DWP HEO interview looming!

suewiththeblues

I have an HEO interview looming- has anybody had experience of how the interview questions will be put? I have read the competencies but am scared to death :eek:

TEDDYRUKSPIN

Competencies are based on past experiences.

You need to look at the role - administration. Any management?

If so, type "behavioural interview" + "administration"

Savy_3

I'm not so sure about DWP but I do know that with Civil Service vacancies it is critical that you can demonstrate each and every competency listed.

Don't overlook any of them, thinking you can get through on the strength of others. You need an example for each (even though some examples won't be as good as others)

The Civil Service is very strict on competencies listed in the job description. Far more so than private industry where job descriptions are a little flexible.

I have even known in the civil service of cases where the job description goes so far beyond the actual requirements of the job that otherwise good candidates are rejected and asked to re-submit their application following the re-writing of the job description.

Don't be too concerned though. You were short-listed against the same competencies so you have already managed to demonstrate them to a degree in your application. You just need to be able to flesh this out a little more. Be able to respond to questioning in order to demonstrate that you have demonstrated this competency in the past and you don't falter in your explanations under a little questioning.

And in case you don't know, think about every competency in the following terms:

STAR

S - What was the Situation?
T - What Task did you need to perform or what problem did you need to deal with?
A - What Action did you take?
R- What was the Result/Outcome, (particularly in relation to the inital problem)

If you can give an example for each competency and be able to frame your response via the STAR model you will do well. Anything after that might just be down to who 'clicks' with the decision maker.

Finally, relax and be confident (always easier to say).

Good Luck.

suewiththeblues

there are 4 competencies i have to think about and each one has up to 10 bullet points, so do i have to include all the bullet points in my situation? i want to be sure i tick as many boxes as possible but don't want my examples to be too complicated or too long!

Thylacine

Not done an HEO (yet - got one on the 2nd Nov) interview, however for my EO that I passed I went in with 2-3 examples per competency and just picked the most appropriate one based on the actual question they asked, concentrating on the specific question but also trying to weave in the other elements of the competency where possible.

The bit that's got me a bit nervous is the pre-prepared 5 minute presentation. At least HEO gives you that chance to free-form the interview a bit, though!

Savy_3

Like the previous poster says it will depend a lot on the actual question asked.

They're not like to be as open with a question as: "Tell me a time when have demonstrated competency X" so let the actual question dictate how you answer it.

As the above poster says, 3-4 examples for each competency will put you in a good position.

Don't try and force more than one example in a response though as you will end up talking too much. Keep answers as short and succint as possible. You should be able to cover off S-T-A-R with a sentence for each letter in most cases.

If the interviewer needs more information than a single sentence for each letter they will ask for it.

skintbint_2

Have interviewed candidates for the EO interviews, just remember it is what "YOU" have done - not the team, "I identified, I improved, etc and then how "YOU" implemented whatever, discussion, checking understanding, liaising, monitoring and what your part played,the outcome does not always have to be positive they are more interested in how you achieved

natomar

suewiththeblues wrote: »

I have an HEO interview looming- has anybody had experience of how the interview questions will be put? I have read the competencies but am scared to death :eek:

Hi Sue
Check the 2 other sites loads of examples!
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1380533&page=318

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=25879357&highlight=irc+62668

Good Luck

suewiththeblues

thanks guys, i take it the HEO interview questions are similar to the EO interview questions? I have written down my examples for some of the competencies now, i think the competencies are quite complicated and overlap which doesnt help, i am hoping firstly that i manage to stay calm in the interview, my brain does not freeeze, i do not get my examples muddled up, and anything past that will be a bonus i.e answering the question correctly will be a huge achievement! god i do hate interviews!