Welcome to our guide on nailing the Working Together behavior at the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) level in Civil Service interviews. Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming interview or just curious about what to expect, this guide will provide you with key insights and tips on how to confidently answer questions related to this important behavior.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how Working Together differs at the SEO level and how to showcase your abilities in a structured, impactful way using the B-STAR method.
Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!
Contents
What is Working Together and Why is it Important for the SEO Role?
Working Together focuses on your ability to collaborate with others effectively, build relationships, and work towards shared goals. At the SEO level, this behavior requires a higher degree of leadership, influence, and accountability than at lower levels.
While at junior levels the focus may be on working well with immediate colleagues, at the SEO level you’ll need to collaborate across teams, departments, and even external organizations. Your ability to influence stakeholders, foster partnerships, and resolve complex problems collectively is critical.
This makes Working Together essential for delivering projects and initiatives that require cooperation from various areas of the Civil Service.
How is this different from other levels?
- At the AO/EO level, you’re expected to work effectively with peers and immediate team members.
- At the HEO level, you may coordinate across small teams, ensuring effective communication.
- At the SEO level, you are expected to lead larger, cross-functional teams, drive change, and resolve conflicts between competing priorities.
In essence, the level of responsibility increases as you climb, making collaboration at this level key to delivering larger, more complex initiatives.
Common Interview Questions for Working Together
- Tell me about a time when you worked with someone from a different team to achieve a common goal.
- Describe a situation where you had to resolve a conflict between colleagues or teams.
- How have you fostered collaboration in a challenging or complex environment?
- Can you give an example of a time you influenced a key stakeholder to support your team’s objectives?
- See more…
How to Answer These Questions Using the B-STAR Method
When answering Working Together questions, the B-STAR method is an excellent structure to use. Here’s how to apply it:
- B – Belief: Start by explaining your belief about teamwork and collaboration. What is your mindset when it comes to working with others?
- S – Situation: Provide context by describing a specific situation where teamwork was essential.
- T – Task: Outline your role and what needed to be accomplished.
- A – Action: Detail the steps you took to collaborate with others or resolve any challenges.
- R – Result: Finish with the positive outcome of the teamwork.
This method ensures that your answers are clear, concise, and impactful.
Sample B-STAR Answer
Question: Tell me about a time when you worked with someone from a different team to achieve a common goal.
Answer:
B: I believe that effective collaboration is key to achieving organizational goals, especially when teams have diverse skills and perspectives.
S: In my previous role, I was part of a project to streamline the procurement process, which required collaboration with both the finance and legal departments.
T: My responsibility was to coordinate input from all teams to ensure compliance while also meeting tight deadlines.
A: I set up regular meetings between teams, made sure each department’s concerns were heard, and negotiated compromises when necessary. I also facilitated workshops to improve understanding between the teams.
R: As a result, we delivered the project on time, saved 15% in procurement costs, and improved interdepartmental communication.
Why This Answer Works
💡 Belief: Starting with your belief shows self-awareness and gives the interviewer insight into your core values around collaboration.
🎯 Situation: Clearly setting the scene makes it easy for the interviewer to understand the context.
💼 Task: Highlighting your specific responsibility emphasizes your role in the collaboration.
🤝 Action: Detailing the steps you took demonstrates your proactive approach to teamwork and problem-solving.
🏆 Result: A strong, measurable result wraps up your answer and proves your actions had a positive impact.
This method gives the interviewer a full picture of your collaboration skills, from mindset to execution.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not mentioning your belief in collaboration. Starting with your belief gives your answer depth.
- Being vague. Always be specific about your role and the actions you took.
- Skipping the result. You must show a clear, positive outcome.
- Ignoring challenges. Interviewers want to see how you handle difficulties in collaboration.
- Not using a real example. Avoid hypothetical scenarios and use past experiences.
Key Takeaways for Working Together at the SEO Level
- Working Together is crucial for SEO roles, requiring leadership and collaboration across teams and departments.
- Use the B-STAR method to structure your answers, focusing on belief, clear actions, and measurable results.
- Avoid common pitfalls like being vague or skipping the result.
- Remember, collaboration at this level isn’t just about working alongside others—it’s about driving outcomes through effective teamwork.
With these tips, you’re well on your way to acing your interview!
