CIVIL SERVICE Interview Questions and Answers! (Civil Service Competency Framework)

Regardless of the type of Civil Service interview you have coming up, this interview training video by expert Richard McMunn, will teach you how to PASS with high-scoring answers.

There are a large number of Civil Service departments that require an ability to demonstrate the competencies and behavioural examples detailed within this training video.

Richard covers the following Civil Service Interview Questions & answers in this video:

Q. Why do you want to work for the Civil Service and what can you, specifically, bring to the role?
Q. What do you expect the best and the most challenging parts of working in the Civil Service will be?
Q. Explain a situation you were in where you had to juggle lots of tasks all at once?
Q. Tell me about a time when you had to influence a manager or supervisor?

The competency-based interview questions and answers are suitable for Civil Service interviews and also Civil Service Fast Stream candidates.
#CivilServiceInterview #CivilServiceInterviewQuestionsAndAnswers

Make sure you download a copy of Richard's 22 CIVIL SERVICE Interview Questions and Answers guide below and learn how to ace a Civil Service interview:

[platinummouse]

I've 2 decades experience interviewing for CS departments. Some hints: the first question is a warm up and DOESN'T get scored. Use it to get a flow. If you're asked why you want to work there, it will be about that department, not the civil service as a whole. Before interview, read the departmental statement. Search online for some news stories about that department.

Be ready to chat - don't deliver a load of empty boilerplate rubbish. It looks and sounds awful to a panel of human beings who have a long week ahead listening to this while their normal work piles up. Talk about your values and why these are in tune with public sector's and I mean explain it, don't just say my values are the same. Look at the sector the dept serves and why it appeals to you. Don't read out generic rubbish. We hear it every day.

When it comes to the actual competencies - seriously, you need answers that engage with evidence that a) match the competency b) cover as many competency indicators as possible and c) fully addresses the question. 3 paragraphs just won't do it. You can search online for the CS Competence Framework.

You need to ensure you have specific info in there. Don't say "I prioritised my tasks". Explain how you did that, how it aligned to the team objectives with an eye on the organisational goals.

Be aware, each competency question has several follow ups, so if you made your initial answer up, be prepared to spin a web of lies. It's a stupid road to go down. Follow ups are where the good candidates set themselves apart, start a conversation and prove their worth -: "Ok, tell us in more detail about those conflicting priorities and how you balanced these, who did you speak to to inform/consult, what would you do differently, did you make any mistakes and learn, did you produce recommendations, did you ask for feedback, what considerations fed into your written report, what tools did you develop, how would you describe your impact, how did you feel, did you identify and share best practice, how did you maintain resilience etc etc.

Be real. Be friendly and engaging. For God's sake, don't turn up having learnt a script.

Panels want candidates to do well and they don't want to be bored. I have interviewed 10 days consecutively at times. It is mind numbing. Bring you to the interview, talk about real events, start a conversation like you would if you were telling friends about something you did in work. If you can relax and remember you're talking to actual people you'll do much better.

[XHABX]

Hi all I had my pre recorded interview this week. Questions asked probably won’t be the same - or it will be be similar just worded differently so you won’t get these I’m just sharing what I remembered being asked. Questions

Communicating & influence

How would you deal with a customer that was not happy with the outcome of a decision


Give an example of when you adapted your communication style and method

Quality of service
What information did you gather to give feedback to someone

During a difficult situation what did you do to help colleague/customer


Effective decisions
Explain a time when you had to make a decision

Explain your approach to making a decision

Hope this helps someone.

[teslafirechallenge]

Thank You so much for this video. God Bless you and all the BEST.

[ghengisthegreat]

The civil service no longer uses competency questions. It doesn't look at how you have performed in the past, but tries to determine how you are likely to perform in the future within the role. Strength based interviews, which are used by the civil service today are vastly different from how things used to be. You'll get a question, and will have a set time to answer, no follow up or prompting if you appear to flounder, and you maybe cut off mid answer when your time on that question has ended. They will be looking at how you answer, your body language, your expression and hand gesturing. They are trying to determine whether or not your interests and natural strengths are a match for the role you're applying for. None of the questions you've detailed will be asked these days, you are more likely to be asked: tell us about a really good day you experienced recently; When did you last achieve something you're really proud of?' What energises you?; What do you like to do in your spare time?

[joyce]

Thank you for this, it was very useful. Just got accepted by the Ministry of Justice.

[Iphoenix]

This was so useful and well presented. Thank you for this.

[laurav.]

Hi Richard. I just subscribed + purchased the civil service interview Q&A. I would also need help regarding weaknesses and strengths - basically, the best possible answers covering this particular area. Thank you

[Courtneyshole]

I’ve got into the civil service I can’t believe it I was in the public sector for over a decade and got laid off passed the interview for all this I am made up

[mustafarajabali]

Hi Richard. I found your videos really useful. As the Civil Service (DWP) is currently recruiting for EO Work Coaches using online interviews, where you have to record your answers to prerecorded questions. Any advice on the type of questions that might come up and possible answers to give. Also, I personally have to do an online recorded interview for the Border Force for an apprenticeship role, any pointers that you can give me. Thanks

[MariaM_Music]

Hi, just wanted to say a huge thank you for everything you're doing here. It's actually helped me a lot with my CS interviews. The first one I did before discovering your channel was horrendous... did have one question though: I don't know if you'd be able to answer this, but I had a Civil service interview just a little over two weeks ago which went really well, but I have yet to hear back from them. Is this normal? As someone who has only worked In the private sector so far this seems like an awfully long wait. When I asked at the end how long it would take, they said a week at least, but could be longer. How long does it usually take to hear back from them? Thank you!

[philipegar]

Thanks Richard but I don't see any explanation of the methodology behind the answers. For example, you have provided specific questions and specific answers but no reasoning as to how you got there or phrased them as you did. What would be v helpful would be: "expect questions like {X, Y}; the interviewer is looking for this, and so make sure you say this, try to avoid that" etc etc

[papskhan]

I am going to face interview in a university next month.. it is related to HRM .. can i get some questions and answers regarding this relevant area

[omareld]

Hi Richard. Is the package suitable for a Civil service admin apprenticeship? I haven't been offered an interview yet but I want to be ready asap

[KimI-ibji]

Wow wish I saw this months ago before I had my interview with the Civil Sevice.

[ToastediPod]

Have you had specific experience and feedback from people within the civil service / successful applicants in order to formulate these responses?

[philipcooper]

Some of these answers are too generic and will not score well at interview. Answers have to be specific about a task that has been completed using the STAR technique.

[unbothered]

Lol...Go to CS Jobs for a wealth of resources. Success profiles is key indicators to to the competency questions. You really can't wing it....

[kwasia]

Do you have an email. I would like some help. Please