressing to a full offer of employment. Others on the chat may know recruitment behaviour better than me however, for context I’m a G6 working in project and programme management and less familiar with “operational grade” recruitment.

[@richardcoleman2472]

Thanks Jac, had an interview yesterday and your videos really helped

[@markbrad123]

Anonymity and Interview - can you mention qualifications or previous gov ?

[@raginijoshi1108]

Thankyou so much. You are brilliant. It really helps to share

[@ellakrystina]

I've been watching your videos over the past week in prep for an interview for an SRO position in civil service. I interviewed and didn't get the position this time but have been put on the depts reserve list after meeting all the criteria and I'm so chuffed!! I failed entry to the fast stream a few times as a graduate and I was quite nervous for the interview process. Thank you so much for these videos, you are a star x

[@sarahisaacs2928]

Very useful - as always 🙂. Especially using the same piece of work for two examples. I have an interview for a substantive SEO in a few weeks so prepping like mad.

[@denise0707]

Good luck 👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼

[@sarahisaacs2928]

Just to update - I got the SEO role in policy 😃. Jac's videos are so helpful - thank you x

[@themultilingualfamilyhub]

Excellent video, thanks so much Jac!! I have an interview next week, having passed the written exam already. Your videos are super helpful in helping me prepare for the interview and feel more confident. Thanks so much!

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Fantastic!

[@simsational3916]

Hey, part of my interview process has a written test, however I can't find any information on this ! What was involved in your written exam?

[@johnzapata7991]

Hello Jack, First at all English is not my first language, but I'm fell confident, thanks for your videos. You are so nice gentlemen.

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Thank you! 😃

[@mailarps]

Hi Jac, how would I know the strengths and behaviours I will be judged for? Is it all to be inferred from the essential criteria in the job posting or will I be provided with something? Should I ask it to the recruiter prior to the interview?

[@joamos5463]

I have a question! If you have an interview and you weren’t probed post questions is this positive or negative?

[@deeptikadali6015]

Hi Jac thank you for your videos. I have an interview next week with HMRC for test analyst role. I am definitely expecting some technical questions but my JD mentions nothing about situation and behavioural questions. So any leads?

[@yousy92]

Hi Jac, I was just wondering what your thoughts were about the traditional suit look for online interviews? Is it something that is looked down upon of you just wear a shirt for example?

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

My last 2 interviews were online and I wore a shirt and tie for both of them - go for it :)

[@Dark_Point0]

Hi Jac. Thank you for these great videos. I will be attending my online recorded interview for the post of Border Force Officer very shortly. Do you know if the behaviour questions asked will be those I answered in the written application which was: Working together, delivering at pace, communicating and influencing, and making effective decisions. Kind Regards. Dave.

[@damoizgod]

I doubt he'd know but they'll be the same behaviours as the ones from the application. You might not be directly told that the question is to do woth said behaviour though. Haven't done mine yet. I have until Monday at 1am.

[@snehaaswin6171]

Hi, Jac I got interviewed and got a good feedback, hope they will contact me soon. I'm confused on the ctc clearance , I've been here only 3 months, clearance is for 3 years. will I get rejected?

[@TheUnknownHurricane]

Great vid! thank you

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

You're welcome!

[@danielknowles4502]

Hi Jac, I have a brief question if you don't mind answering: In essence, you say that in your experience there has been a strength question, a situational question and a competency/past example question. I understand what a strength question will likely entail. However, I am wondering if the situational question and competency/past example question are basically behaviour questions asked in a particular way? Any info would be great.

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Yes, they are behaviour questions in a particular way. Check out my question bank tool in the description of this video. There's loads of examples of both for all behaviours.

[@danielknowles4502]

@@JacWilliamsVideo Got it! I'll take a look! Thanks for the swift reply and all the best in the meantime! :)

[@rachchappers2886]

Hi Jac, your videos are so helpful - thanks! Just a quick question, I'm about to apply for a role in the civil service and wanted to know if I have to complete the online application in one go or whether I can come back to it at a different time to complete? I only as so that I can ensure I leave myself enough time to complete it if it has to be done all in one go. Thanks again :)

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

You can go back and work on it :)

[@niamhgallagher9252]

Hey Jac, great video! I have an interview coming up and I am slightly confused. I have been given a 'people cluster, strategic cluster and performance cluster' of civil service core competencies or success profile elements. There are 9 all together including 'seeing the bigger picture, delivering at pace' ect. Are these behaviours?- how would you go about prepping? Thanks!

[@Emmas-travels-trips]

What do you think a situational based assessment is which includes communicating and influencing? It's what I have been given for a CS interview they said it will be sent 30 mins before interview ?

[@Tait1990]

Tell me about a time you communicated complexity and influenced. Talk me through how you communicated effectively and what the outcome was.

[@321kratos]

Anyone know how many interviews per position there is? Is it 10 interviews for one position? I was wondering since some jobs advertised on the Civil Service website has 165 positions, surely they aren't doing 1650 interviews...

[@krishnajoshi1771]

Hi jac Just wanna know after giving interview how much time they take for hiring You can share your timeline After your interview is done when you got a call to join?

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Umm varies but probably 1-2 weeks. Can take longer though like a month.

[@muhammadchaudhary6493]

Who makes the final decision on whether you get the job? Is it the vacancy holder or all panel members

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

All panel members will come together with their scores.

[@kamranhanif4000]

Hi Jac, for a video interview should I look into the camera when talking or into the computer screen?

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Mix it up between the two but look at the camera for eye contact as that’s important :)

[@danielbailey517]

Hi Jac - great video content as always - thank you. A question if you don’t mind. If tasked with delivering a 5 min presentation over Teams on the basis of ‘what interests you about working in [ ] on behalf of the UK/Government’ would you say that it is best to focus purely on an authentic, structured response simply explaining what interests you and why, or would it be expected to weave in evidence of previous experience in a STAR like way? Or is that mainly for interview questions? For example, If I said working at pace in a driven environment interests me - do I have to evidence this with a past example as I would with a normal competency based interview question? Thanks!

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Hi Daniel, If I had to guess, I would say that they would be looking for the more authentic presentation. To get a sense of why you're interested in the role. Maybe what you've done previously and what you think you can bring. Also, to see how you present and communicate. I would leave STAR for the interview questions. Hope that helps. Jac

[@adamlounici2775]

Hi Daniel, I am in a similar position as you now and I was wondering how the structure of the interview/presentation went?

[@danielbailey517]

@@adamlounici2775 Hi Adam. Great advice from Jac here. Go for the authentic structured presentation, leave STAR for interview q’s. I was successful at Assessment Centre stage. Thanks.

[@adamlounici2775]

@@danielbailey517 Hi Daniel, Thanks for that. The only reason why I’m worried about that is because my presentation question is about a time I used date or concepts to complete a project. So it sounded like they were asking for the star structure.

[@mhdhassan5423]

Hey Jack, appreciate the videos. Any chance you can make one about managing a quality service please? Thanks again

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Hey, I’ve never actually been asked that behaviour so I can’t comment on it unfortunately.

[@fatimahsnaats8004]

Hi jac..fantastic videos..I have an interview next week for probabtion officer role. I was wondering are the strengths going to assessed on the same behaviours, as on the applicant portal it says the interview will be blended which will based on competency based and strength based and says responses will be assessed on 3 behaviours. So are the strengths questions be likely to be related to those 3 behaviours or could they be random questions?

[@denise0707]

How did it go??

[@Pvm_enthuasist]

On teams I got an email saying I should look directly into the camera whilst answering questions, do you score for this in your panels? It feels more natural to look at the screen?

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

I don't think people would score for it but it's definitely better to look at the camera. Open the sticky notes app on your computer and put a sticky note right up top by the camera - then look at that :)

[@Pvm_enthuasist]

@@JacWilliamsVideo Thanks a lot of that tip, I will use it for my interview today!

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

@@Pvm_enthuasist Good luck!

[@Caittheegreat]

Hi Jac, did you apply for a HEO and then get promoted to SEO in 6 months?

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Started as a HEO, had two different HEO roles was promoted to SEO around 18 months later.

[@levitabusman]

@@JacWilliamsVideo How the fuck are you going for a HEO role? Isnt that high up on the list I cant even get a junior position, is this systematic racism? LEgit question because I have a Masters, or do I need to have a specialization in the military of something to work for civil service?

[@yusufadeoye5600]

Hi Tom, Do you use AI at some point

[@martinwaugh3878]

Got offered a job at HMRC. Thanks for these videos very helpful! How long is the recruitment process after the DBS request is completed ? Thanks!

[@sararamos7311]

Hi Martin! Congratulations on your job! I got a job offer for the Probation Service and they started the DBS and pre-employments checks 5 weeks ago. I havent heard from them so far.

[@deeptikadali6015]

Hi Martin I have an interview next week with HMRC for test analyst role. May I ask what role you applied for and how were the questions structured? Thanks.

[@martinwaugh3878]

@deeptikadali6015 good luck with it. My job is Assistant Management Accountant. Inter iew wasn't as bad it was like any job interview I've had. With the success profile I thought it would be daunting but it wasn't at all.

[@anu07ify]

​@@deeptikadali6015hi how was your interview can u share some tips n questions which asked

[@levitabusman]

@@martinwaugh3878 How are you lot getting these roles? Do you have a background in these areas already?

[@chelseaeveritt7765]

Hey Jac, any idea if the interview process is different for the Ministry of Defence? Thanks :)

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Hey Chelsea, I’m not sure but I think even if it’s not identical then there will be similarities :)

[@chelseaeveritt7765]

@@JacWilliamsVideo Thank you, I have an interview tomorrow on Microsoft Teams. (I also have covid 🤒) Trying to prepare as much as I can and I’m liking your videos! I’m hoping there won’t be too much difference as MoD is still part of the Civil Service. Thanks again!

[@al-anoud-123]

@@chelseaeveritt7765 Hey - how was the interview? What position did you apply for? I have interview with MOD today

[@matthewhollis250]

Morning Jac, I've got an interview later this week and I was considering a question they might ask me. I have a speech impediment which sometimes hinders me from verbally communicating. Would this disability be a good thing to bring up in a 'biggest weakness' question (saying that it is something I am working on etc etc), or should I avoid that and use something else?

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Hi Matthew, I’ve found the CS are very accommodating. You can can mention it (if you want to) at the start of the interview. There will be a question such as “is there anything we can do to help before we start the interview”. Good luck, let me know how it goes :)

[@mrj2875]

What CS grade are you currently Jac?

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

SEO

[@ilcorvo9559]

We just say SO in HMRC. I wonder why? Do we just like being different?

[@alexbradley7379]

hi, i have an online interview coming up for a border force officer position and was wondering will they ask questions based on the same behaviours in the application? so in my application there was delivering at pace, communicating & influencing, making effective decisions and team work. Will i be able to just use these examples again also ? Thanks

[@damoizgod]

You got a date to do it by yet?

[@alexbradley7379]

@@damoizgod monday 9th :) wbu ?

[@damoizgod]

@@alexbradley7379 yea mines by 1am on Monday. So basically gotta be done by tomorrow evening.

[@alexbradley7379]

@@damoizgod oh wait mine said 9th august 1am gmt so does that mean it has to be done tomorrow I was going to do mine Monday ?

[@damoizgod]

And yea you can use the same examples as your application. Good Luck 👍

[@kasiapetruk6730]

I must say 3 min and 4-5 min answers are long! Especially if the interview is below an hour long.

[@clair233]

Tysm

[@samyoe]

Should I wear a suit?

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Can do :) I usually wear a shirt and tie for virtual interviews.

[@Aamonnater]

great videos, thanks a lot!

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

My pleasure!