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Your personal statement

The purpose of a personal statement is to showcase your relevant skills and experience against the job requirements.  The statement is your opportunity to give examples of how you fit the requirements of the job.  When writing a personal statement it is important that you:

• Read the job specification so you are clear about the job requirements.
• Outline the skills and experience that you have that are relevant to the job and use examples to help demonstrate this.   Wherever possible include specific facts and figures that demonstrate the tangible results of your work.
• Keep to the word limit. If your statement is too brief it will not provide the required depth of detail and evidence to be assessed fully. 
• Proofread your statement before submitting it to make sure it is clear, easy to read and relevant.

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For some jobs, you will be asked to provide a CV (curriculum vitae) as part of your application. Here you can find information on how to write the best CV.

Demonstrating behaviours

Behaviours are the things that people do that result in effective performance. Read more about the behaviours we use to assess you.

Assessments and interviews

Read about the different kinds of assessments you might be asked to do, after you’ve submitted an application form.

The Civil Service recruits using Success Profiles. This means that for every role, we consider what you’ll need to demonstrate to be successful. 

Delivering at Pace – How to Write a 250 Word Statement For a Civil Service Application

• Updated January 15, 2024
• Published September 29, 2023

In the Civil Service, delivering at pace is paramount. This expectation extends not only to your daily tasks but also to the initial steps of your Civil Service journey — the application.

One of the essential elements of this application is the 250-word statement, a compact yet powerful testament to your suitability for the role. Crafting a concise and impactful statement requires a blend of self-awareness, clarity, and strategy.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the nuances of condensing your experiences, skills, and aspirations into a statement that resonates with the ethos of the Civil Service. Whether you’re a seasoned applicant or taking your first steps into this realm, this guide is designed to set you on the path to application success.

What Does Delivering at Pace Mean in Civil Service?

“Delivering at Pace” within the Civil Service context is a multifaceted attribute. It signifies not just the capacity to execute tasks swiftly but to do so with purpose, clarity, and precision. The challenges within the Civil Service, ranging from policy implementations to public engagement, often come with tight timelines.

Meeting these demands without sacrificing quality is essential. As you pen down your 250-word statement, it becomes crucial to showcase this ability. It’s not just about narrating instances where you were quick but emphasizing situations where your swiftness led to impactful, lasting outcomes.

Showcasing Delivering at Pace in Your 250-Word Personal Statement

In writing your 250-word statement, the balance between speed and diligence should shine through. It’s your canvas to paint a picture where you’ve prioritized tasks, driven teams, or channeled resources effectively under time constraints. Yet, the narrative should also reflect attention to detail, ensuring that in the bid to be prompt, thoroughness wasn’t left behind.

Concrete examples, framed using methods like the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result), can make your statement both compelling and demonstrative of your ability to deliver at pace.

Beyond just ticking boxes, consistently delivering at pace fosters trust. It sends a message that you’re reliable, a vital trait in the Civil Service. When crafting your statement, it’s beneficial to touch upon the broader impacts of your paced decisions – be it team morale, project success, or reinforcing public trust. Such a holistic view not only bolsters your statement but also emphasizes your deep understanding of the cascading effects of timely, quality-driven actions in public service.

• Changing & Improving – How to Write a 250-Word Statement For a Civil Service Application
• Leadership – How to Write a 250-word Statement For a Civil Service Application
• Communicating & Influencing – How to Write a 250-Word Statement For a Civil Service Application
• Making Effective Decisions – How to Write a 250-Word Statement For a Civil Service Application

How to Structure a 250-word Personal Statement?

If you’re looking to join the Civil Service, you know that every part of the application is important. The 250-word personal statement might seem short, but it’s a golden opportunity for you to show off your skills and experiences. One key thing the Civil Service looks out for is your ability to get things done quickly and efficiently – that’s what ‘ delivering at pace ‘ means.

Now, how do you show this in just a few sentences? Here’s a handy way to use the STAR method, which helps you share your experiences clearly and convincingly. Let’s break it down.

Detailed Exploration of the STAR Method : To present a compelling case, the STAR method offers a robust framework:

• Situation : Open with the specific context relevant to a Civil Service role. For instance, “ In my role as a Policy Analyst during the introduction of a new public health measure… ”
• Task : Highlight the challenge or urgency of the moment, emphasizing the pace at which a response was required. E.g., “ With only a week before the public announcement, I was tasked with collating feedback from multiple departments and presenting a consolidated report. ”
• Action : Describe the steps you undertook to meet the demands of the task efficiently. Dive into details: “ I implemented a streamlined communication channel, organized daily sync-ups, and created a real-time feedback system to ensure all inputs were captured promptly. ”
• Result : This should underline your ability to deliver at pace. For instance, “ The consolidated report was ready 48 hours ahead of schedule, allowing senior management ample time for review. This proactive approach ensured a seamless public announcement and demonstrated effective cross-departmental collaboration under tight deadlines. ”

Once you’ve laid out your experience using STAR, it’s crucial to review and refine it. Ensure your statement, especially the actions and results, underscores your capability to deliver at pace.

Your narrative should highlight a blend of urgency, efficiency, and impactful decision-making tailored to the challenges and responsibilities inherent to the Civil Service.

How to Write a Personal Statement Within the 250-Word Limit

Writing a personal statement for the Civil Service in just 250 words might seem tough, but it’s all about getting to the point. Think of it as telling a quick story about a time you did something impressive at work. You don’t need fancy words; just be clear about what happened and how you made a difference.

To write a compelling 250-word statement, here are a couple of tips to help you get started. 

• Start with Passion : Begin with a sentence or two about why you’re excited about the job or what draws you to the Civil Service.
• Pick Your Story : Think of a work story that shows you’re great for the job. It should be something that proves you can handle challenges and deliver results.
• Situation : Set the scene. Where were you, and what was happening?
• Task : Describe what you needed to do or the problem you had to solve.
• Action : Talk about the steps you took and how you tackled the situation.
• Result : Share the outcome. How did things end up thanks to your efforts?
• Stay Relevant : Make sure your story relates to the job you’re going for. If it’s a leadership role, your story should highlight your leadership skills.
• Keep It Simple : Use easy-to-understand language. No need for big words or technical jargon.
• Wrap It Up : Conclude by tying your story back to the role you’re applying for. This helps the reader see that you’re not just sharing a random story but proving you’re right for the job.
• Proofread : Before submitting, read your statement out loud. This helps catch any mistakes or awkward bits.
• Get Feedback : Ask a friend or family member to read your statement. They might have helpful suggestions or catch something you missed.

Example Personal Statement Civil Service

Below, we discuss five different examples of civil service personal statements.

Example 1: Civil Service Delivering at Pace

In the dynamic environment of the Civil Service, ‘Delivering at Pace’ isn’t just a skill—it’s a necessity. Being efficient, timely, and producing results are principles I’ve always prioritized, ensuring every task, regardless of its complexity, meets the standard of excellence expected in public service.

Situation : In my prior role with the Public Health Department during a sudden health crisis, we were faced with disseminating vital safety information to the public within a limited timeframe.

Task : My challenge was to coordinate with multiple teams and ensure that accurate, comprehensible information reached every household in the district within 48 hours.

Action : I immediately convened a cross-functional team. Streamlining our communication, we developed a strategy wherein digital campaigns, local media broadcasts, and community leaders worked synchronously. I introduced a tracking mechanism to monitor our outreach in real time.

Result : We managed to not only meet but surpass our target, achieving 90% coverage in just 36 hours. This swift action played a pivotal role in containing panic and ensuring the community adopted safety measures promptly.

Through experiences like these, I’ve honed my capability to act decisively, manage efficiently, and deliver tangible results rapidly. Joining the Civil Service, I’m eager to bring this vigor to broader challenges, ensuring public needs are addressed with both speed and precision.

Example 2: Civil Service Delivering at Pace

Within the Civil Service, the ethos of ‘Delivering at Pace’ is not merely a competency but the heartbeat of effective public service. Speed, combined with focused intent, ensures that the wheels of public welfare never stall. My professional journey has been dotted with instances that have tested, and subsequently, fortified my commitment to this very ethos.

Situation : Serving as the Communications Lead during a city-wide power outage crisis, I found myself in a whirlwind of chaos with residents seeking immediate updates and reassurance.

Task : It was imperative to relay accurate information to the public in real-time, calm anxieties, and provide a clear roadmap for resolution, all while the clock was ticking.

Action : I immediately set up a multi-channel communication strategy. Using battery-operated local radio stations, social media platforms, and community volunteers with loudspeakers, we began disseminating regular updates. I also established a two-way communication system, enabling residents to report emergencies and ensure aid was dispatched promptly.

Result : Through rapid yet organized communication, panic was significantly reduced, and residents felt more in control during the crisis. Furthermore, our active engagement meant that emergency services could be directed efficiently, leading to quicker resolutions in critical areas.

In the dynamic dance of challenges and solutions within the Civil Service, my aim remains unswerving: to be a beacon of prompt, effective action. It’s a dance I’ve come to master, ensuring every step, no matter how swift, is taken with certainty and purpose.

Example 3: Civil Service Delivering at Pace

In the Civil Service, ‘Delivering at Pace’ translates to being agile, responsive, and effective—a trio that I’ve consistently championed throughout my professional journey. Swift decision-making paired with methodical execution ensures that public service retains its essence: serving the public with utmost efficiency.

Situation : During my tenure in the Transportation Department, we were met with a sudden transportation strike, crippling the city’s primary transit system and leaving thousands stranded.

Task : I was entrusted with the urgent responsibility of devising an interim transit solution to minimize disruption and ensure citizens could commute without significant hindrance.

Action : Mobilizing a task force, I initiated partnerships with local cab services and shuttle operators. We rapidly rolled out a temporary, subsidized fare system, using digital platforms for real-time tracking and feedback. Concurrently, I organized a team to engage in swift negotiations with the striking entities to understand and address their grievances.

Result : Our emergency transit system catered to over 70% of the regular commuters during the strike duration. Moreover, by acting promptly, we managed to resolve the primary concerns of the striking body and restore regular services within three days. This dual-pronged approach ensured minimal disruption and showcased the department’s commitment to the community.

Such experiences solidify my belief in proactivity and adaptability, which are vital for any role in the Civil Service. I am driven to continue this momentum, ensuring that challenges are met head-on, with a focus on swift, impactful outcomes.

Example 4: Civil Service Delivering at Pace

Navigating the demanding corridors of the Civil Service requires not just dedication but also the ability to ‘Deliver at Pace’. Timely and efficient action, particularly in situations that demand urgency, is a skill I’ve nurtured and fine-tuned throughout my career, ensuring that public interests always remain front and center.

Situation : As the head of Digital Transformation in a local municipality, we were confronted with an outdated IT infrastructure during peak tax filing season, risking delays for thousands of residents.

Task : My immediate mission was to ensure uninterrupted service, guaranteeing that every resident could complete their filings punctually while also initiating a longer-term solution for the infrastructure woes.

Action : I swiftly orchestrated a short-term digital partnership with a cloud service provider, creating a backup portal for tax filings. In parallel, I assembled a dedicated team to oversee a phased transition to a new, robust IT platform, focusing on security, scalability, and user-friendliness.

Result : Not only did we successfully cater to the immediate tax filing demands without a hitch, but within six months, our municipality boasted one of the most advanced digital infrastructures in the region. Feedback from residents highlighted the speed and efficiency of our solutions, reflecting our commitment to public service.

Drawing from such experiences, I’m fervently committed to the essence of ‘Delivering at Pace’. In the realm of the Civil Service, where each decision echoes in the lives of many, I strive to combine rapidity with precision, always keeping the broader community’s welfare in focus.

FAQ: Civil Service Delivering at Pace

• It refers to the ability to execute tasks efficiently and effectively, often within tight timeframes, while maintaining a high standard of work.
• Given the nature of public service, timely and efficient decision-making directly impacts the public. It’s vital to meet these demands without compromising on quality.
• Use specific examples in your personal statement or interviews where you’ve managed tasks under tight deadlines, showcasing both your speed and the quality of your output.
• Absolutely. Any relevant experience, whether in private sector, volunteering, or other roles, where you’ve showcased the ability to deliver results quickly and efficiently can be cited.
• It’s about the balance: achieving results swiftly but without sacrificing accuracy, quality, or thoroughness.
• Most roles offer training and development opportunities. While some may offer specific training in efficiency or time management, the on-job experience is also invaluable for honing this competency.
• As one ascends the ranks, the decisions often have broader impacts, making the ability to deliver at pace while ensuring strategic alignment even more critical.
• While it’s a valued competency across the board, roles with frequent tight deadlines or crisis management components may place a higher emphasis on this skill.
• Seek feedback, engage in relevant training, and always be open to new methodologies or technologies that can streamline tasks and enhance efficiency.
• Are there tools or methodologies within the Civil Service designed to aid in delivering at pace?
• The Civil Service often adopts modern management techniques, technological tools, and collaborative platforms to enhance efficiency. Familiarity and adeptness with these can aid in delivering at pace.

Related posts:

• Making Effective Decisions – How to Write a 250 Word Statement For a Civil Service Application
• Communicating & Influencing – How to Write a 250 Word Statement For a Civil Service Application
• Leadership – How to Write a 250 Word Statement For a Civil Service Application
• Changing & Improving – How to Write a 250 Word Statement For a Civil Service Application
• Civil Service Interview Questions & Answers

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Natalja Atapin

Natalja Atapin is a seasoned job interview and career coach at Megainterview.com and brings a decade of recruitment and coaching experience across diverse industries. Holding a master's degree in Organisational Psychology, she transitioned from coaching to managerial roles at prominent companies like Hays. Natalja's passion for simplifying the job search process is evident in her role at Megainterview.com, where she contributes practical strategies to assist professionals and fresh graduates.

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Civil Service Personal Suitability & Behaviour Statements (2024 Update)

Learn all about Civil Service Personal Statements, Statements of Suitability & Behaviour Statements.

Looking to get a post in the Civil Service or zoom up the career ladder with a promotion during 2024?

If you have made or are considering making a Civil Service application or to other large employers, you will most likely have come across personal statements, behaviour statements and statements of suitability.

There are three different types of statement you may be asked to submit.

• Personal Statement
• Statement of Suitability
• Behaviour Statement

It can be easy to get confused between these three, however, we view a personal statement and statement of suitability as largely the same.

A behaviour statement, however, is different as this will relate just to behaviours and usually requires the use of the STAR method when structuring your examples.

In this comprehensive guide, we will show you how to get detailed Civil Service personal statement examples relevant to your level along with 250 word behaviour statements, great for inspiration.

Your Civil Service Statements Created For You

With InterviewGold you will have top quality personal, suitability and behaviour statements created for you and all tailored to you and your target job. All Civil Service grades covered.

See How it Works

In This Lesson:

What is a personal statement / statement of suitability, why the civil service requests personal or suitability statements, how long should a personal or suitability statement be, how to deal with limited word count – example 250 words, creating a personal statement for senior leadership posts, using your personal statement to sell yourself, 8 top tips for civil service statements of suitability and personal statements, how to introduce yourself in a personal or suitability statement.

• Civil Service Personal / Suitability Statement Example

What is a Civil Service Behaviour Statement?

Typical civil service behaviour statement examples, how to answer civil service behaviour statements.

• Get Expert Personal, Suitability and Behaviour Statement Examples in Minutes

A Civil Service personal statement or statement of suitability is designed to be a summary, a written addition to your CV or application. It will be used by the recruiter to check your suitability and it will be assessed against the required Civil Service Success Profiles and strengths.

While your CV will detail your career history, experience and qualifications, it does not show who you are as a person. The personal or suitability statement offers you an excellent opportunity to provide more context and to outline why you are ideal for the role.

This text sits alongside your CV and is a great way for you to clearly show how you meet each of the essential criteria for the role and how your skills are relevant.

See how you can get your personal and suitability statements written for you in minutes.

When advertising a position, employers such as the Civil Service provide a job description which will detail the responsibilities, essential criteria and desirable skills. It will also specify the behaviours you will be assessed against.

This combination paints a picture of the perfect candidate for the role, someone they envisage as being an ideal employee in the post. The personal statement is a way for you to expand on your CV and to provide evidence showing that you bring all of these essential criteria.

Used well, your statement is an ideal way to align what you bring with what they need . A well written document will show clearly and instantly how your skills and experience best fit the role.

In our experience, most Civil Service personal or suitability statements are circa 500 – 750 words. For senior posts you may be allowed to write up to 1,250 words and some DWP posts ask for 1,200 words.

While it’s possible to have a request for a personal statement of just 250 words , we find these are more likely to be behaviour statements. Where we have seen a request for a statement of just 250 words, this is usually in the form of an interview question. For example, here is one from a recent job posting:

Tell us why you have applied for the role and what you hope to gain from the apprenticeship in terms of new learning and skills. (250 words max)

Study the job advert and description and make note of the word count if available. It is vital that you do not go over as this will show poor communication skills and an inability to summarise.

Irrespective of the word count, proper editing of your statement is essential. For example, there may be ten or more essential criteria plus three to five Success Profiles behaviours outlined in the job description. So how can you fit all of this in?

Proper preparation is essential and a top tip is to take the essential criteria and group them under common themes. You may find that your experience and an achievement can be used to address multiple points.

Use headings for your paragraphs and set yourself the discipline of spending only a hundred words on each point for example.

When you have a first draft, you are still likely to have exceeded the word limit – and this is a good thing. Now you have enough material to be discerning. Cross out all the parts that feel weak or unimportant until you are down to the most powerful ideas.

If going for a Civil Service leadership position, Grade 6 or 7 , your statement will require more thought and depth, as you need to communicate your character for the role and your vision for leading others. What are your values in leadership? What do you see as central to the exceptional performance of a team?

Before writing your statement, sit and map out the fundamentals of how you will take on the task. Then, as you write your statement, weave these beliefs into your text and link these directly to specific examples where you have proven their success.

Save time and effort and let InterviewGold create your statements for you . Fully tailored to you and your target job and perfectly structured with the correct word count.

Do not be afraid to blow your own trumpet in your personal or suitability statement. By that, we do not mean boasting or exaggerating, simply, state your great achievements, describe the behaviours you used to deliver them and highlight the skills and strengths you bring.

In a competitive sector such as this, you need to stand out as being an overall perfect fit for the role. Consequently, everything you write in your supporting statement needs to be tailored to the essential criteria.

Go through the job description and highlight the top 4 or 5 key responsibilities and duties and address each of these separately. Note keywords that seem to come up time and again and mirror this language in your statement.

Use bullet points and use these as the topics for your paragraphs. Of course, do not just repeat phrases they use but use them as a guide, edit and refocus.

To make your Civil Service personal or suitability statement really stand out here are some top tips. This guidance applies equally to all Civil Service roles from EO, HEO, SEO and to senior posts.

• Your statement must reflect your recent and relevant experience, skills and achievements.
• Avoid the temptation to just use the same statement for each application, instead, tailor it to the role.
• Address each requirement directly, providing evidence in the form of an achievement, skill, development or experience gained.
• Describe what you bring, the skills and experience acquired.
• The statement should include examples of real key achievements, what you have done, what you have delivered and core learnings.
• Use active, positive language, rather than lots of passive statements.
• Describe key and specific achievements rather than generalised responsibilities.
• Finally, ensure your examples reflect the level you are applying for. Very often, examples can be too simple, can fall short and not reflect the complexity required.

Read More: Get instant access to detailed sample personal and suitability statements for your level with InterviewGold. Click here to start.

As stated, the opening paragraph is going to win or lose the attention of the application panel. It is essential that you introduce yourself effectively as this gives a strong lead in and will hook the reader.

There are two options available to you.

1) Provide a personal profile, stating key information, years of experience, current post, key strengths and what you bring.

2) Focus on reasons for applying, detailing how your skills and experience fit perfectly. Perhaps tell a story of how you decided to be a part of the Civil Service, while outlining key criteria and how this fits with your career path.

Get this opening sentence right and you are well on your way to success.

Civil Service Personal / Suitability Statement Example Introduction

Here is an example of a strong opening introduction , a brief personal profile that is designed to grab the recruiter’s attention. For example:

I am a highly motivated and experienced finance professional with 8 years’ experience working within local and regional Government posts in England and Northern Ireland. My current role is Finance Analyst within the NHS where I have progressed rapidly during my two-year tenure.

I bring a degree in Economics from Aston University and I am skilled in financial modelling, business planning and team leadership.

I recently delivered a comprehensive business case for a proposed outsourcing opportunity leading to cost savings of £3m. Through this I gained proven experience in developing rewarding relationships with internal and external stakeholders resulting in improved working practices and data accuracy.

I am currently looking for a role within the Department of Heath and Social care.

As you can see that is a short lead-in to the statement that forms a strong, clear introduction. The recruiter knows instantly who the candidate is, their high level experience and why they have applied.

For your statement, you would need to continue and outline your experience, skills, relevant achievements and behaviours. Within the InterviewGold system you will get great formulas to use to bring powerful structure to any suitability or personal statement.

When you join InterviewGold you will have expert statements written for you with just a few clicks . Plus you will get sample Civil Service personal and suitability statements to inspire you.

Each role will have a set of behaviours you will assessed against. For example, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace and Managing a Quality Service are three of the top required in most roles.

Alongside your CV and / or application form, you may be asked for behaviour statements instead of a personal or suitability statement, or also in addition to these.

• Describe a time when you delivered an exciting piece of work that exceeded the expectations of others. (250 words max)
• Detail when you showed excellent leadership skills and explain what you learned from the experience. (250 words max)
• Explain your experiences against the Communicating and Influencing Behaviour (Level 2). (500 Words)

As you can see the request relates to specific behaviours and asks you to provide evidence of your experience with it. They are in effect the same format as competency based or behaviour interview questions.

For these y ou must use the STAR formula . They will be looking for clear evidence of experience in a previous role and your example must be strong, relevant and complex.

You should demonstrate the essential positive behaviours keeping in mind that different roles will favour different behaviours.

Review the job description to get a sense of what these might be and edit your answer so that the required essential ones are shown first.

Throughout your InterviewGold training course we teach you all about how to answer these questions. A good starting point is the section on competency behaviours in the Essential Learning module.

Read more: Get instant access to expertly written 250-word behaviour statements in the InterviewGold training system.

Get Personal, Suitability and Behaviour Statements Created For You in Minutes

Join InterviewGold now and get expertly written personal, suitability and behaviour statements relevant to your level and fully personalised to you. Click here to learn more.

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Application Forms , Personal Statements

Civil service personal statement examples.

When you apply for any Civil Service job, you will need to complete an online application form that requires you to submit a personal statement. The personal statement will be assessed against the relevant Civil Service success profiles and strengths that are applicable or the role

DOWNLOAD RICHARD MCMUNN’S SET OF 9 CIVIL SERVICE PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLES BELOW!

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So, how do you write a personal statement for a civil service job? Let’s start by looking at what you should include.

What Should a Civil Service Personal Statement Include?

Your personal statement should be used to compliment your CV and further outline why you are suitable for the role.

The key to a great civil service personal statement is to provide evidence against the Civil Service Success Profiles to show you match them and that you are perfect for the role. The Civil Service Success Profiles, otherwise known as the “essential criteria” will be outlined on the job advert or job description. Using these, you should demonstrate your previous experience and your skills that can be transferred to your new role within the Civil Service.

Remember, you must back up these skills and experience, and a great way to do this, is to demonstrate how you acquired the experience and skills in your previous roles.

Your personal statement should form around ‘how’ and ‘what’ you have previously done, all whilst matching the Success Profiles.

You will usually get just 250 words for your answers.

BONUS TIP – How do I write a CV for a government job?

A great personal statement still needs a good CV. Here is what you should include on your CV/Resume. Firstly, include an outline of your previous job experience, detailing the length of time you held each previous job role for, and a short breakdown of the responsibilities, tasks, and the work you did for each role. You should also include any awards, achievements or significant projects you previously obtained or worked on. This is your chance to shine, so don’t be afraid to sell yourself and big yourself up in the best light possible. If you have ever had any training or if you have been awarded any qualifications that are relevant to the Civil Service, or that showcase your commitment, ability to learn, or diversify, then you should highlight these too.

How to Structure a Civil Service Personal Statement?

The most important thing to do is structure your responses clearly and ensure that your statement focusses on the Success Profiles/Essential Criteria.

You are allowed to use heading or bullet points if this works best for you, but remember all of this will eat into your word count. Further below in this blog we have provided a breakdown of the 9 Civil Service Success Profiles and what you need to consider when preparing your statement for each Success Profile.

What Should you Avoid in a Personal Statement?

With 100s of people applying to Civil Service roles, it is important that your personal statement is NOT thrown aside because you’ve made one of the following common mistakes:

• Poor spelling and grammar – always check your spelling and grammar before submitting!
• Not tailoring your answers for the role – ensure you use the job description and align your skills and experience with the role you’re applying for.
• Using the same answers multiple times for multiple applications in the Civil Service (each application for a new role needs new answers).
• Not aligning your statement to the Civil Service Success Profiles – this is key!
• Using redundant or unnecessarily complicated language and cliches – keep it simple and easy to read – the assessor shouldn’t have to decipher your statement!

Writing the Perfect Civil Service Personal Statement – What are the Civil Service Success Profiles?

Seeing the big picture.

The Civil Service success profile of seeing the big picture requires you to have knowledge of how your job fits in with the public sector mission and objectives. It is important that you demonstrate within your 250-word personal statement that you have the ability to carry out your work in the best interests of the nation.

CHANGING AND IMPROVING

Whilst working in the Civil Service you must be open to continually changing and improving. If you do not improve your performance at work, or embrace change positively, the Civil Service will not be able to meet its objectives. Again, when creating your Civil Service personal statement and online application form, you will need to demonstrate within 250 words your ability to meet the changing and improving success profile!

MAKING EFFECTIVE DECISIONS

All members of the Civil Service, regardless of their role, are required to make effective decisions that demonstrate value money and efficiency. When making effective decisions, you must use an evidence-based approach and carefully consider your options, including an assessment of the risk involved and implications posed. Make sure you provide evidence of this Civil Service success profile within 250 words.

COMMUNICATING AND INFLUENCING

Another of the Civil Service success profiles and strengths is that of communicating and influencing. Within your chosen civil service job, you must communicate with clarity and purpose and always respect the needs, views and opinions of others. To meet the assessment for this success profile you will need to create a personal statement of just 250 words!

WORKING TOGETHER

Teamwork is absolutely vital when working in the Civil Service. Regardless of the position you are applying for, working with others must be demonstrated within your personal statement by way of using the STAR technique – situation, task, action and result. Within your personal statement, demonstrate you can work effectively with other people both within your team and also with external stakeholders or contractors. (250 words maximum!)

Can you demonstrate pride and passion for delivering service within an organisation? Are you able to value other people’s opinions and ensure your team is diverse in nature so that the expectations and needs of customers are met? If so, then you probably have what it takes to mee the Civil Service success profile of leadership! Once again, make sure you write a personal statement that demonstrates your ability to provide leadership within just 250-words.

DELIVERING AT PACE

Can you work at pace and deliver results to a high standard? If the answer is yes, then you might just have what it takes to work within the Civil Service. Again, another one of the success profiles is that of delivering at pace, and we strongly advise you provide a specific example of where you have been able to work quickly and accurately in a previous role when completing your personal statement. Aim to provide evidence of this success profile within your personal statement all within just 250 words!

DEVELOPING SELF AND OTHERS

Taking responsibility for your own development and the development of others is a vital aspect of all civil Service roles. If you are required to write a personal statement that demonstrates your ability of developing self and others, provide a specific example within 250 words of where you have focused on this important success profile.

MANAGING A QUALITY SERVICE

The Civil Service has a strong reputation for managing and delivering a quality service. Regardless of the department you are hoping to join within the Civil Service, there is a strong possibility you will be assessed against this important success profile. Again, provide a solid 250-word personal statement that gives evidence of where you have taken control of the delivery of a fantastic service to meet the needs of a customer or a client.

CIVIL SERVICE PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLES  (DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDE BELOW!)

Richard McMunn

2 thoughts on “ civil service personal statement examples ”.

Are the 9 examples specific using STAR to a certain situation or are they generic like the youtube videos

Hi Abul, that is a great question. The answer is a mixture. The way I have provided the answers is so that you can adapt them to use your own past experience with ease and create your own unique answer. My answers provide a structure as well as demonstrate what keywords and content needs to be in a high-scoring answer. This should allow you to develop your own unique answers quickly 🙂 I wish you the best of luck with your Civil Service Application! Let me know how it goes 🙂

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Personal Statement for Civil Service Application

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Personal statement

Hi all I am wondering if anyone has any advice for when writing the personal statement. I’m aware that it must be to the point and just outline how I meet all the essential criteria on the application. I’m aware that for the statement the STAR method isn’t necessarily required and it’s better just to get straight to the point and explain how you meet the criteria. I currently have bullet points on how I meet each criteria, but I’m just struggling turning it into full sentences so that it flows nicely. Does anyone have any tips, or is it just as simple as saying- I have strong X skills as in my current position I do blah blah… or In my current position I did blah blah / worked on this project which helped me improve X skill

Does it matter if each paragraph starts off similar ? Or as long as I explain how I meet each criteria it doesn’t matter?

Thanks in advance

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Civil service interview scores?

havingagoodday · 25/10/2022 19:57

Does anyone know what the civil service application scores are out of? I can see what I've scored, but I'm curious what it's out of. Personal statement I scored 4. Interview I scored 30. Verbal and judgement test I scored 52% and 85%. I've been offered the job, but I'm curious as to what the other scores are out of.

For behaviours it's out of 7, experience too I believe, for strengths it's out of 4.

So for interview it'll depend the type of question and how many of them. 4 out of 7 is usually the pass rate assuming there isn't an exorbitant amount of applicants, they can raise the threshold if so.

It was a strength based interview and I scored 30? I can't remember how many questions there were, possibly 8 or 10? So I perhaps scored 3s and 4s for each question.

I've just googled and apparently it's 9 questions. So I'm guessing I scored 3s and 4s. I think each question was out of 4. So I got 30 out of 40.

Thank you. I've heard security clearance can take 4-6 months and we'll have Christmas in the middle of that, so I'm not expecting to go anywhere soon!

Yes it can take a while depending on the level of clearance!

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4 is the pass mark for statements, but unless they higher the pass mark to 5 or 6 (which they can if get too many to interview with 4’s) then it doesn’t matter as 4 gets you through to the next round. We don’t even see the statements when interviewing, or application forms most of the time (I do when helping out in an ex colleagues dept but not my dept) so your aim is to get an interview. 3’s and 4’s is good for strengths, you must have had high engagement for all as high engagement gets you a 3 or 4! well done. Yes the security is so slow. I joined 21yrs ago and it was 6 months. It’s been even longer for our latest recruits then problems with admin meaning a bit longer to wait. They will let you know though when to hand in your resignation. Congrats! I personally really enjoy being a civil servant, it’s so flexible, supportive and I’ve made really good personal progress in my career too, so on a good salary now.

My security clearance ( last month) took 5 weeks Was warned it could be a good 3 months

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