Civil Service Success Profiles: behaviours, examples and interview tips
Most UK Civil Service jobs are recruited using Success Profiles. Once you understand how they work, applications and interviews become far more predictable. Here's what each part means and how to prepare.
What are Success Profiles?
Success Profiles is the framework the Civil Service uses to assess candidates. Instead of testing every applicant against the same list, each job advert picks the elements that matter for that role. There are five elements:
| Element | What it means | How it's usually assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Behaviours | The actions and activities that lead to effective performance in the job | Application statements and interview questions, answered with real examples |
| Strengths | The things you regularly do well and that motivate you | Short interview questions about what you enjoy and how you work |
| Ability | Your aptitude or potential to perform to the required standard | Online tests, such as verbal or numerical reasoning |
| Experience | Knowledge or mastery of an activity or subject, gained by doing it | Your CV, personal statement and interview |
| Technical | Specific professional skills or qualifications the job needs | Qualifications, a technical test or technical interview questions |
Read the advert carefully. It tells you exactly which elements, and which behaviours, will be assessed at each stage. You won't be assessed on all of them.
The nine Civil Service behaviours
Each behaviour is described at levels that match the grade of the job, so the evidence expected of a manager is different from that of an entry-level role. Here's what each one is about, with a typical question.
- Seeing the Big PictureUnderstanding how your work fits with wider priorities, and keeping up to date with issues that affect it. Typical question: "Tell me about a time you made sure your work supported wider organisational goals."
- Changing and ImprovingLooking for ways to improve services, being open to new ideas and taking managed risks. Typical question: "Give an example of when you suggested or made an improvement to how something was done."
- Making Effective DecisionsUsing evidence to make sound, well-reasoned decisions, considering the impact and consulting others where needed. Typical question: "Tell me about a decision you made using evidence from different sources."
- LeadershipBeing visible, inspiring and supporting people, and valuing diversity and inclusion. At junior grades this is about taking ownership and setting a good example. Typical question: "Describe a time you supported or motivated others to achieve a goal."
- Communicating and InfluencingCommunicating clearly and adapting your style to your audience, and influencing others with confidence. Typical question: "Give an example of when you explained something complex to someone without your expertise."
- Working TogetherBuilding positive relationships, sharing information and supporting colleagues, including outside your own team. Typical question: "Tell me about a time you worked with others to achieve a shared aim."
- Developing Self and OthersFocusing on learning and development, for yourself and the people around you. Typical question: "Describe how you have developed your own skills, or helped someone else develop theirs."
- Managing a Quality ServiceDelivering a high-quality, efficient service that meets customers' needs, and planning and managing work well. Typical question: "Tell me about a time you improved the service you provided to a customer or user."
- Delivering at PaceTaking responsibility for delivering results on time and to a high standard, and staying focused under pressure. Typical question: "Give an example of when you delivered work to a tight deadline."
How to write a behaviour statement
Many applications ask for a short written example for each behaviour, often limited to around 250 words. Always check the word limit in the advert. Use the STAR method and keep the Situation brief so most of your words go on your Action.
Behaviour questions at interview
At interview, you'll usually be asked to give an example for each behaviour listed in the advert, often followed by probing questions such as "What was your role specifically?" or "What would you do differently?". You can use the same examples as your application, but have a second example ready in case they ask for another, and expect to go into more detail than you could in writing.
Strength-based questions
Strength questions are different. They're short and quick, such as "What do you enjoy doing most?", "How do you feel when a plan changes at the last minute?" or "Do you prefer starting things or finishing them?". They assess what energises you and how you naturally work, so they don't need STAR examples.
You can't script these, but you can prepare by reflecting honestly on the work you enjoy, the tasks that drain you and how you prefer to work. Answer naturally and with energy, and keep answers to a minute or so.
How to prepare
- List the behaviours and the grade from the advert, and read the descriptions for that level in the Civil Service behaviours guide.
- Find two examples for each behaviour from work, volunteering or other activities.
- Write each as a STAR example that fits the word limit for the application.
- Practise saying them out loud for interview, at about two minutes each, and prepare for follow-up questions.
- Reflect on your strengths so you can answer strength questions quickly and honestly.
Frequently asked questions
What are the five elements of Civil Service Success Profiles?
Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical. Each job advert chooses which elements it will assess, so you won't be tested on all five for every role.
How many Civil Service behaviours are there?
There are nine: Seeing the Big Picture, Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, Developing Self and Others, Managing a Quality Service, and Delivering at Pace. Each job assesses a selection of them.
How long should a Civil Service behaviour statement be?
Check the job advert. Limits of around 250 words are common. Use the STAR method and spend most of your words on what you personally did.
Can I use examples from outside work?
Yes. The Civil Service says examples can come from work, volunteering or hobbies, as long as they show the behaviour being assessed.
Can I prepare for strength questions?
You can't script them, but you can prepare by thinking about what you enjoy, what you're naturally good at and how you prefer to work, so you can answer honestly and quickly.