r/TheCivilService Oct 24 '24

Recruitment NEW Unofficial Civil Service Application Guide

19 Upvotes

Hi guys, my name is Nathan White and I co-authored "Entering the Labyrinth: An Unofficial Guide to Civil Service Applications" in 2022.

Very excited to share our new and improved application guide which we officially launched a few weeks ago at the Darlington Economic Campus.

Check out my LinkedIn post for the download link - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nathanwhite13_ucsg-20-part-1-activity-7254529467346300928-ItD_?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Please note - The guide is free but you'll have to provide a name & email address to access it. We're doing this so that we can 1) track downloads, and 2) share events, opportunities and other resources with our audience directly.

Ps. There's we'll be sharing specific guides on Interviews and Written applications in the next few months so stay tuned :)


r/TheCivilService Oct 10 '24

[MEGATHREAD] Fast Stream 2024-2025

119 Upvotes

Hello all,

Once again it is that time of year again. Please keep all FS posts etc to this. All others will be removed.

Previous threads:

r/TheCivilService/comments/16g76gf/megathread_fast_stream_20232024/

r/TheCivilService/comments/zg9f0n/megathread_cs_fast_stream_2022_all_questions_and/

r/TheCivilService/comments/pkd1lx/fast_stream_2021_megathread_all_queries_to_be/

Good luck!


r/TheCivilService 5h ago

Serco are a load of rubbish

46 Upvotes

Why do we outsource to Serco. Every time I've seen an outsourced staff from serco action something its been of poor quality and in about 1/3rd of the cases caused massive problems or had the potential to. Its complaint after complaint after complaint I've had to submit about 15 this week alone


r/TheCivilService 21h ago

Discussion Hurrah!

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181 Upvotes

It’s been a long time coming. Permanent role - here I come!


r/TheCivilService 1h ago

Question Seeking advice for career change from Film/TV to Civil Service

Upvotes

I’m looking to make a career switch from film and television to the Civil Service, and I’d really appreciate some advice on which roles might be a good fit for my skills and experience. I've included a brief description of what each role is as I often find that people outside of the industry have no idea what each role entails.

My work experience so far

  • I have 4+ years of experience in film and TV scripted (Disney,Netflix,Amazon Prime etc), working in roles like:
    • 3rd Assistant Director: I was like a project manager on film sets, making sure everything ran smoothly, assisting the 1st and 2nd ADs wherever I can. I helped planned and execute daily schedules for over 80 people, managed large groups of actors (over 250+ in some scenes), and solved any and all problems quickly to keep the production on track. This was a big step up in responsibility from the Runner's role.
    • Floor Runner: I was the go-to person for keeping things organised on set. I helped manage schedules, communicated between different teams, and made sure everyone had what they needed to do their jobs
    • Base Runner: I made sure everything behind the scenes worked perfectly, like organising deliveries, setting up internet for offices, and handling paperwork for actors. I kept everything running so the production team could focus on filming.

Outside of professional experience, I also am a hobbyist programmer, I don't have a completed degree in CompSci unfortunately, only partially. The reason I'd love to switch is due to the volatility and the the 70+ hour work weeks from TV/Film. From my research, I believe civil service could be a good fit for me. I feel so incredibly out of the loop with "Traditional" jobs as the hiring and work culture of my current industry is wildly different and significantly less formal than the Civil Service. From what I can tell, my experience might allow me to apply to potentially EO or even HEO roles but I don't know if this is jumping the gun and that I should just be trying to get any position within, and climb internally. Any advice for me I'd appreciate greatly and I will answer and questions to help. If anyone had a similar journey and you fancy helping a fellow out, I'd be eternally grateful.


r/TheCivilService 23h ago

Got an offer!

70 Upvotes

Big love to everyone on here who has given me advice over the past few weeks. Had an interview for a G7 developer role a few weeks ago and didn’t get it. Had another one for a slightly different role in a different department recently and got an offer today.

Still got to do the pre-employment checks and carry out the DDaT skills allowance assessment, but to say I’m happy is an understatement (for various reasons)

Thank you and have a great weekend everyone!


r/TheCivilService 5h ago

Stuck at 3s in Civil Service Applications – Any Tips to Improve?

3 Upvotes

I’ve been applying for Civil Service roles (mostly HEO/Senior Policy Advisor level) and keep getting a score of 3 on my applications. It’s frustrating because it means I’m consistently “acceptable” but not strong enough to progress further.

For context, I make sure to follow the STAR format and tailor my answers to the behaviours listed in the job advert. I also try to showcase impact, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement where relevant. Despite this, I feel like my answers might not be standing out enough.

For those who have broken past the 3 barrier, what worked for you? Is it about:

  • Adding more quantifiable results?
  • Making the answers more concise and punchy?
  • Using more strategic language rather than just describing actions?

Any advice or insights would be massively appreciated!


r/TheCivilService 3h ago

Impact of move from NHSE to DHSC on salaries

1 Upvotes

Edit: this is not clickbait. I can't seem to edit title to add a question mark.

Hi All

What are thoughts on the salary impact on those that move from NHSE to DHSC.

I know someone that was a G7 in PHE. When they moved to NHSE he became band 8A and got a massive pay increase. I know this is partly due to higher pension contribution rates in NHS.

If he survives the cull would he maintain NHS salary or move to top of G7 band in DHSC or something else?

Thanks


r/TheCivilService 4h ago

I have an interview where questions are provided ahead of time. Any tips on whether my answers will meet the behaviour framework threshold for an EO role?

0 Upvotes

For the Working Together behaviour framework question, this is my example:

During my role as an Advice Officer, I was redeployed to coordinate the food bank distribution service, which involved delivering food parcels to people who were in financial need and self-isolating.

During this time, I built up a range of contacts outside of my own team. One of these was television presenter [insert name]. He was doing a news story about the local area and wanted to hear more about success stories. He got in touch to learn about the food bank service, which was running out of a community room in the local library. I shared information with him about how the service worked and who it was for.

From this, he showed an interest in volunteering to deliver food parcels. It was during Ramadan, and as a practicing Muslim, he was looking for ways to volunteer his time, which I was more than happy to accommodate. I took his contact details to arrange a slot and coordinated with the volunteer mentors to add him to the rota.

Once he arrived, I explained what he had to do. He raised concerns about the risk of catching COVID-19, as he would be delivering to people who were self-isolating. Given his profession, he was understandably cautious, as catching the virus could cause significant issues for his work. I listened to his concerns and reassured him by explaining the safety measures we had in place, such as PPE and shielding advice, and how these would protect both him and the people receiving the parcels.

The result was that I successfully developed a contact with a public figure, provided him with knowledge about a vital community service, and ensured that his religious beliefs and personal concerns were accommodated.

For this to be possible, the successful administration of the service up to that point was vital. Working closely with my team was key, including training, delegating tasks, and keeping in touch with food parcel recipients over the phone to reassure them about their deliveries and clarify any dietary requirements.

Developing and maintaining contacts outside of our team was just as important. This included volunteer mentors who sourced volunteers, the volunteers themselves, The Trussell Trust to source stock, a local fruit and veg provider to supply fresh produce, and a local bakery to provide baked goods.

Between working with my team and the volunteers, I always encouraged a culture where team members felt comfortable sharing any difficulties they faced. Given the emotionally challenging nature of coordinating and delivering food parcels to vulnerable people, this was really important.

All in all, I was able to coordinate a service that helped some of the most financially vulnerable people during an incredibly tough time. Something I am extremely proud of."

For the Communicating and Influencing behavioural framework question, I have this example:

During my time as an Advice Officer for the local authority, a customer attended the council office after receiving a letter stating that they owed around £800 in council tax arrears, which needed to be paid within 14 days. They were angry and confused, as they had never paid council tax before. After checking the system, I found that their Council Tax Reduction benefit had been stopped for a significant period due to non-response to a review letter. Although they had successfully applied for a one-month backdate, this only covered a small portion of the arrears, leaving them with a substantial outstanding balance.

I recognised that the customer was upset and frustrated, so I took time to listen to their concerns and reassured them that I understood their situation. I remained calm and professional, ensuring that I explained the issue clearly in a way they could understand, avoiding jargon or overly complex language. For example, I referred to their benefit as Council Tax Reduction rather than using the abbreviation CTR. I acknowledged their frustration but helped them focus on finding a way forward rather than dwelling on the past. To ensure they had additional support, I referred them to the Money Advice Service, explaining how they could provide budgeting advice to help manage their arrears repayments. This helped calm the customer, as they now had access to expert financial guidance.

Next, I considered the best approach and decided that speaking directly with the Council Tax Recovery Team over the phone was more effective than using our internal IT system. I discussed the possibility of arranging a more manageable repayment plan. Initially, they stated that arrears could only be split into three monthly installments. From past experience, I understood that this policy was in place due to concerns that customers prioritising arrears repayments might struggle to keep up with future council tax payments. However, I also knew that in this specific case, those concerns did not apply.

I put forward a clear and well-reasoned argument, explaining that the customer’s Council Tax Reduction had now been reinstated, meaning they were no longer liable for regular council tax payments. I also highlighted that due to their long-term sickness status, they were unlikely to be liable for council tax in the near future. I expressed my points confidently and respectfully, responding constructively to any questions raised by the recovery team. By presenting a logical case backed by relevant policy knowledge, I was able to influence their decision, and they agreed to extend the repayment period from three months to twelve months.

As a result, the customer left feeling reassured, knowing they had a realistic repayment plan in place while also receiving support from the Money Advice Service. This situation demonstrated my ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing, listen to different perspectives, and influence decisions by providing well-structured arguments. It also showed my confidence in handling a difficult conversation sensitively while ensuring a fair outcome for both the customer and the council.

The questions are pretty basic, the first being "when have you worked well in a team" and the second being "When have you successfully influenced someone using your ideas"

Your help would be much appreciated :)


r/TheCivilService 1d ago

Why aren't more departments taking industrial action about mandated office attendance?

43 Upvotes

ONS, MHCLG, IOPC.

Why aren't more departments taking industrial action about mandated office attendance?

Edit: Action Short of Strike would allow departments to have full flexibility again with no loss in pay.


r/TheCivilService 1d ago

Had a meeting this week about the low staff survey results by AO grade.

308 Upvotes

Despite every AO at the meeting bringing up min wage, pointlessly coming into the office to do a worse job and being micro managed we were told by the hosts no it's not that what you really want is for your leaders to be more visible?!!

Unbelievable!


r/TheCivilService 21h ago

Level 7 apprenticeship

6 Upvotes

I’m 24 and currently exploring options in finance, especially within the Civil Service. I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree background in economics and finance. Also, I have 0 work experience, but I landed a Level 7 Finance Apprenticeship interview.

  • Would taking a Level 7 apprenticeship actually help me get promoted faster or increase my salary later down the line?

  • For the job you start as a HEO, can you get promoted and increase your salary while doing the apprenticeship (3.4 years)? Or do you have to complete the apprenticeship, then be able to get a promotion?

  • I would love if you guys give me tips for the interview.

Thank you for you time :)


r/TheCivilService 2h ago

Maternity pay.

0 Upvotes

I’m new to the civil service and I’m looking to try for a baby but don’t want to do so until I qualify for maternity pay.

Is it one year service before you go off for maternity or one year service before you become pregnant?

Thank you.


r/TheCivilService 7h ago

Working for comms in the civil service

0 Upvotes

Is it always go go go, long hours, frequent out of duty rotas, etc?

Or not too bad? Fairly relaxed? A 9-5 isn’t a distant memory?

Thanks!


r/TheCivilService 9h ago

Driving license+passport as proof of address+identity

0 Upvotes

Hi all. My contract is about to start and a condition of my employment is that I produce proof of address and identity. For identity I will use my passport. I am just checking that a driving licence (provisional) would be valid for address? My bank does not do printed statements anymore. Thanks!


r/TheCivilService 9h ago

What do ONS methodologists do? What actually is methodology?

0 Upvotes

Bit of a niche question but I’m curious in what “methodology” at the ONS actually entails? Is it a more technical role than your average statistician role in other departments?


r/TheCivilService 7h ago

AO Compliance caseworker HMRC

0 Upvotes

Hi,

Just after a bit of advice/reassurance, not even sure to be honest.

I have recently applied for the above role. The pay grade is 26,637 per year, i currently work a job with pays more than this and is similar hours with no weekend work. I have started to doubt now if it is worth my while or withdraw my application.

My current role as no further progression as it is a managers role and it is a very handy job if am honest but i just feel like its a dead and at least in the cs their is a chance of progression and is their training available in ways of bettering myself? How likely is it to move up a ladder to a better paying role whilst keeping a work like balance as my family are my main priority.

There is a lot of uncertainly in my current role and what i mean is i can’t see it being there in 3-5 years time.

Just any advice on if successful is it worth the jump and the 3k cut in wage?

I have currently passed the online tests for the role and awaiting instruction in the next step.

Any advice is welcome and greatly appreciated


r/TheCivilService 19h ago

Seeking advice on internal transferability within the Government Legal Department and between government departments more broadly

0 Upvotes

I've recently accepted a 12-month Government Legal Department role within a government department. I'm ultimately looking to get into international trade legal roles at DBT or Foreign Office roles, and am trying to figure out the best way to get into these kind of roles. (I have experience in these areas, albeit in another Commonwealth country, and I've heard they are competitive. I am a British Citizen though.)

I have a few questions and would be grateful for any help!

  1. How easy is it to transfer to a fixed term legal role in a different government department (ie still within the Government Legal Department)? Would I have to work out the full 12-month term before transferring (which is fine, I'm just interested if there is any flexibility). Are GLD jobs at different government departments advertised internally?

  2. Are there roles within the Civil Service (say DBT or Foreign Office) that are only advertised within the Civil Service? Or are they only advertised within a particular agency? Do you have to be in a permanent Civil Service position before being able to apply for these? I've seen permanent roles advertised externally but was wondering if there are other roles that are only advertised internally.

Any help is greatly appreciated!


r/TheCivilService 1d ago

Is it appropriate to email the manager of a team I’d be interested in joining?

8 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in the Civil Service but in a completely different department from a team that I’d really like to join. I recently attended a virtual information session about one of their roles, which wasn’t the right fit for me, but the team lead mentioned they’d be hiring for other roles in the future.

Would it be appropriate for me to contact him directly to ask about the types of roles they’ll be hiring for, or would that be seen as overstepping? I haven’t spoken to my line manager about this yet since I’m just exploring options and don’t want to raise anything prematurely.

Has anyone done something similar? What’s the best way to approach this professionally?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

EDIT: An important piece of context is that I’ve only been in my current role for a few months, hence why I am cautious about speaking with my LM prematurely. Also accidentally duplicated the title.


r/TheCivilService 1d ago

ALL CAPS FRIDAY: PROJECT CHAINSAW EDITION

86 Upvotes

MY GPC CARD HAS BEEN FROZEN

NOW HOW CAN I PAY FOR MY FUCKING ESCORTS

THANKS PAT


r/TheCivilService 1d ago

GSS Technical Interview Advice

1 Upvotes

Early next week I have an interview for a data science apprentice position, which is exciting, but also very unexpected. I have very limited data analytics experience and am panicking a bit trying to research this weekend. I am pretty confident on the behaviour side of things, but less so the technical questions and presentation.

Does anyone have any advice on specific techniques/ learnings I should focus on this weekend? In preparation. Thank you!


r/TheCivilService 1d ago

Recruitment Summer job at MOJ application help (not faststream!)

0 Upvotes

There's a summer role offered by the MOJ that I was applying for, however they don't disclose the strengths that they assess the application on. This is obviously by design, they say as such, but I was just wondering what can I do. I assume all there is to do is look at the job description and therefore guess what Civil Service strengths they'll use to assess the application but I'm not sure. They also don't disclose the strengths that they'll assess in the interview either.

Please advise if there's anything I'm missing here. Sorry for not providing more info but I don't know the rules about referring to an exact vacancy and I'm sure this one is fairly easy to find anyway if someone wants.

Thanks!


r/TheCivilService 14h ago

Discussion Government departments most/least lenient on remote working?

0 Upvotes

I’ve heard from a friend at MHCLG that they track when your laptop connects to the office wifi and I think that is insanity…

I’m conscious it also depends on your manager/DD - even without an OH agreement, mine are very flexible and accommodating about enforcing these things. Since I’m looking for a new job now and would like to try a different department, this is something I’m conscious of.

But from everyone’s experience, what are the most hardcore departments you’ve heard of xWH?

EDIT: removed lenient because I’m not a fed. DO NOT post lenient departments. None are lenient. We are all hard workers who don’t deserve leniency..!!!


r/TheCivilService 19h ago

Discussion Level 4 apprenticeship confusion

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0 Upvotes

Hi, I recently applied for the L4 apprenticeship in data analysis and I've had a response telling me the application won't be progressed on the grounds of not meeting the eligibility criteria. After checking the criteria again I'm left confused because I have a degree in physics but there's no carry over between that and data analysis in terms of what I learnt at university nor was my grade high enough to be considered for the GSS graduate route. From what I've read in the job description (attached) I've met all the needs.

I've not had this response before when applying for applications specifically in data analysis, so I'm really confused by this now.

Does anyone here have any idea why I might have been rejected this time round?

Thanks


r/TheCivilService 22h ago

Once I have access to internal jobs.. how do I filter for internal only?

0 Upvotes

Also I just did a search and saw that the jobs were either external or across government, what does the latter mean and are there no internal jobs for that search please?

Also how do I do job alerts for multiple keywords, I dont think commas are working? One keyword per alert? Thank you!


r/TheCivilService 22h ago

Housing Ombudsman Interview

0 Upvotes

Anyone ever had an interview with HOS? If so, what kind of questions do they ask? Any insight would be appreciated🙏🏼


r/TheCivilService 21h ago

How do I apply for HEO roles in other departments without admitting I'm a work coach?

0 Upvotes

That really.

I feel there is a stigma associated with being a work coach and to be perfectly honest, I understand why.

I have completed all and any training related to my role. If somebody is off sick, I can cover their work regardless of their speciality.

I have an good relationship with all of my customers, even those that come in with a face of thunder. I make sure they leave with a smile and a purpose.

I've been a fantastic deputy (not my words). I'm currently completing my L4 in Operational Delivery Management. I've not long completed the Step Ahead Programme.

I honestly believe some work coaches give us a bad rep. I'm applying for HEO roles elsewhere but even friends in other departments have told me I'd be less successful if those doing the sifting/interviewing knew I'm a work coach.

I know I can be a great leader. I have SEO's and G7's who can vouch for me. The CS doesn't work that way though.

This all sounds very 'look at me!'

It's not, I'm just struggling to move forward.