Applying for a Civil Service job? You’ve probably come across the requirement for a 250-word statement. This might seem daunting at first, but it’s your opportunity to showcase your skills and suitability for the role. Let’s break down the “Working Together” behaviour at the Administrative Officer (AO) level and how you can craft a compelling statement.
Understanding the “Working Together” Behaviour
“Working Together” is a key behaviour in the Civil Service Success Profiles Framework. It’s all about building strong collaborative relationships and working effectively with others to achieve common goals. At the AO level, this means you need to demonstrate your ability to work as part of a team, support colleagues, and contribute to a positive team environment.
At this grade, your focus is on being a supportive team member rather than leading or managing others. This differs from lower grades, where the emphasis might be on learning to work with others, and from higher grades, where leadership and the ability to drive team performance become crucial. As an AO, you’re expected to actively participate in team activities, communicate effectively, and offer help and support when needed.
Crafting Your 250-Word Statement: Tips and Tricks
When writing your 250-word statement, it’s essential to be clear and concise while fully addressing the behaviour. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Understand the B-STAR Method: Structure your statement using the B-STAR method (Belief, Situation, Task, Action, Result). This ensures your response is well-organized and covers all the necessary points.
- Start with Your Belief: Briefly state your belief about why working together is important. For example, “I believe that effective teamwork is crucial for achieving organizational goals and creating a supportive work environment.”
- Set the Scene with the Situation: Describe a specific situation where you demonstrated the “Working Together” behaviour. Make sure it’s relevant and provides enough context for the reader to understand the scenario.
- Define Your Task: Explain your role in the situation. What were you responsible for? This helps to clarify your involvement and the expectations placed upon you.
- Detail Your Actions: Focus on what you did to address the task. Be specific about the steps you took, the interactions you had, and any collaborative efforts you engaged in.
- Highlight the Result: Conclude with the outcome of your actions. How did your efforts contribute to the team’s success? What positive impact did it have?
Additional Tips
- Be Specific: Use concrete examples and avoid vague statements. Specificity makes your statement more compelling and believable.
- Show Reflection: Reflect on what you learned from the experience and how it has shaped your approach to teamwork.
- Keep It Relevant: Ensure your example directly relates to the AO role and the “Working Together” behaviour.
250 Word Statement Example
I believe that collaboration is crucial for achieving success in any group endeavor. By building supportive relationships and sharing responsibilities, we can accomplish our goals more effectively.
During my final year in college, I was part of a group project for a marketing course. Our task was to create a comprehensive marketing plan for a local business.
From the beginning, I took the initiative to get to know my teammates and understand their strengths. We held an initial meeting to discuss our ideas and assign roles based on individual skills and interests.
To keep the project on track, I set up a shared online workspace where we could all access documents, update our progress, and provide feedback. This transparency helped us stay organised and ensured everyone was aware of their responsibilities. When conflicts arose, such as overlapping tasks or differing opinions on strategy, I facilitated discussions to find common ground and resolve issues amicably.
I was responsible for researching and analysing market data. When I encountered difficulties, I asked for help from a teammate who excelled in data analysis. In return, I offered to assist with the creative aspects of the project, where I had more experience.
Understanding the importance of wellbeing, I suggested regular check-ins to discuss our progress and any concerns. In the end, our marketing plan was well-received by both our professor and the local business. The success of the project was a testament to our effective collaboration and mutual support.