Getting through the civil service sift...

Hypothetically speaking, if one wanted to apply for a low-level job with a civil service (DWP, DVLA, etc.), how would one answer the competency framework items in a way that actually gets points?  For example, in previous applications, I thought I was specific in outlining experience that meets the competencies, but then the feedback showed very few points, and the application was not successful.  But I know the experience is more than adequate... I'm clearly just not answering the questions correctly.  How do I respond?  Anecdotally?  Bullet points of specific things?  Do I list as many tasks as I can, or just one or two examples to show that "I've done that"?

Any help would be appreciated.

I’m civil service and for our applications, to get through the sift you have to address every competency/specification, stating how you meet each one and giving a real life example to show that you have done it.

So, for example, for teamworking skills it wouldn’t be good enough to give a list of generic examples, you would need to talk about a specific project you did, what your role in the team was, what you contributed to the team and what the outcome of the project was.

So, I would take each competency in turn and write a couple of paragraphs or so, giving a detailed real life example for each.


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I’m civil service and for our applications, to get through the sift you have to address every competency/specification, stating how you meet each one and giving a real life example to show that you have done it.

So, for example, for teamworking skills it wouldn’t be good enough to give a list of generic examples, you would need to talk about a specific project you did, what your role in the team was, what you contributed to the team and what the outcome of the project was.

So, I would take each competency in turn and write a couple of paragraphs or so, giving a detailed real life example for each.

So, I would focus on just one thoroughly detailed example for each competency, not a list of several experiences?  They want me to paint the picture?

So, I would focus on just one thoroughly detailed example for each competency, not a list of several experiences?  They want me to paint the picture?

Yeah, I believe so... or perhaps even two or three detailed examples.

That was the advice given to me by a colleague when I was applying for the Antarctica job - I spent a paragraph or two on basic ways I met each competency (day to day work activities) and then followed up with between 1 and 3 specific examples of a particular situation I had been in where to had to use those skills.


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Yeah, I believe so... or perhaps even two or three detailed examples.

That was the advice given to me by a colleague when I was applying for the Antarctica job - I spent a paragraph or two on basic ways I met each competency (day to day work activities) and then followed up with between 1 and 3 specific examples of a particular situation I had been in where to had to use those skills.

Thank you... this is very helpful information.  I will try a more thoughtful and detailed approach.

One of these days, we will get a foot in the door.  *determined*