Welcome to Your Guide to Civil Service Interviews: “Seeing the Big Picture”
Hi there! If you’re preparing for a Civil Service interview for an Administrative Assistant (AA) role, you’re in the right place. This post will focus on one of the key behaviors you’ll be assessed on—Seeing the Big Picture.
We’ll break down what this behavior means for your role, provide some common interview questions, and guide you step-by-step on how to nail your answers using the B-STAR method. Let’s get started!
Contents
- 1 What is “Seeing the Big Picture” and Why is it Important for Administrative Assistants?
- 2 Common Interview Questions for “Seeing the Big Picture”
- 3 How to Answer Using the B-STAR Method
- 4 Sample B-STAR Answer
- 5 Breaking Down the Answer with Emojis
- 6 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 7 Key Takeaways for “Seeing the Big Picture” at the Administrative Assistant Level
What is “Seeing the Big Picture” and Why is it Important for Administrative Assistants?
Seeing the Big Picture means understanding how your work fits into the bigger goals of your team, department, or even the entire Civil Service. At the Administrative Assistant level, this behavior is all about recognizing how your daily tasks contribute to larger organizational goals.
Seeing the Big Picture Example Questions
Unlike higher-level roles, such as Senior Executive Officers, AAs aren’t expected to shape strategy or lead big projects. Instead, you’re expected to support those bigger efforts through your understanding of how the pieces fit together.
Your role is crucial in keeping everything running smoothly, ensuring tasks align with larger priorities. This behavior reflects how you stay aware of the overall objectives while managing your own work.
Common Interview Questions for “Seeing the Big Picture”
Here are some questions you might encounter in your interview:
- Can you describe a time when you understood how your work contributed to the wider goals of your team?
- How do you ensure that your tasks align with the priorities of your department?
- Tell us about a time when you had to adapt to a change in your team’s objectives.
- How do you stay informed about the broader goals of your organization?
- See more…
How to Answer Using the B-STAR Method
The B-STAR method is a fantastic structure for answering behavior-based questions:
B – Belief: Start by explaining your belief or thought process behind the situation. This shows interviewers your values and how you approach your work.
S – Situation: Set the scene. Describe the context of your example.
T – Task: Explain what you were responsible for.
A – Action: Walk through the specific steps you took.
R – Result: Wrap it up by explaining what happened and what you learned.
Sample B-STAR Answer
Question: Can you describe a time when you understood how your work contributed to the wider goals of your team?
Answer: B (Belief): I believe that even the smallest tasks I complete have a ripple effect on the larger team’s success.
S (Situation): Last year, our team was working on a tight deadline for a project that supported a major government initiative.
T (Task): As an Administrative Assistant, I was responsible for managing the team’s schedule, ensuring all meetings with key stakeholders were properly organized.
A (Action): I made sure to prioritize meetings with external partners who were crucial to the initiative, and communicated any changes immediately to keep everything running smoothly.
R (Result): The project was delivered on time, and I received feedback from my manager that my work played a key role in keeping the team on track.
Breaking Down the Answer with Emojis
🧠 Belief: Clearly stating your belief shows self-awareness and a strong understanding of how your role fits into the team.
🏙 Situation: Setting the scene with relevant context helps the interviewer visualize the scenario and understand why it was important.
📝 Task: Being specific about your responsibility shows you’re aware of how your actions directly contribute to broader objectives.
🚀 Action: Detailing the steps you took shows problem-solving skills and your ability to focus on key tasks that align with team goals.
🏆 Result: Highlighting positive outcomes and feedback demonstrates the impact of your work and shows you are results-oriented.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
😬 Being vague: Avoid talking in general terms. Be specific about the actions you took and the results.
📉 Downplaying your role: It’s easy to think your job is too small to matter, but everything you do supports the bigger picture.
🗣 Focusing too much on the task: Remember, it’s about seeing how your work fits into the broader goals, not just ticking off your to-do list.
🛑 Skipping the result: Always include what happened after your actions and why it mattered.
Key Takeaways for “Seeing the Big Picture” at the Administrative Assistant Level
At the AA level, Seeing the Big Picture is about knowing how your tasks support the broader goals of your team or department. You’re not just doing tasks in isolation. Every email, meeting, or task is part of a bigger puzzle.
Master this behavior and you’ll not only ace your interview, but you’ll also contribute more effectively to the success of your team.
Good luck with your interview preparation!
