Civil Service Careers

Behaviours

The Civil Service Behaviours are one element of the Success Profile.

Behaviours are actions and activities people do which result in effective performance. The Civil Service has defined a set of behaviours that, when demonstrated, they are associated with job success.

Civil Service Behaviours are specific to the grade or level of the role.

Recruiting managers will choose the behaviours best suited to a job role. You will not be asked to demonstrate all Civil Service behaviours for one role.

Behaviour descriptions

Seeing the big picture

Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.

Changing and improving

Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.

Making effective decisions

Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.

Leadership

Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.

Communicating and influencing

Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.

Working together

Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

Developing self and others

Focus on continuous learning and development for self, others and the organisation as a whole.

Managing a quality service

Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

Delivering at pace

Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

For examples of behaviours, at different role grades, please read the full guidance on GOV.UK

How to provide evidence of a behaviour

Please take your time to read and understand the Civil Service Behaviours. This will give you an overview of the behaviours and help you understand what we are looking for.

Depending on the type of assessment, for example in an application form or at an interview, you may be asked to give examples of when you have demonstrated a particular behaviour.

This might be at work or somewhere else such as:

work experience
volunteering
in connection with a hobby

You should choose examples that enable you to describe specific things you did. Think of examples that:

clearly demonstrate the behaviour
will allow you to explain in some detail what you personally did
had positive results, although less successful examples can be used if you can demonstrate the lessons learned and how errors would be avoided in future

Alternatively, you may be asked how you would behave in a given situation. For example by using Situational Judgement Tests or through situational interview questions. You could also be asked to demonstrate a behaviour in real-time, for example during a structured behavioural assessment.

How we recruit

We assess a combination of behaviours, strengths, experience, ability and technical skills. Find out more about how this helps us to find the right person for each role.

How to write your CV

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.

How to write your CV

A woman being interviewed via video call. The woman is a wheelchair user and has a journal beside her.

How to write your personal statement

For some jobs you’ll be asked to provide a personal statement or statement of suitability. Find out how to stand out.

How to write your personal statement

Assessments and interviews

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

Read about assessments and interviews

Civil Service Success Profiles

GOV.UK hosts a huge amount of detailed guidance on the different elements of Success Profiles.

The Civil Service

What do Civil Servants say?

Early Careers

Experienced Hires

Supported Schemes

Applying for a Job

Supporting your Application

Behaviours

Behaviours

Behaviour descriptions