UK Civil Service interview guide
How Civil Service interviews work under Success Profiles: the five elements, the nine behaviours, strength questions and how to prepare.
About Success Profiles
The Civil Service assesses candidates using Success Profiles, which set out what you'll need to show to succeed in a role. There are five elements, and not every role uses all of them, so read the job advert carefully to see which apply.1
- Behaviours. The actions and activities that lead to effective performance.
- Strengths. The things you do regularly, do well and that motivate you.
- Ability. Your aptitude or potential to perform to the standard needed.
- Experience. Knowledge or mastery gained through doing.
- Technical. Specific professional skills, knowledge or qualifications.
The process
As Civil Service Careers describes it.3
- Application and sift
Your application is assessed against the requirements in the job advert.
- Online testsSome roles
Tests that assess your abilities in certain situations.
- Assessment and interview
Some roles need only an interview, a presentation, a test or an assessment centre. Others need all of them. At interview, you'll describe specific times you've shown a skill or behaviour.1
- Feedback
Ask for feedback whatever the outcome. The Civil Service encourages it.
The nine behaviours
Each one is set at a level that matches the grade, from Administrative Assistant up to Director General.2
- Seeing the big picture. How your role supports wider objectives.
- Changing and improving. Finding chances to create effective change.
- Making effective decisions. Using evidence and knowledge to decide and advise.
- Leadership. Showing pride and passion for public service.
- Communicating and influencing. Clarity, integrity and enthusiasm.
- Working together. Effective partnerships inside and outside your team.
- Developing self and others. Continuous learning.
- Managing a quality service. Professional excellence and efficiency.
- Delivering at pace. Timely, quality results with focus and drive.
Questions to expect
Based on the nine behaviours and how strengths are defined.
Behaviour questions
Tell me about a time you delivered something important to a tight deadline. (Delivering at pace)
Describe a time you used evidence to make a difficult decision. (Making effective decisions)
Tell me about a time you worked with another team to deliver a shared goal. (Working together)
Tell me about a process you improved. What changed? (Changing and improving)
Strength questions
What kind of work energises you?
How do you feel when plans change at the last minute?
How to prepare
- Start from the advert. It tells you which elements and behaviours you'll be assessed on.
- Prepare one STAR example per behaviour. Situation, task, what you did and the result.1
- Pitch it at the right level. Check what each behaviour looks like at the grade you're applying for.2
- Answer strength questions naturally. They're about what you enjoy and do well, so honest, specific answers work best.
- Ask for feedback. Whatever the outcome, it helps with the next application.3
Quick answers
What are Civil Service Success Profiles?
The framework the Civil Service uses to assess candidates. It has five elements: behaviours, strengths, ability, experience and technical. Each role uses some or all of them.
What are the nine Civil Service behaviours?
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.
Should I use the STAR method in a Civil Service interview?
Yes. The official guidance recommends STAR: set the scene, explain what you did and describe the outcome.1, 2
Sources
- Success Profiles: candidate overviewGOV.UK · Updated 29 Jan 2025
- Success Profiles: Civil Service behavioursGOV.UK · Updated 29 Jan 2025
- How to applyCivil Service Careers
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