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 👍
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 :)
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 :)
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
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!
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?
@@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.
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.
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!
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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 :)
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?
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...
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!
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.
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.
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!
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 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.
@@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.
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?
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?
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 ?
@@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?
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?
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 :)
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?
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 :)
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.
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.
@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.
@@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!
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
