Applying for a role within the Civil Service is a unique and rewarding process. One of the crucial parts of the application is the 250-word statement, where you need to showcase how your experience and skills align with specific behaviours required for the role. This concise piece of writing allows you to demonstrate your competency in a targeted and effective manner. Today, we’re focusing on one such behaviour: “Seeing the Big Picture,” particularly at the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) level.
Understanding the Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture
“Seeing the Big Picture” is all about understanding how your work fits into the broader goals of the department and the wider Civil Service. It involves having a strategic perspective, recognizing the long-term implications of your actions, and understanding how external factors might influence your work.
At the SEO level, this behaviour means you are expected to:
- Understand departmental goals: You should be well-versed in the overarching objectives of your department and how your team contributes to these goals.
- Identify and anticipate trends: Recognize broader trends and developments that could impact your area of work.
- Consider long-term impact: Ensure that the decisions you make today will benefit the organization in the future.
- Collaborate across departments: Work effectively with other teams and departments to align your efforts with the wider Civil Service objectives.
This differs from the Assistant and Higher Executive Officer levels, where the focus is more on supporting and implementing tasks without needing the same depth of strategic insight. Conversely, at the Grade 7 level and above, “Seeing the Big Picture” involves even more strategic thinking, policy development, and influencing senior stakeholders.
250-Word Statement Tips
Writing a compelling 250-word statement can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can make a strong impression. Here are some tips to help you craft your statement, using the B-STAR method (Belief, Situation, Task, Action, Result):
- Understand the Behaviour: Make sure you have a clear understanding of what “Seeing the Big Picture” means at the SEO level. Tailor your statement to reflect this understanding.
- Use the B-STAR Method:
- Belief: Start with your belief about why seeing the big picture is important in your role.
- Situation: Briefly describe a situation where this behaviour was critical.
- Task: Outline the task you were responsible for in this situation.
- Action: Detail the actions you took to address the situation.
- Result: Highlight the outcomes of your actions and how they contributed to the big picture.
- Be Specific and Concise: With only 250 words, every sentence counts. Be clear and concise, avoiding unnecessary jargon or filler words.
- Show Impact: Focus on the impact of your actions. Demonstrate how your strategic thinking benefited your team or department.
- Review and Edit: Ensure your statement is free of errors and reads smoothly. Ask a colleague or friend to review it for clarity and impact.
Following these tips and structuring your statement with the B-STAR method will help you effectively demonstrate your ability to see the big picture at the SEO level.
Here’s an example statement to illustrate these points:
250 Word Statement Example
I believe that seeing the big picture is essential for making informed decisions that align with broader organizational goals and national interests. This belief shapes my approach to strategic planning and execution.
As a Policy Advisor, I was tasked with developing a new initiative to improve mental health services. Understanding the strategic drivers behind this project, I aligned our activities with the wider organizational priorities of enhancing public health and reducing healthcare inequalities.
I began by thoroughly researching health policies and trends in mental health. This allowed me to identify issues that could impact our initiative, such as changes in funding or new regulations. By staying informed, I ensured our strategy remained relevant and proactive.
To align our work with broader objectives, I facilitated regular meetings with stakeholders, including healthcare providers, mental health organizations, and patient advocacy groups. These meetings provided valuable insights into the diverse needs of our stakeholders and helped us tailor our approach to meet those needs effectively.
To ensure our activities created value, I established clear metrics for success and regularly reviewed our progress against these benchmarks. This allowed us to make necessary adjustments and demonstrate how our work contributed to improving mental health services nationwide.
By maintaining a strategic focus and considering the broader impact of our work, we successfully launched the initiative, resulting in increased access to mental health services and positive feedback from stakeholders. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of seeing the big picture to drive meaningful and impactful change.