Civil Service Live

Employment tips from the Civil Service Commissioners

This content is provided by Whitehall and Westminster World

Delegate asking question Ambitious public servants received nuggets of career advice from Civil Service Commissioners at Civil Service Live, including First Commissioner Janet Paraskeva.

Paraskeva, along with fellow Commissioners Dame Alexandra Burslem and John MacAuslan, dispensed ten useful tips for advancement towards the senior Civil Service while recounting experience from their own personal experience.

The Commissioners - who regulate best practice in Civil Service recruitment - asked delegates to name the worst questions they had ever been asked in job interviews.

One bewildered public servant told of being asked why crows were black.

“Because seagulls are white,“ he replied logically, and got the job.

But all too often, Paraskeva said, female candidates in particular were still asked inappropriate questions about their personal lives and family situations and warned delegates to “be prepared for bad behaviour“.

“People should not be asking questions about your personal circumstances, your height, your colour, your gender, your sexuality or any of that but yet some panel members still stray into those areas so be prepared to deal with the most difficult questions that you know shouldn't be asked,“ the First Commissioner said.

All Commissioners stressed the importance of pitching applications at the correct level, balancing ambition with realism.

“There is no good going for a job that declares it needs international experience if you have none“

Janet Paraskeva

“Have you gone a) for the job that you want? b) That you're going to be good at? c) That you can present in a fashion that makes people think you are going to be able to that job.“

Burslem stressed the importance of carefully addressing the job specification advertised in a written, avoiding a “rehashing“ the information contained in the CV.

The former vice-chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University also told delegates to “think themselves“ into prospective positions in order to convince employers of their ability to meet the challenges of the new role.

“The interview panel is looking for the job it wants you to do rather than the jobs that you've done, you therefore have to think yourself into the job,“ Burslem said.

“It's surprising how often people are very persuasive about the jobs that they've done but They haven't thought themselves into a wider role with management and leadership responsibilities,“ she added.

Engaging with interviewers, admitting past mistakes and rigorously researching the culture of a new organisation were among the many recommendations of the Commissioners.

Having dispensed a bagful of suggestions, Paraskeva expressed gratification at the enthusiasm of delegates and “standing room only“ attendance.