How to Ace Higher Executive Officer | HEO Competency Based Interviews
You’ll face six HEO | Higher Executive Competencies
Team Leadership: Assessing how you lead a team
Analysis & Decision Making: Assessing how you make a decision (or solve a problem)
Management & Delivery of Results: Assessing how you plan and organise
Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Assessing communication skills
Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development: Assessing technical competencies/knowledge
Drive & Commitment to Public Service Values: Assesses a number of core values
Competency Based Interviews are SIMPLE, when you know what you are doing
Below are some simple tips to help you ACE your next Civil Service interview
STRUCTURE
Use the STAR technique to structure your answers, or SAR as I call it – SITUATION, ACTIONS, RESULTS. Have a short, succinct intro and end. Most of your talking should be the middle section, the ACTIONS. Signpost each section for the interviewers, as this makes their job easier
FOCUS ON “THE HOW”
Your goal is to demonstrate the HOW e.g., how you lead a team. Stay focused, and don’t get bogged down with the detail of the story
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
Prepare two answers for each competency, especially TEAM LEADERSHIP, ANALYSIS & DECISION MAKING, AND MANAGEMENT & DELIVERY OF RESULTS
IT’S NOW ALL COMPETENCY
The competency SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE. EXPERTISE & SELF DEVELOPMENT is slightly different. It will assess your skills for the role, and your knowledge of the role/organisation. This won’t be a STAR or SAR question and answer. Also, they may start your interview by asking TALK ME THROUGH YOUR CV/EXPERIENCE? and will likely finish DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? It is worth preparing to answer both questions
Need help with CIVIL SERVICE | HEO competency-based interviews? Contact Us
Need help with CIVIL SERVICE | HEO competency-based application forms? Contact Us
Public Sector | Civil Service | PAS | Competency Interviews | Structured Interviews